We have before us the fiendishness of business competition and the world war, passion and wrongdoing, antagonism between classes and moral depravity within them, economic tyranny above and the slave spirit below.
Karl BarthRead
The theologian who labours without joy is not a theologian at all.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A theologian must find joy in their work; otherwise, they lack true vocation.
In this quote, Karl Barth emphasizes the importance of joy in one's vocation, particularly in the context of theology. He suggests that joy is an essential component of genuine theological work, implying that a lack of joy may undermine the authenticity of one's faith and studies, transforming the efforts into mere labor devoid of spiritual depth and purpose.
Themes
JoyTheologyVocationLaborFaith
In practice
Example use cases
Sharing this quote during a sermon to inspire joy in spiritual practice.
More from Karl Barth
All quotes βWhen we speak of our virtues we are competitors, when we confess our sins we become brothers.
Karl BarthRead
Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life.
Karl BarthRead
That the zeal for God's honor is also a dangerous passion, that the Christian must bring with him the courage to swim against the tide instead of with it... accept a good deal of loneliness, will perhaps be nowhere so clear and palpable as in the church, where he would so much like things to be different. Yet he cannot and he will not refuse to take this risk and pay this price... he belongs where the reformation of the church is underway or will again be underway.
Karl BarthRead
In the Church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians.
Karl BarthRead
Christian worship is the most momentous, most urgent, most glorious action that can take place in human life.
Karl BarthRead
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If I have not been exposed and am not in any danger of pursuit. But I have been exposed, I am pursued - by myself! That is a pursuer that does not readily let go.
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Remembering bred its own peculiar sorrow. It seemed so unfair: that time should render both sadness and happiness into a source of pain.
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