55 pages • 1 hour read
Dietrich BonhoefferThe Cost of Discipleship
Dietrich BonhoefferNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1937A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Authorial Context: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident, was deeply shaped by his intellectual and historical context. Born in 1906 into a family noted for its intellectual capabilities, Bonhoeffer was immersed in academic rigor and philosophical inquiry from a young age. His theological education not only imparted knowledge but also emphasized wisdom, precision, and intellectual clarity. These elements became evident in his subsequent challenges to conventional religious practices and ethical norms, notably articulated in his book The Cost of Discipleship, where he introduced the concept of “cheap grace.”
Bonhoeffer’s perspectives were further enriched by a sojourn in the United States, where, during his time in Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church, he was exposed to the notion of faith as a call to social action and justice. The committed faith he witnessed in the African American community profoundly impacted him, sowing the seeds for his later active resistance against the Third Reich’s policies toward Jews. Upon his return to Germany, Bonhoeffer found a church that he perceived as morally and spiritually unprepared to confront the challenges posed by Hitler’s regime, which deepened his commitment to what he saw as authentic Christian discipleship.
This commitment was not abstract but deeply practical. For instance, he founded an illegal seminary in 1935 to prepare leaders who could embody this understanding of discipleship in the face of an immoral state. Moreover, when Germany neared war, Bonhoeffer faced a moral dilemma. An opportunity to teach in the United States provided him a temporary escape, but his stay lasted only 26 days. He returned to Germany, feeling disconnected from himself and his homeland during his time abroad.
Once back in Germany, Bonhoeffer’s actions took a drastic turn. He accepted a position within the Abwehr, German Military Intelligence, as a double agent, involved in a clandestine operation to overthrow and possibly assassinate Hitler. His decision to take this path, fraught with ethical and moral complexities, was rooted in his theological convictions about the active role of faith in the world. Bonhoeffer coined the term “religionless Christianity” to criticize mere religiosity, advocating instead for a faith that addresses the world’s suffering and injustice. His ethical choices led to his arrest and execution in 1945, just before the end of World War II.
Historical Context: Christianity During the Rise of Nazi Germany
Written in the tumultuous atmosphere of Nazi Germany as it prepared for World War II, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book can be understood as an intellectual and spiritual reaction to the moral failings he observed in both German society and its church institutions. At a time when Adolf Hitler’s regime was co-opting religious symbols and narratives for its propaganda, Bonhoeffer felt an urgent need to clarify the nature of authentic Christian discipleship. His work becomes particularly significant when viewed against the backdrop of the German church’s complacency and, in some instances, complicity in the state’s ideology, which was deeply anti-Semitic, authoritarian, and militaristic.
Bonhoeffer was deeply troubled by what he saw as a corrupting influence within the German church, where traditional Christian teachings were being replaced or distorted to suit the Nazi agenda. He was equally concerned with the German society at large, which was increasingly falling into moral apathy and blind nationalism. The church’s failure to actively oppose this trend further intensified his conviction that a radical re-evaluation of Christian beliefs and practices was needed. For him, the church’s surrender to nationalist ideology represented a moral failing and a betrayal of the core tenets of Christian faith.
The timing of the book’s writing also speaks volumes. As the 1930s progressed, it became increasingly clear that Germany was heading toward armed conflict. Within this climate, Bonhoeffer’s text served as a prophetic critique, daring to challenge the prevailing ideologies that were steering the country toward war and genocide. His arguments were not only theological but also sociopolitical, tying faith to ethical action in the public sphere. His concept of “cheap grace” decried the way faith was being used as a cover for ethical laziness and moral compromise. Bonhoeffer argued that genuine faith required “costly grace,” a commitment to justice and righteousness, even when doing so invited danger or persecution.
Bonhoeffer’s book is a historical document that captures the moral and spiritual crisis of a specific time and place. It was a call for ethical integrity and spiritual authenticity, penned in an environment where both were severely endangered. The text remains an analysis of how political regimes can co-opt religious institutions and serves as a reminder of the ethical obligations accompanying religious faith.
Unlock all 55 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features: