Barth and theology's task

"Since the Christian life is consciously or unconsciously also a witness, the question of truth concerns not only the community but the Christian. He too is responsible for the quest for truth in this witness. Therefore, every Christian as such is also called to be a theologian...

"Theology is no undertaking that can be blithely surrendered to others by anyone engaged in the ministry of God's Word. It is no hobby of some especially interested and gifted individuals. A community that is awake and conscious of its commission and task in the world will of necessity be a theologically interested community...

"The task theology has to fulfill is continually to stimulate and lead them to face squarely the question of the proper relation of their human speech to the Word of God, which is the origin, object and content of this speech. Theology must give them practice in the right relation to the quest for truth, demonstrating and exemplifying to them the understanding, thought, and discourse proper to it...

NB - "the Word" for Barth is not the same as holy Scripture. The Word refers to God's free self-revelation that climaxes in Christ, the Word who became flesh.