Taking Stock of Bonhoeffer Studies in Biblical Interpretation and Ethics

Bonhoeffer's theology continues to prove richly fruitful in the 21st century. This book gathers together Stephen Plant's scholarly engagement with Bonhoeffer's life and theology over two decades. This collection makes accessible Plant's distinctive perspective on Bonhoeffer's theology, in particular on the key themes of biblical exegesis, ethics and the intimate connections Bonhoeffer discerns between them.

Part I Historical Context; Chapter 1 Bonhoeffer and Moltke: Politics and Faith in a Time of Crisis; Chapter 2 An Article Marking the Centenary of Bonhoeffer’s Birth: Faith, Political Duty and One Man’s Costly Grace; Part II Bonhoeffer and the Bible; Chapter 3 How Theologians Decide: German Theologians on the Eve of Nazi Rule 1 This Chapter is based on the 1999 Annual Hartley Lecture at Hartley Victoria College in Manchester. I am grateful to the College for the invitation to give the lecture and to those who asked questions. I am also grateful to the staff of the Institute of Germanic Studies, London, for assistance in the preparation of this Chapter ; Chapter 4 ‘In the Bible it is God who speaks’: Peake and Bonhoeffer on Reading Scripture ; Chapter 5 Guilt and Promise in Bonhoeffer’s ‘Jonah’ 1 This Chapter is a significantly revised version of a paper given in Oxford on 6 January, 2006, at the conference Bonhoeffer’s theology through the lens of his poetry. I am grateful to all who commented on the paper, and in Part Icular to Bernd Wannenwetsch for editorial guidance; Chapter 6 The Evangelisation of Rulers: Bonhoeffer’s Political Theology; Part III Bonhoeffer and Ethics; Chapter 7 Ethics and Materialist Hermeneutics; Chapter 8 The Sacrament of Ethical Reality: Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Ethics for Christian Citizens; Chapter 9 Bonhoeffer’s Interfaith Encounters; Chapter 10 ‘In the Sphere of the Familiar’: Heidegger and Bonhoeffer; Part IV Taking Stock; Chapter 11 Reading Bonhoeffer in Britain;

Stephen Plant has taught theology at the Universities of Cambridge and Durham, and was for 10 years Senior Tutor at Wesley House in the Cambridge Theological Federation. He has edited or written several books including Bonhoeffer (2004). He is co-editor of the 'International Bonhoeffer Interpretations' Series. In 2008 He was awarded the biannual International Bonhoeffer Scholarship by the Stiftung Bonhoeffer Lehrstuhl im Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, the first Briton to receive the award. He is Vice-President of the International Bonhoeffer Society and co-convenes the Bonhoeffer Section at the American Academy of Religion.