ABSTRACT
It is axiomatic to the Christian faith that salvation is of God. It follows, therefore, that when the different dimensions of salvation – its content, character and scope – are articulated doctrinally, they can never be separated from the doctrine of God. The aspect of soteriology to be explored in this chapter is that of God’s saving action beyond the ministry of the Church. At issue is how the possibility, scope and significance of such salvation are shaped by the identity and character of God. The question will be explored by studying the treatment of this theme by two of the major theologians of the modern period, Karl Barth and Karl Rahner. In their respective treatments, these figures can be shown to treat the nexus of God, church, world and salvation in similar yet ultimately different ways. For that very reason the comparison will help to shed light, albeit from one particular perspective, on the connection between the doctrine of God and soteriology.
