how influential is Karl Barth in the Reformed Church?

dms1972

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GC Berkouwer is a dutch reformed theologian who has also critiqued Barth, while at the same time finding Van Til's analysis and interpretation doesn't correspond to the deepest intents of Barth's theology. Berkower is less sweeping in his criticisms than Van Til.

Van Til sees Barth's philosophical underpinnings influencing all of his theology, and so because Van Til disagrees with those he continually interprets Barth's theology in the light of his philosophy.

Berkower however writes on this that

"Van Til has no eye for the fact that often in the history of dogma particular philosophical assumptions played a part in a theology, assumptions, that is, in which and alongside of which an influence of the Word of God makes itself felt in such a way that it is impossible to deduce the theology logically and consequently from the particular philosophical assumptions. Because Van Til thinks that he can point out certain assumptions in Barth, he thinks he can draw the line of them on through, and so essential statements of Barth are neglected or distorted."
 
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