Jesus and Community: The Social Dimensions of Christian Faith

by Gerhard Lohfink

The author calls the present-day church to once again be the "contrast society," which attracts non-believers by living what it preaches and by being different without being narrowly sectarian.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Church, Christianity, School, Biblical Studies, Christian

211 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1983

About the author

Rev. Father Gerhard Lohfink was professor of New Testament exegesis at the University of Tübingen. Since 1986, he has lived and worked as a theologian for the Catholic Integrated Community. His many books include Does God Need the Church? (Liturgical Press, 1999).

Reviews

[Allison Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably pretty revolutionary in its day. It is a bit dated with its source criticism and pericopes. I recognize that this is a Catholic text, but the lack of engagement with the Spirit is frustrating.

[Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man!! This book is still relevant to the churches of today!!! Some amazing insights on what the original community of Jesus presents as a model for current congregations.
If you are looking for what community is in the Christian tradition, read this!!

[Kyle Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jesus' ethic was aimed toward an eschatological, renewed people of God. It was not directed toward the isolated individual, for isolated individuals are simply not in a position to exemplify and to live the social dimension of the reign of God."

This was a short, but surprisingly dense, book that offered a thorough, challenging, and energizing overview of Jesus' relationship to "community." More specifically, the theme of community is developed through four lenses: Jesus and Israel, Jesus and the earliest disciples, Jesus and the New Testament communities, Jesus and the early church.

I would recommend this to pretty much anyone. Lohfink is a Catholic scholar who almost comes across as Anabaptist at times, so most folks will find something here of value.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that made Gerhard Lohfink famous. A few years before his death in 2024 he published an updated version in German, and it is scheduled to be published by Fortress Press, in a new translation by me, in 2027.

[Dennis Podryadchikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his “Jesus and Community: The Social Dimension of Christian Faith”, Gerhard Lohfink responds to the question whether Jesus really founded a church. Not only he answers positively, Lohfink also promotes his perception of Jesus’ community as a contrast-society. Lohfink delineates many characteristics of such a society, such as somewhat radical brotherly love. Yet, the reader wished that the writer answer not only the question that something is necessary but also explain how to go about applying it. For example, Lohfink argues about the necessity of healings in a society filled with the Holy Spirit but has nothing to say about healings in a contemporary church. At the same time, Lohfink goes into a great detail about brotherly love making statements like, “Anyone who needs my help is my neighbor.” Both scholars and practitioners find the book well thought through and challenging when it comes to ecclesiology.

[Paul Rack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding and very, very important book. It presents Jesus as a community organizer. He established a community and taught people how to live together in love and justice. The church grows by being a living example of Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Miracles, especially of healing, are supposed to happen in the church; they are a sign of the Spirit. The church is an alternative community displaying values of non-violence and non-domination. It is about what we DO as a community, exhibiting Jesus' life of love.

Lohfink also can talk about the historical Jesus and different levels in the text without demonizing the early church or assuming that the early church hopelessly corrupted Jesus' teaching. (Unlike some other writers.)

This is a great book and anyone interested in the future of the Christian church will want to read it.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thorough and fascinating book about how Jesus viewed community as the primary tool of salvation for the nations. It is far more complex than its simple title would lead one to believe. Very much worth the read if you are interested in the thoughts and functions of the early church (beginning with Jesus and moving through the 3rd century), specifically with regard to the church's function as a unique community within but separate from society.

[Kate Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lohfink sets out to establish that God, Jesus, and the Church are not about religious individualism: emphasis has always been on the community. While it would be incredibly helpful for those who desire biblical support for such a claim (I can think of a few individualists to whom I would love to hand this book), if you're already on board with the whole "community is important" lifestyle, you can probably skip it.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little sluggish at times, but otherwise good. Invigorates you with all of the importance of living in community under the discipleship of Christ.