칼 바르트 신학의 한국에서의 수용과정에 관한 역사적 고찰

The Reception of Karl Barth’s Theology in Korea : an historical overview

칼 바르트(1886-1968)의 신학은 유럽에서는 극단적인 보수주의로, 북미에서는 성경의 계시론과 영감설에 문제가 많은 자유주의로 왜곡되고 오해받았다. 한국에서 바르트의 신학은 자유주의와 정통보수주의 사이에서 애매모호한 논쟁들을 야기하는 회색주의적인 사상이며 교회부흥과 신학교육에 전혀 도움이 되지 않는 비 신앙적인 사상으로 오해되고 왜곡되었다. 그러므로 본 논문의 목적은 그동안 자유주의와 정통주의신학의 중간적인 회색주의자로 오해받던 칼 바르트가 한국에서 어떻게 배척되고 수용되었는지를 객관적이며 역사적인 관점에서 고찰-서술하기 위함이다.

Karl Barth(1886-1968)’s theological thought has been understood as radically-oriented conservatism to the European theologians while it has been regarded as liberal to North American theologians, especially his concept of biblical revelation as well as of inspiration. In Korea, Barth has been understood as a theological wobbler whose idea causes continually provocative debates on the issues of some theological doctrines among denominations and theologians. For this reason, this article will sketch an historical account of the rise of Barthianism in Korea, discussing when Barth’s theology was received in Korea and how Korean Christian theologians responded to it. However, this article does not argue that all Christian churches and pastors in Korea accepted Barth’s theology without criticism. Rather, it explores the interpreters of Karl Barth who have taken Barth’s Christ-centred principles as their theological norm and basis. The contents of this article will be divided as follows: 1. Introduction; 2. The Reception of Karl Barth’s Theology in the early 20th Century; 3. Minjung Theology and Barth’s Christocentrism; 4. An Indigenous Theological Movement and Barth’s Christocentric Theology; 5. Barth’s Reception in Korea in the Late 20th Century; 6. The Influence of Barth’s Practical Theology in Korea; 7. Numerous Publications on Barth’s Theology in Korea; 8. Establishment of the “Karl Barth Society”in Korea; 9. Conclusion.