With Courage and Humility
Bonhoeffer's Ethical Approach for Us Today
- Theology
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
Today, German Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is often celebrated as a heroic modern Christian martyr. Ironically, however, Bonhoeffer himself while in prison resisted any temptation to think of himself as a martyr. We marvel at his courage in participating in a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler. But what does Bonhoeffer's ethical approach teach us about both courage and humility that might provide needed wisdom in our context? While the content of Bonhoeffer's Ethics reflects the time in which it was written, his work remains as relevant for us today as it was in Nazi Germany. Thoroughly grounded in God's grace and yet affirming that humans have real responsibility for history, it can be applied in both ordinary and extraordinary situations. Bonhoeffer teaches us we are called to act with bold conviction--but as responsible persons before God, with a limited point of view in history. Responsible persons recognize that to presume certain knowledge of good and evil is the height of ethical hubris. Bonhoeffer's ethical approach teaches us to be courageous enough to engage in responsible action when the concrete situation compels us and humble enough to let God be the ultimate judge of our actions. Brocker makes Bonhoeffer's ethical approach accessible to a broad audience. Refined by years of teaching in both lay and seminary contexts, Brocker's With Courage and Humility combines academic rigor with fellowship-hall approachability.
Endorsements (6)
“With Courage and Humility explores the strong pastoral core at the center of Bonhoeffer's theology. Mark S. Brocker has written a book with rich insights and inspiration for individual Christians and faith communities in our present moment.”
“Mark S. Brocker's mature reflections on the journey, moral vision, and legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer are truly a delight. The emphasis on Bonhoeffer's lived--not just theorized--combination of courage and humility strikes me as spot-on. Highly recommended.”
“Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not complete his book on ethics, leaving it to subsequent scholars to finish the job. The resulting ethics of formation and of responsibility skew moral agency toward the individual Christian and the congregation. Mark S. Brocker rightly locates moral agency in God, leaving Christians with a single question: How is God becoming human in this time and place? What emerges is an ethic of discernment that is ongoing and thoroughly incarnational. Christians proceed with humility, knowing that, like the disciples, they never fully recognize the risen Christ in their midst. They also proceed with courage, knowing that they lean on a God whose love does not depend on their moral perfection. At a time when Christian nationalists co-opt Bonhoeffer's life and theology for their own purposes, Brocker offers a powerful rebuttal.”
“In With Courage and Humility: Bonhoeffer's Ethical Approach for Us Today, Mark Brocker weaves together historical insight, textual analysis, and personal narrative to offer a clear and compelling account of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's ethical call to responsible action and civil courage. From this work, and emerging from a lifetime of pastoral care and education, Brocker offers readers a method for responsible decision-making. It is a timely contribution in our troubled and complicated world.”
“Since his death in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer has inspired and challenged generations of readers around the world. In With Courage and Humility, Mark S. Brocker combines a scholar's knowledge of Bonhoeffer's theology with a pastor's insight into his relevance for our lives today. This book is an excellent introduction for new readers and one that will help those who already know Bonhoeffer's story relate it to their own communities of faith.”
“This is a book to be read carefully and shared widely! Bonhoeffer's biography and scholarship are both invaluable resources for anyone trying to live as a Christian in the twenty-first century. Mark S. Brocker has done us a great service with this readable, careful, and insightful account of key ethical principles, virtues, and stories from Bonhoeffer's life and work.”
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