Christian Discipleship According to Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Ethical and Practical Implications of Following Jesus

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29327/2401156.19.2-15

Keywords:

Following Christ, Christian ethic, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Practical theology, Discipleship

Abstract

Discipleship constituted the central axis of the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, who trained his followers for the continuation of the mission he received and sent them to all nations (Mt 28:19). The theme of following Christ remains relevant and indispensable to Christian reflection. This article aims to analyze the meaning and ethical implications of following Christ in light of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology, based on a bibliographic study of his works. It is concluded that the call to discipleship translates into the challenge of being a disciple, which entails a dual responsibility: toward Christ and toward the world.

Author Biography

Walace Alexsander A. Cruz, Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia

Doutorando em Teologia, em regime de cotutela, pela FAJE (Brasil) e pela Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal). Mestre em Filosofia pela FAJE. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4745-5865. E-mail: professorwalacealexsander@yahoo.com 

References

BARCALA, Martin. Cristianismo arreligioso: uma introdução à cristologia de Dietrich Bonhoeffer. São Paulo: Arte Editorial, 2010.

BONHOEFFER, Dietrich. A comunhão dos santos: uma investigação dogmática sobre a sociologia da igreja. São Leopoldo: Sinodal, 2017.

BONHOEFFER, Dietrich. Discipulado. São Paulo: Mundo Cristão, 2016.

BONHOEFFER, Dietrich. Resistência e submissão: cartas e anotações escritas na prisão. São Leopoldo, RS: Sinodal, 2015.

DICIONÁRIO VINE: O significado exegético e expositivo das palavras do Antigo e do Novo testamento. Rio de Janeiro: Thomas Nelson Brasil, 2016.

DICIONÁRIO BÍBLICO WYCLIFFE. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2014.

GUTIERREZ, Gustavo. A força histórica dos pobres. Petrópolis: Editora Vozes, 1981. HALE, Lori Brandt; HAYNES, Stephen. Bonhoeffer para todos. Viçosa: Ultimato, 2020.

LUTERO, Martinho. Uma coletânea de escritos. São Paulo: Vida Nova, 2017.

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Published

2026-06-30 — Updated on 2026-07-22

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How to Cite

Cruz, W. A. A. (2026). Christian Discipleship According to Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Ethical and Practical Implications of Following Jesus. Davar Polissêmica, 19(2), 647–660. https://doi.org/10.29327/2401156.19.2-15 (Original work published June 30, 2026)

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Artigos/Articles: Temática Livre/Free subject

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