Introduction: Christ, Church and World

The theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) continues to be as contested as it is discussed. His dramatic involvement in the resistance against Hitler and consequent execution have undoubtedly contributed to the widespread and sustained interest in his work, as has the publication of accounts of his life and times written for a non-specialist readership. Today Bonhoeffer remains among the most widely read and taught theologians in Europe and North America, and continues to find an ever-expanding readership around the globe. Most significant debates in contemporary theology have been affected in some way by the influence of widely varied interpretations of his provocative theological legacy.