Karl barth: a life in conflict christiane tietz - The ebook is available for instant download, read by Education Libraries

https://ebookmass.com/product/karl-barth-a-life-in-conflict-

Instant digital products (PDF, ePub, MOBI) ready for you

Download now and discover formats that fit your needs...

Wiley Blackwell Companion to Karl Barth Barth

https://ebookmass.com/product/wiley-blackwell-companion-to-karl-barthbarth/

ebookmass.com

Escaping Valentine’s Day Barth

https://ebookmass.com/product/escaping-valentines-day-barth/

ebookmass.com

Conflict and Post-Conflict Governance in the Middle East and Africa Moosa A. Elayah

https://ebookmass.com/product/conflict-and-post-conflict-governancein-the-middle-east-and-africa-moosa-a-elayah/ ebookmass.com

Employee Benefits 6th Edition, (Ebook PDF)

https://ebookmass.com/product/employee-benefits-6th-edition-ebook-pdf/

ebookmass.com

Business

S. Schindler

https://ebookmass.com/product/business-research-methods-14e-ise-14thise-edition-pamela-s-schindler/

ebookmass.com

Rhys: R.I.S.C. Charlie Team Book 4 Anna Blakely

https://ebookmass.com/product/rhys-r-i-s-c-charlie-team-book-4-annablakely/

ebookmass.com

Renegade Anna Schmidt

https://ebookmass.com/product/renegade-anna-schmidt-2/

ebookmass.com

(eTextbook PDF) for Carpentryu00a03rd Canadian Edition byu00a0Floyd Vogt

https://ebookmass.com/product/etextbook-pdf-for-carpentry-3rdcanadian-edition-by-floyd-vogt/

ebookmass.com

Ethics, Morality And Business: The Development Of Modern Economic Systems, Volume I: Ancient Civilizations 1st Edition Edition Dipak Basu

https://ebookmass.com/product/ethics-morality-and-business-thedevelopment-of-modern-economic-systems-volume-i-ancientcivilizations-1st-edition-edition-dipak-basu/

ebookmass.com

A Favor for the Prince Jane Ashford

https://ebookmass.com/product/a-favor-for-the-prince-jane-ashford-3/

ebookmass.com

KarlBarth

KarlBarth ALifeinConﬂict

CHRISTIANETIETZ

Translatedby

VICTORIAJ.BARNETT

GreatClarendonStreet,Oxford,OX26DP, UnitedKingdom

OxfordUniversityPressisadepartmentoftheUniversityofOxford. ItfurtherstheUniversity’sobjectiveofexcellenceinresearch,scholarship, andeducationbypublishingworldwide.Oxfordisaregisteredtrademarkof OxfordUniversityPressintheUKandincertainothercountries

©VerlagC.H.BeckoHG,München2019FortheEnglishlanguageedition(c)ChristianeTietz2021 ThistranslationisbaseduponthecorrectedsecondGermanedition. Themoralrightsoftheauthorshavebeenasserted FirstEditionpublishedin2021 Impression:1

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedin aretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans,withoutthe priorpermissioninwritingofOxfordUniversityPress,orasexpresslypermitted bylaw,bylicenceorundertermsagreedwiththeappropriatereprographics rightsorganization.Enquiriesconcerningreproductionoutsidethescopeofthe aboveshouldbesenttotheRightsDepartment,OxfordUniversityPress,atthe addressabove

Youmustnotcirculatethisworkinanyotherform andyoumustimposethissameconditiononanyacquirer

PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmericabyOxfordUniversityPress 198MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NY10016,UnitedStatesofAmerica

BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData Dataavailable

LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2020952990

ISBN978–0–19–885246–9

PrintedandboundintheUKby TJBooksLimited

LinkstothirdpartywebsitesareprovidedbyOxfordingoodfaithand forinformationonly.Oxforddisclaimsanyresponsibilityforthematerials containedinanythirdpartywebsitereferencedinthiswork.

ForEberhardJüngel

Preface

“ComparedwithKarlBarthweareallmeredwarfs.”¹Thisverdict,comingnot fromafriendbutfromanenemy,goestotheheartoftheepochalsigniﬁcanceof thetheologianKarlBarth.Fordecadeshedominatedthedebatesfarbeyondhis owndiscipline.Hedisagreedwiththedominanttheologicalconvictions,opposed societaltrends,andbattledagainstpoliticaldevelopments.Invariablyhedidthis withcourageandwithoutmincingwords.

Barth’slastingsigniﬁcance,whichisalsohislastingdisruptivepotential,restsin thefactthatheemphaticallyclari ﬁedtheabsoluteothernessofGodoveragainst the “world.” InanerainwhichGodandreligionhadbecomeunderstood culturally,interpretedpsychologically,andinstrumentalizedpolitically,the impactofthisinsightontheologywassimilartothatofHeidegger’sstresson thefundamentaldifferencebetween “Being” (Sein)and “Beings” (Seiendes)on philosophy,ortheExpressionistprotestinartagainstNaturalism.

KarlBarthwasSwiss,butformanyyearswasaprofessorinGermany.Hewas criticalofNationalSocialismandtheGermanchurch ’sconformitytoit.Evenafter hisdismissalfromtheuniversitybytheNationalSocialistsandhisreturnto SwitzerlandheremainedtiedtoGermanyasacriticalcontemporary.Afterthe SecondWorldWarhesummonedtheGermanstoconfesstheirguiltandthe SwisstofriendshipwiththeGermans.HefoughtagainstGermanrearmamentas againstnucleararmamentduringtheColdWar.HisSwissheritagegavehimthe freedomtotakepoliticalpositionswhileatthesametimebringinghimunder attackasanoutsider.

Barthalwaysstoodupforhisconvictionsclearly.Evenoutsidethetheological worldmanyadmiredhisincorruptibility.Othersweresharplycriticalofthestands hetook.Hiswritingswerecensoredandhehimselfwasundersurveillance.

Similarly,hisprivatesituationwasdifﬁcult.Foralmostfortyyearshelivedwith hiswifeandhismistressunderoneroof.Allofthemsufferedunderthisarrangementbutfoundnowayout.

IntheearlydecadesfollowinghisdeathBarth’sapproachremainedinﬂuential. Inmorerecentyearshowevermanyhaveputasidehistheologyasstaticand outdated,anddescribedhispersonalityasauthoritarian.

Barth’spersonalandprofessionallife,andthetimesinwhichhelived,were markedbyconﬂict.Itisnowtime,fromagreaterhistoricaldistance,totakeanew

¹PaulAlthausaccordingtoLoewenich, ErlebteTheologie,60.

lookatBarth’scentralconcerntospeakofGodentirelydifferentlyfromwhatwas customary,andtoreconstructhowhislife,so filledwithcontradictions,andhis thought,whichsoughttomakecontradictionsandconflictsfruitful,influenced eachother.Barthwasunwavering,yethealsoexperiencedself-doubtandloneliness.Hewasaharshjudgeofothers,butcouldalsosurprise,withhishumorand twinklingeyes.Andhewasafriendtohumanbeings.

KarlBarth:HisLifefromLettersandAutobiographicalTexts,thebiographyby EberhardBusch,Barth’spersonalassistantinthe ﬁnalyearsofhislife,isfoundationalforanybiographicaltreatmentofBarth.ThisbookowesmuchtoBusch’ s work.

IdedicatethisworktoEberhardJüngel,acriticalstudentofBarthandmy professor,whotaughtmehowinspiringBarth’stheologyis.

InHorgen,atownnearthe “Bergli,” May10,2018.

ChristianeTietz

Acknowledgments

Workonthisbiographywouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthesupportofthe KarlBarth-ArchiveinBaselanditsdirector,Dr.PeterZocher.Iamdeeplygrateful tohimforhispromptattentioninprovidingmewithmaterialsandinformation.

Dr.Hans-AntonDrewes,thepreviousdirectoroftheKarlBarth-Archive,and Dr.NiklausPeter,boardmemberoftheKarlBarth-FoundationBasel,tookonthe workofreadingthemanuscriptandofferingcriticalsuggestionsthatimprovedit.

InthepastfewyearsNiklausPeterhasbeenanimportantconversationpartner aboutBarth’scontemporarysigniﬁcance.

PastorDieterZellweger,presidentofthecommissionthatoverseesBarth’ s literaryestate,followedandsupportedmyprojectwithsympatheticinterest, permittingthecitationsfromNellyBarth’sletters.

JakobandThomasLindtagreedtothepublicationofpreviouslyunpublished passagesfromaletterfromBarthtotheirmotherGertrudLindt.

IwouldliketoexpressmydeepthankstotheBertaHess-CohnFoundationof BaselforapublicationstipendfortheGermanedition.

Iwouldnothavebeenabletocompletethisbookwithoutmycolleagues JohannaBreidenbach,LilianeFrei,MichaelPfenninger,andDominikWeyl. Theyhelpedmecollecttheliteratureandinthe ﬁnalmonthsofworkspent theirevenings,weekends,andholidaysreadingandcorrectingthemanuscript. Throughtheirencouragingfeedbackthey aswellasnumerousfriends helped meperseverethroughoutthearduousperiodsofwritingthisbook.

IamdeeplygratefultoC.H.Beckpublisherswhopublishedtheoriginal GermaneditionofthisbookandtoitseditorDr.UlrichNolteforhisencouragementofthisprojectandhisvaluablesupport.Iam ﬁlledwithjoythattheEnglish editionofthisbookisnowbeingpublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress.

Finally,mysincerethanksgotoVictoriaJ.Barnett,whosowonderfully translatedthisbook,withallherscholarlyexpertiseandlinguisticsensitivity.

ListofIllustrations xv

ListofAbbreviations xix

1. “IBelongtoBasel”:AncestorsandChildhood,1886‒19041

AGuildmaster,Pastors,andScholars:Barth’sAncestors1

AStrictLoveforTruthandChristianDiscipline:HisParents8

“AGreatGreatJoy”:ChildhoodandYouth12

2. “ThisObscureDesiretowardaBetterUnderstanding” : Studies,1904‒923

TheDecisiontoStudyTheology23 StudentinBern24

WearingtheColorsandNoncombative:IntheZoﬁngia Association26

“VeryDiligentandQuiteCapable”:StudentinBerlin28 OnceMoreinBernandthenTübingen32 InMarburgatlast35 HisWorkfor DieChristlicheWelt 37

3. “StumblinguptheStepstoCalvin’sPulpit”:Geneva,1909‒1148 VicarinGeneva48

QuiteDemanding:TheFirstConﬁrmationInstruction50 TheologianintheCongregation52

“InSuchaDreadfullyPiousEnvironment” 53

ADaughterfromaGoodHome:TheEngagementtoNelly Hoffmann55 FarewelltoGeneva56

4. “TheRedPastor”:Safenwil,1911‒2161

“ThisSystemofEmploymentMustFall”:Workers andSocialists62

ATheologicalFriendship:EduardThurneysen66

“TheWorld...withoutGods”:TheFirstWorldWar68

“AnOpenHouse”:FamilyLife73

5. “ABookforThoseWhoWereAlsoConcerned” : TheFirst EpistletotheRomans,191984 HumanReligionandtheDivineWord84

“LikeaBombonthePlaygroundoftheTheologians” 90

“WithoutWindowstotheKingdomofHeaven” : TheTambachLecture91

6. “ToAlwaysWorkSomewhatFaster”:Göttingen,1921‒5100 FromSwissPastortoGermanProfessor100

“UnavoidableNonsenseoftheAcademicBusiness” 103 “AlmostLikeaBuddy”:BarthwithHisStudents109 “LivelyCombat”:EmanuelHirschandOtherColleagues110 “StrangerfromaNeutralPlace”:KarlBarthandtheGermans112

7. “NotaStoneLeftStanding”:TheSecond Epistleto theRomans,1922121 ACriticalTurn121

TheNewVersionofthe EpistletotheRomans 125 CriticsandAdmirers130 WhatisDialecticalTheology?133 DialecticalTravelingCompanions:Brunner,Bultmann, Gogarten137 FifteenQuestionsandSixteenAnswers:TheControversy withHarnack142

8. “TheNeedforThinkingFurther”:Münster,1925‒30153 ACallandaMomentousEncounter153 ReceivedwithJoy,DepartinginDiscord156 IntheTunneloftheSemester158 ReturntoBern?163 “TheChurch,theChurch,theChurch”:Encounterswith Catholicism165 Riding,HouseMusic,andTravel167

9.ATroubled “MénageàTrois”:CharlottevonKirschbaum177 ALong-GuardedSecret177 “INeverKnewThatThereCouldBeSomethingLikeThis” 178 “ACertainDoubleLife” 183 ThreeunderOneRoof188

10. “ASwissmanintheMiddleofGermany”:Bonn,1930‒5199 WorkingonTheology199 TheHumanityofGod202 FirstConﬂictswithGermanNationalists:TheCaseof GüntherDehn206 Now’stheTimefortheSocialDemocratParty:1933209 WarningstotheChurchandaLettertoHitler211 1933asaYearofCrisisintheBarthHousehold214 TheTheologicalDimensionofBarth’sRelationshipto CharlottevonKirschbaum220 AttacksontheSwissman223 Againstthe “GermanGreeting” 225 TheBreakwithhisDialecticalTravelingCompanions226 TheBarmenTheologicalDeclaration231 Suspension,BanonPublicSpeaking,Dismissal239

11. “WeWhoCanStillSpeak”:Basel,1935‒45268 LifeGoesOn:ProfessorinBasel268 InternationalHonorsandLackofAppreciation270 BattlefortheConfessingChurch272 Anti-Appeasement:TheCalltotheCzechstoResist277 ThePoliticalResponsibilityofaChristian280 ChurchStruggleandRefugeeAid283 EcumenicalSilenceattheOnsetoftheWar286 FamilyIntriguesandGrief288 ACallforMilitaryResistance,andSwissCensorship290 AFriendoftheGermans,Nonetheless299

12. “InPoliticalRespectsaDubiousWill-o’-the-Wisp” : Basel,1945‒62314 War’sEndandtheDeclarationofGuilt314 BacktoBonnand,OnceAgain,StateandChurchIssues320 “God’sBelovedEasternZone”:AgainstAnti-Communism324 APaciﬁstafterAll?ProtestagainstRearmamentand NuclearWeapons330 YestoEcumenism,butwithouttheCatholics336 TheMasterwiththeCrumpledTie341 TheDiscoveryofOptimisminPrison344 Courage,Tempo,Purity,Peace:ConfessiontoMozart346 Children,Grandchildren,andtheRejectionofHis DesiredSuccessor347

13. “TheWhiteWhale” : ChurchDogmatics

362

“AConceptualHelix”:Barth’sMonumentalWork362 TheThreefoldFormoftheWordofGod364 God’sThreeModesofBeing366

“GodIs” Means “GodLoves” 368 WhomGodElects369 WhatGodCommands371 WhyGodWantstheCreation372 NothingnessandtheShadowSidesofCreation373 TheThreefoldOfﬁceofChristandtheThreeFormsofSin375 TheLightShinesWhereItWishes376 TheBaptismofWaterandoftheSpirit377

14. “AllThingsConsidered,aLittleTired”:TheFinalYears, Basel,1962‒8383

“Fantastic ”:ACalvinistintheUnitedStates383

“RulesforOlderPeopleinRelationtoYounger” 387

“AsIfDeeplyVeiled”:CharlottevonKirschbaumMust MoveOut390

“SeparatedBrothers”:InConversationwithRome394

ListofIllustrations

1.1.FritzandAnnaBarth,1884,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.9

1.2.AnnaBarthwithKarlBarth,1886,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.13

1.3.TheBarthchildrenin1897:Peter,Karl,Gertrud,Heinrichand KatharinaBarth,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.14

2.1.KarlBarthasamemberoftheBernZoﬁngiaAssociationin1907, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.32

2.2.KarlBarthinMarburg,1909,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.38

3.1.Calvin’spulpitintheTempledel’Auditoire,Geneva,©Bibliothèque deGenève/FotoAtelierBoissonnas.49

3.2.KarlBarth’sengagementtoNellyHoffmann,1911,©KarlBarth-Archive inBasel.57

4.1.TheReformedchurchinSafenwil,theoldparsonageintheforeground, ©ErhardSommer,Kölliken,usedwithpermission.62

4.2.KarlBarthwithEduardThurneysenatthe “Bergli,” 1920, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.67

4.3.NellyBarthin1932,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.74

4.4.KarlandNellyBarthwithchildrenFranziska,Markus,and Christophin1918,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.75

5.1.KarlBarthinfrontoftheSafenwilparsonagein1913, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.86

6.1.KarlBarthwithsonHansJakobin1925, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.102

6.2.KarlBarthasayoungprofessorinGöttingen,1925, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.106

7.1.FriedrichGogarten,EduardThurneysen,andKarlBarthat the “Bergli” atthefoundingofthejournal ZwischendenZeiten,1922, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.142

8.1.TheBarthfamilywithahousekeeper,1927,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.155

8.2.KarlBarthin1925,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.159

9.1.CharlottevonKirschbaum,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.178

9.2.The “Bergli” inOberrieden,thegaragewiththe “Törli” inthebackground, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.185

9.3.KarlBarthwithCharlottevonKirschbaumatthe “Bergli” in1929, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.187

9.4.NellyBarthandCharlottevonKirschbauminBonn, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.191

10.1.KarlBarthinBonn,1930,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.200

10.2.KarlBarthin1932,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.208

10.3.KarlBarthwithCharlottevonKirschbaumin1935near the “Bergli” inOberrieden,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.218

10.6.Atthe1934Barmenconfessionalsynod:KarlBarth (withpipe)ontheleft;thetwootherpersonscannotbeidentiﬁed withcertainty,©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.232

11.3.HikingwithhissonsChristophandMarkusBarthinthesummer of1941,amonthafterthedeathofsonMatthias, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.290

12.2.Barth’ s ﬁnalhomeonBruderholzallee.Photo:ChristianeTietz.319

12.5.KarlBarthwithWillemA.Visser ’tHooftata1960conferenceof theWorldStudentChristianFederationinStrasbourg, ©KarlBarth-ArchiveinBasel.340

13.1.KarlBarth’sstudyattheBruderholzalleehomeinBasel,doorwayto CharlottevonKirschbaum’sofﬁceinthebackground.Photo: ChristianeTietz.363

14.1. TimeMagazine coverofApril20,1962,https://time.com/384

AllphotographsprovidedbytheKarlBarth-ArchiveinBaselwereusedwithkind permission.

ListofAbbreviations

CDChurchDogmatics

GAKarlBarthGesamtausgabe

KBAKarlBarth-Archive

SPSwissSocialDemocratParty

SPDGermanSocialDemocratParty

“IBelongtoBasel”

AncestorsandChildhood,1886‒1904

“Onthe10thofMay,1886,atmiddayastheclockstrucktwelveIcameintothe world.Theconstellationwaspropitious.”¹EchoingGoethe,thesecouldhavebeen theopeningwordsofKarlBarth’sautobiography,aprojectheventuredashewas approachingtheageofeighty.Barthcouldhavestartedwithhimself.

Yethechoseadifferentopening,settingthetonebyquotingahymnbythepoet PaulGerhardt: “Whathavewehereorwhatarewe/Ofgoodwhatcanearthgive/ ThatwedonotalonefromThee/OurFather,ayereceive?”²Itresoundslikea summaryofBarth’stheology:humanbeingsarewhattheyaresolelythroughGod.

ForKarlBarththisalsomeantthataperson’slifedoesnotstartwithhimselfbut withhisparentsandtheirparentsandgrandparents.Hebeganhisautobiography withthem.Ashelookedbackathislifehewishedtounderstandhimselfas “deﬁnedandlimited” bythembutalso “freeashimself.”³Hedugthrougharchives andtracedhisfamilytreebackasfarastheReformationto ﬁndoutmoreabout hisancestors.Attheendhediscoveredthathewas “somehowconnectedtothem all” andcould “somehowrecognize” himselfinthem;theywerepart “ofmy presentandmyfutureaswell.”⁴

UnfortunatelyBarth’sportrayalonlywentasfarbackashisgrandparents’ generation,buthisexaminationofhisownrootsisrevealing.⁵

AGuildmaster,Pastors,andScholars:Barth’sAncestors

TheBarthfamilycamefromMülligenintheSwisscantonofAargau.⁶ Some ﬁve kilometersawayabovetheAareRiverisHabsburgCastle,theancestralseatofthe Habsburgroyalhouse.Barthsuspectedsomewhatsheepishly

thatoneoranotherofmyBarthianancestorsmayhavebeeninMorgartenin 1315andinSempachin1386⁷ ...:notamongthevictoriousoriginalSwissbuton thewrongside,andtherecertainlynotasnobleknightsinshiningarmor,but onlyamongthelightlyarmedfootmenoramongtheHabsburghangers-on one ofthosewhoinbothbattleswouldhavebeenthe ﬁrsttorunoffindisgrace.⁸

BecausetheparishrecordsinMülligenwerelostina fire,Barthcould findonly oneancestorwiththefamilynameBarthasfarbackasthemid-eighteenth century,a “farmernamedHansJakobwhosurelyworkedindustriouslyinhis fieldandstable.”⁹ Hisgrandson,KarlBarth’sgreat-grandfatherSamuelBarth, movedfromMülligentoLittleBasel(Kleinbasel),thesectorofBaselontheright bankoftheRhine,andhadatobaccostorethere.HebecameaBaselcitizen in1816.

Inturnhisson,FranzAlbertBarth,KarlBarth’spaternalgrandfather,studied theologyandwasinitiallyapastorinthecantonofBasel-Country.In1852he beganworkingasateacherattheUpperSchoolforYoungLadies(Höhere Töchterschule),asecondarygirls’ schoolfoundedin1813inthecityofBaselat theinitiativeofthe “SocietyforEnliveningandEncouragingtheGoodandthe PublicBeneﬁt.” In1861hebecamepastoroftheChurchofSt.TheodoreinLittle Basel.Hewas “aquietbutactiveandfaithfulpreacher,counselorandteacher... Myfatheralwaysspokeofhimwiththemostaffectionaterespect. ”¹⁰

PoliticalinterestwasnaturalinthehouseholdofBarth’sgrandparents.In contrasttootherGerman-speakingSwiss,theyopposedNapoleonIIIandsupportedtheGermansinthe1870‒1Franco-PrussianWar.KarlBarthrecalledin particularoneofhisgrandfather’ s “mementosofthispreference” : “anutcracker withtheunmistakableheadandfaceofBismarck(whichhadtheeffectthatfora longtimethewords ‘Bismarck’ and ‘nutcracker’ meantoneandthesamething tome).”¹¹

KarlBarth’spaternalgrandmothercamefromanoldKleinbaselfamily,the Lotz’s.BurkhardLotz,theoldestancestorhewasabletotrace,wasabutcher whocametoBaselfromtheAlsaceandbecamecitizenofBaselin1543.Barth’ s great-grandfatherPeterFriedrichLotzwasasilkdyerandahighlyrespected memberoftheappealscourt,memberoftheCityHighCouncil,aswellasguild masteroftheweavers’ guild.Heseemstohavebeenquiteawillfulcharacter,and Barthknewanumberofstoriesabouthim.Hehadonce “mailedallhiscolleagues ontheHighCouncilawashcloth.”¹²WhenLotzlearnedthathewastobepublicly mockedduringtheBaselCarnivalbyoneofthecustomarycliques(organized groupsofpipersanddrummersandotherswhomarchduringCarnival),he quicklyandimpudentlyjoinedtheheadoftheclique,armedwithanumbrella, andmarchedwiththemforthreedaysthroughthecity,a “formidableactofcivil courage. ”¹³

KarlBarthbelievedthathisownvehementoutburstscouldbetracedbackto whatthefamilycalledthe “Lotzrage.” Itwasafamiliarfeatureofhisfather,evenif heknewhowtosuppressitashegrewolder.Norwasitforeigntohisbrothers. WhenaLotzloseshistemper,Barthwroteinthedraftofhisautobiography, “he getspiercinggreeneyes” and “thencertainlydoesn’talwaysstaywithinthe boundsof ...whatisrightbeforeGodandisappropriateformakingonepopular amongone ’sfellows...MayIaddtosoftenthisthatoncethe ‘Lotzrage’ has

brokenout,itdissipatesratherquicklyandadoptsmorehumaneemotionsand manners. ”¹⁴

Barthhoweveralsotracedacertainphysicallimbernesstothissideofthe family.Adistantcousinoncetoldhimthatonehadtobedescendedfromthe Lotzfamilytobeableto “standononefootandbringthelargetoeoftheotherto themouth ...WhenmycousinhadleftItriedthissecretlymyself(atthetime IwasatleastalreadyafullprofessorinBasel)andinfact...!”¹⁵

ThedaughterofheadstrongPeterFriedrichLotz,SaraLotzmarriedFranz Barth.Thecouplehad ﬁvesonsandonedaughter.SaraLotztoowasclearin herpoliticalpositions.Whenthe ﬁrstliberalpastorarrivedinBaselsheclosed “all theblindsoftheparsonageonRebgasseonthedayofhisinstallation ...as though therehadbeenadeathinthefamily.”¹⁶

Barth’smaternalgrandfatherwasaSartorius,thesonofKarlFriedrich Sartorius,aboutwhomthefamilydidnotliketospeak: “Therewassufﬁcient reasonandjusticetobeashamedofhim,wishthathehadneverbeenbornandto thegreatestextentpossibletokeepquietabouthimoronlyspeakofhimin whisperedreferences.”¹⁷

InhisautobiographicaldraftKarlBarthdidtheopposite:hespentconsiderably moretimeonSartoriusthanontheothers.

Thedecisivethingthatdrewmetohimandcapturedmyfocusforafairlylong timewasonlythis,thatinnosensewasheashininglight...ratherheonly appearedtometobethemostobviouslylacking,poorest,unhappy ﬁgureamong myancestorsthatIknewof:assomeonewhounequivocallyfailedintheschool oflifeandthusasapariahdemandedmyattention.¹⁸

Barthdidnotwishtotreathimcondescendingly,sincetheprocessofdealingwith himwas “perhaps ...in anticipationpartoftheportraitofmyownlife.”¹⁹

KarlFriedrichSartoriuswasbornin1793neartheSaxoncityofAnnaberg.He studiedtheologyandphilologyinLeipzigandreceivedhisdoctoratein1815.In thesameyearhemovedtoBaseltobecomeateacherataprivateschoolthere.The schoolclosedin1818,butinthemeantimeSartoriushadbecomeateacherof GermanliteratureandhistoryattheBaselhumanistic Pädagogium,thesecond oldestsecondaryschoolinSwitzerland.

Throughhisimpressivespeecheshesoondrewtheattentionofthepeopleof Basel.In1819hewasappointedtothe firstchairforGermanliteratureatthe UniversityofBaselwithoutneedingtogothroughthecustomaryprocedurefor appointments.Inhispublicappearanceshebattledferventlyforthenewhumanism,fortruth,virtue,andbeauty.Barth’simpressionhoweverwasthathedealt onlyeclecticallywithliteratureandphilosophy.Whilesomeofthosewhoheard himfoundhislecturesacademicallydeficient,otherspraisedhimas “astarofthe highestorderinthe firmamentofscholarsfromRaurach,” acomparisonthatin

Barth’sjudgementwasquiteexaggerated,sinceinthateragreatscholarslikethe naturalistPeterMerianandthetheologianWilhelmMartinLeberechtdeWette werelecturingattheUniversityofBasel.²⁰

PrivatelyhoweverthingsatsomepointbegantogowrongforSartorius. “Here waswherehisship,afteradeparturethatpromisedhappiness,blunderedintoa whirlwindthatthenledtohishuman,professionalandcivilruin.”²¹In1823he marriedSophieHuber,thedaughterofthearchitectAchillesHuber.Barthwas convincedthattheyweredeeplyinlove.Inashortperiodoftimethecouplehad fourchildren.

Themarriageappeared “at firsttohavebeensubjectively ‘happy.’”“Evenlater Icould findnosignthatthisrelationshiphadbeendisruptedbyanother woman. ”²²BarthdeterminedthatSophieHubermusthavebeen “alovely,sensitiveyoungwomantobesure,veryimpressionabletothenatureandenvironment aroundher,butintermsofkeepingtheseimpressionsup,letalonemastering them,shewassimplyinneedofcleardirection.”²³Thereforeshe fledtoher parentsthroughletterswhereshewroteaboutthehousehold,herhealth,and thechildren,butneverabout “theintellectualintentionsandactivitiesofherKarl Friedrich.Wasitbecauseaccordingtoherownstatementsshewasn’treally preoccupiedbythem?Orforherpartwasshesimplynotgiftedenough intellectually?”²⁴

Around1830thetheologianandphilologistKarlLudwigRoth,ateacherin Baselwholaterbecameprofessorattheuniversity,joinedthehouseholdasthe children’stutor.Barththoughtitunlikelythattherewasarelationshipbetween Rothandhisgreat-grandmother.HebelievedhoweverthatbecauseofRoth’ s digniﬁed,academicallyrespectablemanner,fortheparentsofSophieHuberhe quicklytooktheplaceofSartorius,whohadnoauthorityoverhiswifeandcould hardlyimpressherwithhisunproductivestudies.Indeed,athomehehadbeen “alonelyshadow ﬁgure. ”²⁵

ThesituationbecamedifﬁcultasrumorsbegantospreadthroughBaselthat Sartoriusdranktoooftenandtoomuch.Soonhenolongerlivedinthefamily countryhousebutrentedanapartmentintown.Afterseveralpublicscandals relatedmostlytohismisuseofalcoholhesubmittedhisresignationtothe universityonNovember12,1832.Whenheattemptedtwodayslatertowithdraw it,theuniversityrespondedbynotinghis “academicincompetence” andthe “poornessofhisinstruction.”²⁶ SartoriusleftSwitzerlandshortlythereafterand returnedtotheGermanOreMountains(Erzgebirge).OnNewYear’sDay1834he preachedasermononcemoreinhisSaxonhomeland.Barthreadit “againand again ...alwayslookingforsomethingnewthat...mightoncemorechangethe portraitofhim ...Unfortunately ...in vain.”²⁷ Oneyearlater,in1835,Sartorius wasdead.

BetweenthelinesofSartorius’ s ﬁnalsermonwassadnessabouthisown life,thelossofhisfamilyandtherespectthathehadoncereceived,but

alsoreproachesabouthisunfairtreatmentandself-blame.ForBarthitwasthe “ﬁnal...tortured ...howlofaman...who ...forthisveryreasonwassohelpless becausehecontinuedtobelievethathecouldhelphimself.”²⁸

WhatBarthhoweverdidnot ﬁndinthesermon andperhapsassomeone approachingtheendofhisownlifeheespeciallylongedforit wassomeone comfortedby “forgiven ...guilt,”“thedivine ‘sympathy.’”²⁹ Thiswastheologically unsatisfactoryforBarth.Onahumanlevelhoweverhewasmoved:

whatthesermon actually criesforishumansympathy:atakingpartinthe misery ofthisoneexistenceandessence.Onecannotandmaynotdenyhimthis, particularlyifoneunderstandsorthinksheunderstandsgenuine,divine “ sympathy”:thispoor,helpless,andasfarasonecantellstubborntotheveryend deargreat-grandfather!³⁰

KarlBarth’smaternalgrandfatherKarlAchillesSartoriuswastheeldestsonof thisgreat-grandfather.Heattendedthe Pädagogium wheretheextraordinary GermanistWilhelmWackernagel,afullprofessorattheUniversityofBasel since1835,becamehisteacher.In1843hebeganhistheologicalstudiesinBasel andcontinuedtheminBerlinwhereheattendedthelecturesoftheelderly FriedrichWilhelmJosephSchelling.AfterthishewenttoHeidelberg.Fromhis timeinBerlinhebrought ﬁrsteditionsofSchleiermacher’ s DiechristlicheSitte as wellasSchleiermacher ’slettersandsermons,whichKarlBarthafterthedeathof hisgrandmother “broughttoSafenwil,topreventothersfromgettingthese ﬁrst. Theyhavetrulycomeinhandyandtothisdayareanespeciallytreasured ornamentinmylibrary. ”³¹

In1849KarlAchillestookapastorateinBretzwilinthecantonofBaselCountryandmarriedMargarethaRickenbach,whoboreonedaughterbutdied onlytwoyearsafterthewedding.ThatsameyearhetransferredtotheSt.Elisabeth ChurchinBasel.Thereheworkedonbehalfofanewchurchbuilding,whichwas financedbytheBaselpatronandlargelandownerChristophMerian.In1864the firstworshipservicetookplaceinthenewSt.ElisabethChurch,whichisthemost significantneo-GothicchurchinSwitzerlandandseats1,200.KarlBarthrecalled thatasasmallchildhehadoftenbeenintheparsonagenexttothechurch.There hereceived “animpression ” ofthe “dignityandpastoralsolemnity” ofhis grandfather, “whichlaterIwasunabletoconveyintheslightesttomyown grandchildren.”³²

Alreadyin1854KarlAchillesSartoriusremarried,toJohannaBurckhardt.The couplehadninechildren,ofwhomtheseventhwasKarlBarth’smotherAnna. TheeldestsonofthissecondmarriagewasalsonamedKarlandbecameaclose studentfriendofBarth’sfather,whowouldnamehissonforhim.

InBarth’sviewthetheologicalproﬁleofhisgrandfatherwasrathersimple: despitethefactthathehadexperiencedthe “Schleiermacheratmosphere” during