Karl Barth’s rediscovery of Anselm’s works could rightfully be said to be the turning point in Barth’s pursuit of a means to DO theology. It was after moving to Munster and in preparation for lectures that Barth studied Anselm and eventually produced “Anselm: fides quarens intellectum,” which was considered by Barth to be his most important book. It was Anselm’s definition of God that became the springboard for Barth’s theology. Anselm said, “God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived.”
Sum of all possible perfections. Existence follows. It only works in this instance (Contra. Caunilo). Follows from common reason.
For Barth, this was no mere definition, but it is naming of God according to reason, like GOD is naming him according to faith. God may be encountered within these very words and they are a revelation of God’s manifestness. Thus, theology becomes at its core, a rethinking of the words in which God is manifest and a thinking after the words where God is manifested. Every word of God is an encounter of God and human beings. This is found absolutely in the person of Jesus, for he is THE revelation of God to humanity. Jesus becomes the objective word of God.