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Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 4 Paperback – May 28 2003

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Author), John D. Godsey (Author), Barbara Green (Author),
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 206 ratings
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"Cheap grace is the mortal enemy of our church. Our struggle today is for costly grace." And with that sharp warning to his own church, which was engaged in bitter conflict with the official nazified state church, Dietrich Bonhoeffer began his book Discipleship (formerly entitled The Cost of Discipleship). Originally published in 1937, it soon became a classic exposition of what it means to follow Christ in a modern world beset by a dangerous and criminal government. At its center stands an interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount: what Jesus demanded of his followersand how the life of discipleship is to be continued in all ages of the post- resurrection church.

"Every call of Jesus is a call to death," Bonhoeffer wrote. His own life ended in martyrdom on April 9, 1945.

Freshly translated from the German critical edition, Discipleship provides a more accurate rendering of the text and extensive aids and commentary to clarify the meaning, context, and reception of this work and its attempt to resist the Nazi ideology then infecting German Christian churches.

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  1. Book 2 of 13
    Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works
  2. Print length
    354 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Fortress Press
  5. Publication date
    May 28 2003
  6. Dimensions
    15.24 x 2.21 x 22.86 cm
  7. ISBN-10
    0800683242
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0800683245
  9. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the most significant Protestant theologians of the twentieth century, a legacy sealed by his imprisonment in a German concentration camp and eventual execution. His resistance against Nazism and pivotal role in the Confessing Church movement have been key points of illumination for many on the nature of Christian political witness and action. Millions have been inspired by his rich reflections on the Christian life, especially his beloved works on discipleship and ethics. As a professor, seminary leader, and ecumenical theologian, Bonhoeffer's work also profoundly shaped academic theology, especially systematic theology, and the life of the church.



John D. Godsey is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C.



Geffrey B. Kelly is Professor of Systematic Theology at LaSalle University, Philadelphia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fortress Press; 1st edition (May 28 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 354 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800683242
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0800683245
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 318 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.21 x 22.86 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 206 ratings

About the author

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in Breslau in 1906. The son of a famous German psychiatrist, he studied in Berlin and New York City. He left the safety of America to return to Germany and continue his public repudiation of the Naz*s, which led to his arrest in 1943. Linked to the group of conspirators whose attempted assassination of Hitlerr failed, he was hanged in April 1945.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
206 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Alice J. Klassen
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book
Reviewed in Canada on January 10, 2014
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I was using this book as a reference to write a theological paper. I found it particularly helpful . I have also read his biography and find him to be a very articulate writer on subjects that interest me. He is a historical icon whom I find challenging to read about .
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Adrian
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 12, 2015
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Hands down the second greatest book I've ever read.
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C. A. Likely
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic on Christian Discipleship
Reviewed in Canada on April 9, 2010
This is the book where Bonhoeffer coined the phrase "cheap grace." In it he contrasts the "cheap grace" which would seek to separate practice (praxis) from faith, with "costly grace" which follows after Christ no matter the cost. As with all Bonhoeffer's works it needs to be read in its historical context (Nazi dominance, the threat of war, and the capitulation of most of the German Church) and in its theological context (historical Lutheranism). With those filters properly in place, it is much easier to understand what Bonhoeffer was trying to said, and what he was not saying. This book is an absolute must for anyone trying to come to grips with the Lordship of Jesus. As the most widely read of Bonhoeffer's books it is also essential for understanding the man and meaning of the ubiquitous discipleship phrase "cheap grace." A delightful, though challenging read.
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Vincent Hitchcock
5.0 out of 5 stars Good product
Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2020
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Good product purchases gift just what I wanted great value for the money
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Top reviews from other countries

Lalhlimpuia C
5.0 out of 5 stars Christian life
Reviewed in India on September 17, 2022
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One of the greatest book I had ever read...It is what Chriatian today need to read about..
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Ivan
5.0 out of 5 stars A critique
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2015
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This is an excellent scholarly edition of one of Bonhoeffer's best known works, with a very detailed note system.
Bonhoeffer found himself in much the same situation as Kirkegaard (who greatly influenced him) in that both reacted against a dead Lutheran church. Like the earlier pietist movement, he also wanted to get back to faith of the real Luther, as opposed to lutheranism. He constantly criticizes the lutheranism of his day for its lack of spine, particularly in the area of repentance and obedience. Sometimes his reasoning is hard to follow and over-subtle and "churchy" rather than biblical. He is clearly influenced by late medieval pietism (the suffering Christ etc) and tends to stress this to the detriment of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He does not do enough justice to the Jewish background of most of the biblical passages that he discusses. On the other hand one has to realize that Bonhoeffer was a member of the Lutheran Church engaged in a life and death struggle with the Nazi ideology of his day. In spite of all this, his redeeming feature is that, as a (Christian) existentialist man of action, he practised what he preached and this eventually cost him his life.
What I find particularly irritating with this particular edition of Bonhoeffer's work is the North American obsession with gender neutrality. It is an anachronism (and slightly dishonest) to put into Bonhoeffer's mouth gender neuter language. However, the editors are to be congratulated on using a modern translation of the Bible.
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GeoCitizen411
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Christians
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2012
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I found this book in a store and was impressed with the list of references and cross-references to Bonhoeffer's other work, the reference material influencing his thoughts and biblical passages on which he prayed. For this reason I was rather reluctant to buy it for my Kindle because I just didn't think the Kindle could easily move between all the various references, footnotes and biblical verses quoted separately. It took me a few failed attempts but I quickly caught on to how to navigate this highly footnoted text and move between its notes and the book itself.

"Discipleship" is Bonhoeffer's original title of what was eventually translated from German and released in the US as "The Cost of Discipleship". I tried to read "The Cost of Discipleship" over 25 years ago but I guess I wasn't at the right spot in my Christian walk to appreciate what he was saying and gave up after the first couple dozen pages. That was then. Now I am beginning my second reading and using it more as a study guide.

I highly recommend reading the biography of Bonhoeffer ( see my other review ) prior to reading this book. It makes the footnote and references easier to understand and enhances your understanding of what was happening at the time. It is not a requirement for understanding the message and call of "Discipleship" but it helps to understand Bonhoeffer’s frame of mind as he worked and reworked the manuscript during very tubulent years.
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Matt
4.0 out of 5 stars New translation is a great read
Reviewed in Australia on June 19, 2014
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Bonhoeffer is a powerful writer that has amazing and profound insights into theological concepts and Scripture that I have wondered about for years. I will definitely recommend this book if ever I have a conversation about the Beatitudes.

I haven't personally read the old translation, but I have read from other reviews that it was quite old-fashioned and in need of improvement. This new version is really nice to read and given all the explanation about the translation work and the footnotes, you have confidence that you are reading what Bonhoeffer intended.
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Portal
5.0 out of 5 stars Enlarged resources
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2014
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This seies, produced by a project dedecated to the reprinting of Bonhoeffer's works with commentary and additional footnotes is excellent in every way. Since much attention has been given to 'The Cost of Discipleship' in the English translation, this edition of the original 'Discipleship' is all the more important.
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