Deliverance to the Captives

work by Barth

Also known as: “Den Gefangenen Befreiung; Predigten aus den Jahren 1954–59”(Show More)

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July 16, 2026

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"Deliverance to the Captives" is a collection of sermons by the influential 20th-century Protestant theologian Karl Barth. These sermons, delivered to prisoners in Basel, Switzerland, reveal Barth's characteristic blend of evangelical passion and social concern.1

Barth's theology emphasizes the "wholly otherness of God" and the concept of human liberation from sin, which he characterized as a form of slavery to self-will and worldly desires. He believed that true Christian freedom is found in Christ and involves both individual liberation and service to others. This perspective informed his opposition to National Socialism and his advocacy for human rights.21

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Karl Barth
International reputation and influence
…aus den Jahren 1954–59 (1959; Deliverance to the Captives), reveal in a unique way the combination of evangelical passion and social concern that had characterized all of his life. Barth died in Basel at age 82.
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…aus den Jahren 1954–59 (1959; Deliverance to the Captives), reveal in a unique way the combination of evangelical passion and social concern that had characterized all of his life. Barth died in Basel at age 82.
Read More