The Theology of Conversion

Reclaims the theology of Christian conversion by integrating Karl Barth’s doctrine of conversion within a constructive theological framework. This book delivers a doctrinally rich account of Christian conversion that challenges reductive, experience-based approaches. Drawing from Scripture and Barth’s Church Dogmatics, Tom Dove introduces a fourfold framework that defines conversion as inseparably connected to Christ’s person and work, purposive, a divine event, and integrated with the Christian life. He develops this framework through engaging with Barth’s doctrines of election, reconciliation, calling, baptism with the Holy Spirit, and creation. Subsequently, Dove constructively extends Barth’s theology to show how the Holy Spirit’s activity across Christ’s history provides the basis for connecting conversion and the Christian life. By magnifying the work of Christ and the Spirit, this study offers a holistic theological vision that integrates conversion with the reality of Christian existence.