Homo imago Dei in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Point of View. An Ecumenical Perspective

• Authors: Bogusław Kochaniewicz

Abstracts

EN

This article examines Bonhoeffer’s understanding of Homo imago Dei in Creation and Fall and Discipleship from the perspective of Catholic anthropology, as expressed in the recent document published by the International Theological Commission, “Communion and Stewardship.” Despite differences between imago Dei in Bonhoeffer’s vision and Catholic doctrine, one can observe many convergences and similarities, which contribute to ecumenical dialogue. Both views of imago Dei are characterized by Christocentrism: Christ is the true image of God. Another element connects the renewal of God’s image in human beings with the paschal mystery (the passion, death and resurrection of Christ). The renewal of imago Dei is the grace bestowed on mankind by Christ, the new Adam and the perfect image of the Father. Another common element of God’s likeness is the relational aspect of this image. Bonhoeffer stresses human freedom as a constitutive element of God’s image, which he describes as “freedom for,” a concept which also appears in the Catholic document, thus forming another common element in the ecumenical dialogue. Both Bonhoeffer and contemporary Catholics highlight the personalistic dimension of human beings, which encompasses the whole human being. This comparison of different viewpoints thus presents many common points, which open a new perspective in the ecumenical dialogue between the two traditions. It should encourage and inspire further research in discovering the truth about human beings, created in the image of God.

• Publisher: Ewangelikalna Wyższa Szkoła Teologiczna we Wrocławiu
• Journal: Theologica Wratislaviensia
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 11 Dietrich Bonhoeffer na 500 lat Reformacji
• Pages: 101-108

Dates

published

2016

Contributors

author

Bogusław Kochaniewicz

• Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu

Identifiers

Biblioteka Nauki

2054923