Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Scripture, Christ, and Church

This course introduces students to the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by exploring his approaches to biblical interpretation, Christology, and ecclesiology. Students unfamiliar with Bonhoeffer will benefit from this accessible introduction to his writings; students familiar with his more popular works will benefit from exploring selections of his lesser-known writings. Throughout this course, Bonhoeffer’s theology will be examined with attention to its historical context, enabling students to gauge the impact of events in Nazi Germany on Bonhoeffer’s thought. Bonhoeffer’s later reception will be addressed, inviting students to reflect critically on how Bonhoeffer continues to be represented and reinterpreted today. This course will allow students to engage with a special topic in Bonhoeffer studies: Bonhoeffer on peace and war, Bonhoeffer and Jewish-Christian relations, or Bonhoeffer and racism. Students will gain confidence analyzing and discussing Bonhoeffer’s theological outlook while also developing the academic skills needed for theological studies.

Required Texts: (Please order books through a bookseller – i.e. Amazon)

• Clifford J. Green and Michael P. DeJonge, eds., The Bonhoeffer Reader (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2013)
• Christiane Tietz, Theologian of Resistance: The Life and Thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, trans. Victoria J. Barnett (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016)

Prerequisite: TH500

Hybrid/Synchronous Course: students may join in-person at VST or online via Zoom. Asynchronous distance learning is not available for HIS/TH615.  

Note:  The in-person option will be the cohort of students and the class CTA.  The instructor is joining via Zoom.