Barth's Critique of Calvin on Election

“How can we have assurance in respect of our own election except by the Word of God? And

how can even the Word of God give us assurance on this point if this Word, if 

this Jesus Christ is not really the electing God, not the election itself, not our election,                                                                                                                                                  but only an elected means whereby the electing God—electing elsewhere and in some other 

way—executes that which he has decreed concerning those whom He has—elsewhere and in 

some other way—elected? The fact that Calvin in particular not only did not answer but did not 

even perceive this question is the decisive objection which we have to bring against his whole 

doctrine of predestination. The electing God of Calvin is a Deus nudus absconditus.”

Karl Barth, CDII/2, 111.