THE BARMEN THEOLOGICAL DECLARATION

by Karl Barth and others

1. 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me' (Jn. 14.6).
   'Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber ... I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved' (Jn. 10. 1,9).
   
   Jesus Christ, as he is attested to us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear, and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death.
   
   We reject the false doctrine that the church could and should recognize as a source of its proclamation, beyond and besides this one Word of God, yet other events, powers, historical figures, and truths as God's revelation.
   
2. 'Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and
   redemption' (1 Cor. 1.30).
   
   As Jesus Christ is God's comforting pronouncement of the forgiveness of all our sins, so, and with equal seriousness, he is also God's vigorous announcement of his claim upon our whole life. Through him there comes to us joyful liberation from the godless ties of this world for free, grateful service to his creatures.
   
   We reject the false doctrine that there could be areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ but to other lords, areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him.
   
3. 'Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the
   head, into Christ, from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit together' (Eph. 4.15f).
   
   The Christian church is the community of brethren in which, in Word and sacrament, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ is present and active as Lord. With both its faith and its obedience, with both its message and its order, it has to testify in the midst of the sinful world, as the church of pardoned sinners, that it belongs to him alone, and lives and may live by his comfort and under his direction alone, in expectation of his appearing.
   
   We reject the false doctrine that the church could have permission to hand over the form of its message and of its order to whatever it itself might wish or to the vicissitudes of the prevailing ideological and political convictions of the day.
   
4. 'You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise
   authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant' (Mt. 20.25f).
   
   The various offices in the church do not provide a basis for some to exercise authority over others but for the ministry with which the whole community has been entrusted and charged to be carried out.
   
   We reject the false doctrine that, apart from this ministry, the church could. and could have permission to, give itself or allow itself to be given special leaders [Führer] vested with ruling authority.
   
5. 'Fear God. Honour the emperor' (1 Pet. 2.17).
   
   Scripture tells us that by divine appointment the state, in this still unredeemed world in which also the church is situated, has the task of maintaining justice and peace, so far as human discernment and human ability make this possible, by means of the threat and use of force. The church acknowledges with gratitude and reverence toward God the benefit of this, his appointment. It draws attention to God's kingdom [Reich], God's commandment and justice, and with these the responsibility of those who rule and those who are ruled. It trusts and obeys the power of the Word, by which God upholds all things.
   
   We reject the false doctrine that beyond its special commission the state should and could become the sole and total order of human life and so fulfil the vocation of the church as well.
   We reject the false doctrine that beyond its special commission the church should and could take on the nature, tasks and dignity which belong to the state and thus become itself an organ of the state.
   
6. 'Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age' (Mt. 28.2 0). 'The word of God is not fettered' (2 Tim. 2.9).
   
   The church's commission, which the foundation of its freedom, consists in this: in Christ's stead, and so in the service of his own Word and work, to deliver to people, through preaching and sacrament, the message of the free grace of God.
   
   We reject the false doctrine that with human vainglory the church could place the Word and work of the Lord in the service of self-chosen desires, purposes and plans.
   
   The Confessional Synod of the German Evangelical Church declares that it sees in the acknowledgment of these truths and in the rejection of these errors the indispensable theological basis of the German Evangelical Church as a confederation of Confessional Churches. It calls upon all who can stand in solidarity with its Declaration to be mindful of these theological findings in all their decisions concerning church and state. It appeals to all concerned to return to unity in faith, hope and love.

Verbum Dei manet in aeternum.

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