Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Vol. 5)

After finishing his biography (a very good one by Eric Metaxas), I wanted to hear from him in his own words. I chose some of his more pastoral texts instead of his more systematic theology. I love the psalms, and enjoyed his call for Christians to pray them. This is even more meaningful when he said this in the midst of Nazi anti-Semitism and a "nationalist" Church that was rejecting the entirety of the Old Testament. His seminary reflections are also good, though I skipped past it after a little while since he was trying to build something so basic and so accepted today.

What wonderful two books in one book! For Life together book, the modern English helps very much. For "Prayerbook of the Bible", what a gem! Very few people know that Bonhoeffer wrote this short book on Psalms. This book really started my journery of praying the Psalms! "Thus if the Bible contains a prayerbook, we learn from this that not only the word which God has to say to us belongs to the Word of God, but also the word which God wants to hear from us, because it is the word of God's dear son. It is a great grace that God tells us how we can speak with, and have community with, God. We can do so because we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. The Psalms have been given to us precisely so that we can learn to pray them in the name of Jesus Christ."

I liked having a number of different people give various “sides” of Dietrich. This book seemed to show him as more human to me.

If this was just life together I would pay $1,000 For its intrinsic wisdom. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the true martyrs of the twentieth century who went back to Germany on the last boat possible against the cries of his friends to lead the confessing church eventually to be arrested and placed in 9 concentration camps presence where the Nazi guards felt him so strongly that they protected his papers at the risk of their own lives. Sadly he was hung on the direct orders of certain Heinrich Himmler 2 days before the liberation of the camp he was. It's rare enough that one can say THIS WAS A MAN!

I wanted to read Life Together, so my comments reference that part of the book.Bonhoeffer's wisdom is quite apparent as he delineates the manner in which the Body of Christ--locally, in particular--needs to operate to be of best use to God. When we see each other through God's eyes and through the filter of "this is someone Christ has died to save", we are more likely to relate as the Holy Spirit leads rather than through strength of personality or coercion.Bonhoeffer challenges us to live lives that can only accomplished by the power of the Spirit.

"Life Together" is a good read for anyone who may be faced with the prospect of living with Christians in a community separated from the structure of an established church body. It is especially applicable to those Christians who must feed themselves from the Word of God, such as missionaries or persons imprisoned. Any follower of Christ would benefiet from reading Mr. Bonhoeffer,s book.

Life Together is Bonhoeffer's description of community life at the Finkenwalde seminary, the underground seminary for the Confessing Church that he led until it was closed by the Nazis. Life Together provides a practical conclusion to Bonhoeffer's early concentration on ecclesiology. It is an excellent tool for both academic and devotional studies of the nature of community.The Bonhoeffer Works edition of Life Together provides historical clarification with extensive notes from leading Bonhoeffer scholars. It is an excellent resource both for those who are studying Bonhoeffer academically and those who use this book in church groups.

It is not what I expected.His tone seems more harsh here, thus not as readily acceptable for 21st century theology.I still have great respect for him due to the grave conditions that he had to write under.His nation was acquiescing to the Nazi's; he was the one strong voice against National Socialism, so he had to be stern in his methods.It just doesn't stand the test of timeI've also read Cost of Discipleship, which I found much more enlightening.

This is an amazing book, I read it many years ago and are now reading with a community as part of our daily prayers. This is no easy read, it is challenging to the point of being painful. I cannot recomend this book enough!

This book is beneficial for a spiritual life. Bonhoeffer points out many things that are useful in today's time. Many things that would not usually be looked at otherwise.

I'm a Bonhoeffer admirer. Enough said.