55 pages • 1 hour read
Dietrich BonhoefferThe Cost of Discipleship
Nonfiction | 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.
Before You Read
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
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.