55 pages • 1 hour read •
The Cost of Discipleship
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Book Brief
320
Book • Nonfiction
1930s
1937
Touchstone
Adult
18+ years
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.
Inspirational
Challenging
Contemplative
Emotional
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 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.
50,058 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Central figure in the narrative whose teachings and example establish the foundational ethical and spiritual standards that the text advocates followers to embody through committed discipleship.
The Cost of Discipleship was first published in 1937 and is one of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's most well-known works, reflecting his theology and ethical convictions during the rise of Nazi Germany.
The title The Cost of Discipleship is originally Nachfolge in German, which translates to "following" or "discipleship," emphasizing the theme of what it truly means to follow Christ.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote The Cost of Discipleship during a time of intense personal and political conflict, as he was actively involved in the resistance against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.
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320
Book • Nonfiction
1930s
1937
Touchstone
Adult
18+ years
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