Bonhoeffer's Christological Interpretation of the Psalms: A Response

Abstract

Abstract:This article is a response to three others written in this journal on the topic of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's interpretation of the Psalms. The basic questions pursued here are, What is the origin of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Christological interpretation of the Psalms and does it have a defensible place for Psalms study and use today? The article interacts with the comments and proposals from each author, presenting context from Bonhoeffer's life for the authors' analysis and conclusions. The aim is not to defend Bonhoeffer's interpretation of the Psalms as much as to shed light on the development and shape of his interpretation, which is demonstrated in the writing of Prayerbook of the Bible in 1940. Through this analysis, this article aims to promote greater understanding of Bonhoeffer's exegetical and theological development in order to grasp his own aims more clearly in an attempt to appropriate his interpretive insights and conclusions for today.