55 pages 1 hour read

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Cost of Discipleship

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1937

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer examines authentic Christian discipleship, contrasting superficial "cheap grace" with demanding "costly grace," urging unconditional obedience to Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that true faith combines belief and action, calling for relinquishment of one’s entire life, ethical commitments, and societal resistance as echoed in Jesus’s teachings. The book includes themes of suffering, societal ostracism, and ethical resistance to evil regimes.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship is widely celebrated for its profound theological insights and its compelling call to radical Christian living. Critics commend its depth and challenging nature, though some note its dense prose can be difficult for casual readers. Overall, it remains a seminal work in Christian ethics and discipleship.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Cost of Discipleship?

A reader captivated by The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is likely engaged in Christian theology, ethics, or philosophy. They would appreciate meaningful exploration of religious duty similar to C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity and Thomas à Kempis's The Imitation of Christ. These readers are reflective, seeking depth in faith and moral challenges.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Religion / Spirituality

Themes

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Genre

Christian literature