In this rigorous and deeply researched study, marked by profound theological insight, Jonathan Lett challenges widespread misunderstandings of Karl Barth's interpretation of nature. Barth's rejection of natural theology, natural law, and the orders of creation is often taken to signal a fundamentally negative attitude toward creation's nature and order. Lett demonstrates, convincingly and with careful textual analysis, that the opposite is true.

Overturning reductive portrayals of Barth as governed by an actualist or historicist agenda indifferent to metaphysical questions, Lett shows that Barth develops a rich and robust ontology of creation-one grounded decisively in the person of Jesus Christ.

This timely volume is both intellectually demanding and richly rewarding. Its significance extends well beyond Barth studies: it deserves close attention from all who are concerned with the doctrine of creation and with the task of thinking theologically about the natural order.

Alan J Torrance, University of St Andrews, UK

Lett offers a long overdue and brilliant correction of a longstanding misreading of Barth. He shows why it is simply false to claim that Barth did not have the theological resources to defend a coherent doctrine of creation. Lett patiently and clearly shows that Barth's central interest was to highlight the constant temptation of fallen humanity to use their creaturely knowledge to turn God into an irrelevant or lifeless idol.

Brian Brock, University of Aberdeen, UK

Jonathan Lett offers a compelling case that Barth's aversion to natural theology was never a flight from metaphysics but a battle over it. By tracing how the doctrine of election reorganizes creation so that creaturely nature and order are Christologically constituted rather than independently given, he demonstrates that Barth's Nein! is the direct consequence of a robust metaphysical ambition. In doing so, Lett fills a lacuna in the field, makes a serious case that Church Dogmatics III deserves far more attention than it has received and opens up resources for Barth scholars, ethicists and theologians of nature alike.

Keith L. Johnson, Wheaton College, USA

This excellent book fills a major gap in the study of Barth's theology by providing a rich and comprehensive account of Barth's often misunderstood and more often neglected doctrine of creation. Barth's focus on Christ is widely thought to have marginalized creation, but Lett convincingly demonstrates that instead it brings creation into the center of God purpose and work. Along the way, he also sheds new light on controversies over Barth's doctrine of election, the role of justification in structuring Barth's thought, and the ultimately eudaimonistic character of Barth's ethics. I highly recommend it.

Gerald McKenny, University of Notre Dame, USA

Barth's doctrine of creation has been a continual stumbling block in Barth studies-frequently ignored, misunderstood, or misapplied. In this careful and perceptive study, Lett restores Barth's neglected doctrine of creation to its rightful place in debates over ontology and ethics, demonstrating another way forward in the perpetually thorny disputes over nature and its normatively. This book offers a creative and compelling model for how to think nature outward from a center in Christ.

Cambria Kaltwasser, Northwestern College, USA