Reading Bonhoeffer: A Guide to His Spiritual Classics and Selected Writings on Peace (Cascade Companions)

by Geffrey B. Kelly

Publisher:

Cascade

, 2008

Overview

Dorothee Soelle once wrote, “Dietrich Bonhoeffer is the one German theologian who will lead us into the third millennium.” Today, Bonhoeffer continues to inspire new generations as a spiritual guide for their actions on behalf of peace and social justice. This book by Geffrey Kelly provides a critical analysis and reading guide to two of his spiritual classics, Discipleship and Life Together. Reading Bonhoeffer offers a running commentary on each segment of these popular texts, along with discussion questions suitable for the university and seminary classroom, as well as parish adult-education programs. In a final section of the book, Kelly excerpts and analyzes three significant texts by Bonhoeffer on the need for world peace against the rising militarism and continued glorification of war in Germany and other European nations.

Key Features

• Brief biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Commentary on each segment of two Bonhoeffer classics
• Foreword by John W. Matthews

Contents

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biographical Sketch
• On Reading Bonhoeffer’s Spiritual Classic, Discipleship
• Life Together: Bonhoeffer on Christian Community
• Selected Writings on Peace: An Ecumenical Conference and Two Sermons

Top Highlights

“Bonhoeffer, ‘following after’ (Nachfolge) this living Christ into all the world was the essence of discipleship. His theology was not about thoughts or abstractions or principles that were simply to be believed. To know God was to experience Jesus Christ as an active/personal presence in every nook and cranny of life.” (Page xi)

“God becomes tangible in the Christian community, where human beings are graced by God and shaped by Jesus Christ into a communion of loving people making visible Christ’s incarnate presence as the risen Lord.” (Page 4)

“Like Luther, Bonhoeffer argues that good works are not eliminated in the response to Jesus’ call. In fact, they emanate from the faith that justifies. Bonhoeffer makes the daring statement in this chapter that ‘the road to faith passes through obedience to Christ’s call.’” (Page 37)

“True, the disciples are free in their choices, but if they intend to follow Jesus, they will suffer. In” (Page 42)

“‘Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace.’^{3” (Pages 32–33)}

Endorsements

Geffrey Kelly fuses personal characteristics that define him—deep sensitivity for spirituality, ecumenical openness and knowledge, the discipline of individual and communal practice of devotion, a sharp eye for contextuality, and his unmistakable Irish passion—and mingles them into this study of two widely acclaimed works by Bonhoeffer. The combination of those elements, and his intimate knowledge of the literature by and on Bonhoeffer, make for a fresh, well-written, and compelling introduction . . . and highlight Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s relevance for living in today’s context as followers of Christ.

—H. Martin Rumscheidt, emeritus professor of historical theology, University of Windsor, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Reading Bonhoeffer—both vintage Kelly and vintage Bonhoeffer—will serve to introduce yet another generation to this important voice from the church’s immediate past. Specialists and those looking for an introduction to Bonhoeffer’s faith and witness, as well as the average Christian seeking to grow in faith, will benefit from this text. In this presentation, both Bonhoeffer’s and Kelly’s passion for Christian discipleship comes through.

—H. Gaylon Barker, vice president, International Bonhoeffer Society, English Language Section

Geffrey Kelley, a prolific writer in the field of theology and religion, has now provided what I think is his best and most helpful work in spirituality—a work useful for ordinary readers as well as scholars in living their own daily lives.

—Charles W. Sensel, emeritus board member, International Bonhoeffer Society, English Language Section

Product Details

• Title: Reading Bonhoeffer: A Guide to His Spiritual Classics and Selected Writings on Peace
• Author: Geffrey B. Kelly
• Series: Cascade Companions
• Volume: 6
• Publisher: Cascade
• Print Publication Date: 2008
• Logos Release Date: 2013
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Christian life › Bekennende Kirche authors; Peace › Religious aspects--Bekennende Kirche; Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, 1906-1945
• ISBNs: 9781556352362, 9780227903414, 9781498210744, 9781621890126, 1556352360, 0227903412, 1498210740, 1621890120
• Resource ID: LLS:CASCADEBONHOFFR
• Resource Type: text.monograph.study-guide
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:30:09Z

About Geffrey B. Kelly

Geffrey B. Kelly is a professor of systematic theology at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Best known for his research and publications on the theology and spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Kelly is past president of the International Bonhoeffer Society, English Language Section. The present book is the offshoot of his editorial work for the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, English Edition—the new translations and critical editions of the collected writings of Bonhoeffer. Among his recent works on Bonhoeffer are Liberating Faith, The Cost of Moral Leadership, and A Testament to Freedom.