21 Karl Barth Quotes

Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God.

Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is himself the way.

Man can certainly flee from God but he cannot escape him. He can certainly hate God and be hateful to God, but he cannot change into its opposite the eternal love of God which triumphs even in his hate.

Jews have God's promise and if we Christians have it, too, then it is only as those chosen with them, as guests in their house, that we are new wood grafted onto their tree.

Faith in God's revelation has nothing to do with an ideology which glorifies the status quo.

No one can be saved - in virtue of what he can do. Everyone can be saved - in virtue of what God can do.

In the Church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians.

The statement that 'God is dead' comes from Nietzsche and has recently been trumpeted abroad by some German and American theologians. But the good Lord has not died of this; He who dwells in the heaven laughs at them.

Faith is never identical with piety.

Sin is not confined to the evil things we do. It is the evil within us, the evil which we are.

What God chooses for us children of men is always the best.

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.

The best theology would need no advocates; it would prove itself.

Men have never been good, they are not good and they never will be good.

Conscience is the perfect interpreter of life.

It is always the case that when the Christian looks back, he is looking at the forgiveness of sins.

It may be that when the angels go about their task praising God, they play only Bach. I am sure, however, that when they are together en famille they play Mozart.

Let us hear what the Bible says and what we as Christians are called to hear together: By grace you have been saved.

The devil may also make use of morality.

Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace.

Religion is the possibility of the removal of every ground of confidence except confidence in God alone.