The Covenant Family in Karl Barth's Theology

The Covenant Family in Karl Barth's Theology

CHENG Suet Ling

Barth connects God, the individual human person, and the others in the world in relation to the covenant. In this covenant, God, the human being, and his or her fellows are in fellowship. The person, as covenant partner of God, is commanded to correspond to his or her true being and to demonstrate cohumanity under the light of Jesus Christ. In the covenant, God commands the human person. The command of God always regulates one's life and life together with others in relation to the one Creator.¹

Barth insists that humanity is “humanity-for-others.” A family is a fellowship in which family members, as covenant partners of God, can practice their co-humanity. This definition of a family helps Christians focus their lives on being covenant partners of God. It gives a shape to and provides goals for the parenting experience. It also shows how we should treat children and what we should want for them. Marriage and parenthood are considered callings from God.

In this paper, we examine how Barth applies the concept of encounter and covenant partner in his Family Theology. Barth considers the family a fellowship; husband and wife are in a life-partnership to establish a permanent relationship. They give evidence of their love for each other in this relationship. If the couple have children, they become representatives of God to their children. They are charged with imitating the parenthood of God to their children. Although their children are not “born Christians”, they are called to be holy . The parents need to guide them to know God and help them establish close relationships with God. The parents are to understand themselves as elder covenant partners of God. Ultimately, the aim is for the children to see themselves as “junior” covenant partners of God. Birth control is also discussed in this paper. Barth insists that married couple should make responsible decisions together on this issue.

This special view of the family contrasts greatly with the common view in Hong Kong. This common view of Hong Kong people will be discussed. Some suggestions for Hong Kong Christians for building up their families will also be given.

¹ Karl Barth, Ethics., ed. Dietrich Braun, trans. Geoffrey Bromiley (New York: Seabury Press, 1981), 208.