The Young Bonhoeffer: 1918-1927

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Clifford J. Green, Marshall D. Johnson

The first of the chronological volumes in this acclaimed critical edition of Bonhoeffer's work gathers his one hundred earliest letters and journals from after the First World War through his graduation from Berlin University. It also contains his early theological writings up to his dissertation. These seventeen works include, for example, works on the patristic period for Adolf von Harnack, on Luther's moods for Karl Holl, on biblical interpretation for Professor Reinhold Seeberg, as well as essays on the church and eschatology, reason and revelation, Job, John, and even joy. Rounding out this picture of Bonhoeffer's nascent theology are his sermons from the period, along with his lectures on homiletics, catechesis, and practical theology. In translation for the first time, these writings show Bonhoeffer as pastor and theologian alert to his times and developing the formative themes of his religious worldview.

Genres: Theology

720 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

Works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Protestant theologian of Germany, concern Christianity in the modern world; for his role in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, people executed him.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer served as a Lutheran pastor. He, also a participant in the movement of Resistance against Nazism and a member, founded the confessing church. Members of the Abwehr, the military intelligence office planned his involvement, which resulted in his arrest in April 1943 and his subsequent hanging in April 1945 shortly before the end of the war. His secular view influenced very many people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietric...

Reviews

[Jay Hershberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Letters, seminary papers, and sermons from Bonhoeffer's student years. Interesting reading for any student of Bonhoeffer. Since I am not up on the history of the 19th and 20th century German theological traditions, the seminary papers are difficult reading. So far, the best sermon I've read is on the Pharisee and the Publican. Very compelling and convincing.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this. The content spread from letters to home about day-to-day happenings to papers for seminary and sermons. Likely wouldn't be interesting to someone not *really* into Bonhoeffer, but tons of insight into Bonhoeffer's education and how his thinking was shaped in his early years.