Gerhard Lohfink

Renowned Scripture scholar, Gerhard Lohfink’s most personal book. While many of his other books offer biblical exegesis, this book tells the story of a life. Through personal, biblical, and theological reflections, Gerhard Lohfink (1934-2024) offers readers hope for the future with a compelling glimpse into his own story of faith. In Why I Believe in God, Lohfink also considers how the Christian faith can still exist in a world filled with hatred, war, and destruction. Interwoven with his life history, Lohfink recounts his childhood during the Nazi era and the Second World War, on his theology studies in Frankfurt and Munich, on his experiences as a priest and pastor, on his further studies in Würzburg, his time as a professor in Tübingen and the years after. He also ponders questions that play a decisive role in every Christian life: about the truth in the Bible, the role of reason in the Christian faith, and engaging with God when it comes to life decisions.

Gerhard Lohfink stellt sich in diesem Buch dem Thema Tod und Auferstehung. Er argumentiert vor dem Hintergrund heutiger Vorstellungen und Erwartungen. Seine Antworten kommen aus der Heiligen Schrift, der christlichen Tradition und der Vernunft. Mit seiner charakteristischen Sprache - weder frommelnd noch anbiedernd - lasst er die Kraft christlicher Auferstehung aufscheinen. Er zeigt: Es geht nicht um Ereignisse, die in ferner Zukunft liegen, sondern die uns unfasslich nahe sind. Sie haben langst begonnen und erreichen uns voll im eigenen Tod.

Gerhard Lohfink nos sumerge en la esencia misma de las ense anzas de Jes s a trav s del estudio de sus "dichos" o "logia", las palabras que los investigadores consideran aut nticas.Con una combinaci n magistral de erudici n y sensibilidad espiritual, Lohfink nos conduce a trav s de 70 dichos fundamentales, revelando su poder, su belleza y, sobre todo, su profunda seriedad. En un estilo claro y accesible, el autor nos ayuda a desentra ar el significado subyacente de estas palabras, arrojando luz sobre su contexto hist rico y su impacto perdurable en los disc pulos de Jes s.Este libro no solo ofrece la investigaci n acad mica m s reciente, sino que tambi n invita a una reflexi n profunda sobre el mensaje de estos dichos, las palabras m s importantes de Jes s.

2024 Association of Catholic Publishers Third Place Award, Scripture What Jesus taught through his preaching made an unforgettable impression upon his disciples. But it was the many succinctly formulated sayings of Jesus that stood out from the start because of their clear structure and vividness. In The Most Important Words of Jesus, renowned scholar Gerhard Lohfink focuses on the power, beauty, and seriousness of these seventy central sayings of the Lord. When the Church confesses that Jesus is not only truly human but also truly God, that means he is the perfect image of God, God’s definitive word. It rests on the majestic claim that revealed itself, modestly, discreetly, and yet clearly, in every one of the seventy “sayings” or logia of Jesus. In this book, Lohfink helps us to understand what Jesus is talking about in these sharply defined words.

2022 Catholic Media Association first place award in scripture: academic studies In this book, which covers all of Jesus’ parables, award-winning author Gerhard Lohfink takes a closer look at the origins of each one—its shape, its realistic details, but most of all its original message and the situation into which it was once spoken. Jesus’ parables speak in bold images of the kingdom of God, making it present to us as they reveal something of the mystery of his own person. Lohfink also offers a review of some of the scholarship in this area—as this topic has sustained research on Jesus since the first telling of these stories—but not for the purposes of debate. His reflections interpret the forty parables and show how they speak of the coming of the reign of God, lead us to Jesus, and reveal the mystery of Jesus himself.

2023 Catholic Media Association First Place Award, Author of the Year2023 Association of Catholic Publishers First Place Award, Scripture In this book New Testament scholar Gerhard Lohfink interprets a spectrum of biblical texts, some familiar, others not. He explores them in a spirit of curiosity, questions them insistently, and confronts them with the realities of our present day, from COVID-19 to the inner loneliness experienced by so many. In light of central biblical texts Lohfink asks: What would a life look like today if it were wholly in the world and at the same time wholly in God—sweeping joyously between heaven and earth—aware of the immeasurable breadth of the universe and still able to marvel at the tiniest flower—knowing the depths of the human heart and being comforted by a child’s smile? This book takes up the colorful threads of many Old and New Testament texts and weaves from them a many-hued tapestry of biblical theology. It reveals things unknown, sheds new light on things known, and is full of surprises. It speaks not only to the curious or the “nones” who want to know more about the Christian message; it is addressed to everyone who senses a desire to understand the Bible better and more deeply.

A lot of people would like to learn to pray all over again. Others are not so sure they ought to pray. They want to know whether prayer will help them and, more than that, whether it will be of any use at all to our world. This book gives an answer—not in the form of glib instructions, but by introducing the reader to the theology of prayer. It refers again and again to the Bible, especially the Psalms. At the same time, it speaks about personal experiences as well. Gerhard Lohfink writes in inviting, easy-to-read language, answering questions such as: “To whom do we pray?” “Does it make any sense to ask for things in prayer?” “What happens in the Eucharistic Prayer?” “What is so special about the Psalms?” “How can I practice Christian meditation?” This book offers an inviting approach to Christian prayer.

The Christians of Europe are still gathering in their big old churches. But the communities are getting smaller, and many things that used to be natural are falling apart. Christianity is no longer a form of life for many baptized persons. And for many others, the question of God or of the Church has become insignificant. However, it is noteworthy that the number of those who are newly asking about the Christian faith is growing. You want to get to know him better. They want to know what Christianity really is. Of course, much more would be true about the Christian faith. But in these fifty letters, the most important things are said. †

2020 Catholic Press Association first place award, books about prayerCan Christians still pray the Our Father in the twenty-first century? We can, and we must. Gerhard Lohfink breaks open its strange phrases like “hallowed be thy name,” its off-putting language like “Father” and “kingdom,” and its apparently harsh demands like forgive us as we have forgiven those who hurt us—all to shed light on Jesus’ original words and their meaning. By probing what the prayer meant for Jesus and his first disciples in their world Lohfink calls us to allow the Our Father to break open our own minds and hearts to its infinite invitation and challenge for our time and for all ages.

2022 Catholic Media Association first place award in scripture: academic studies In this book, which covers all of Jesus' parables, award-winning author Gerhard Lohfink takes a closer look at the origins of each one--its shape, its realistic details, but most of all its original message and the situation into which it was once spoken. Jesus' parables speak in bold images of the kingdom of God, making it present to us as they reveal something of the mystery of his own person. Lohfink also offers a review of some of the scholarship in this area--as this topic has sustained research on Jesus since the first telling of these stories--but not for the purposes of debate. His reflections interpret the forty parables and show how they speak of the coming of the reign of God, lead us to Jesus, and reveal the mystery of Jesus himself.

Der Neutestamentler Gerhard Lohfink legt in diesem Buch eine Vielzahl biblischer Texte aus, bekannte und unbekannte. Er untersucht sie voll Neugier, befragt sie hartnackig und konfrontiert sie mit unserer Gegenwart - von COVID-19 bis zu der inneren Einsamkeit vieler Menschen. Er fragt angesichts zentraler Texte der Bibel: Wie kann heute ein Leben aussehen, das ganz in der Welt ist und zugleich ganz in Gott - das ausgespannt ist zwischen Himmel und Erde -, das die Unermesslichkeit des Kosmos vor Augen hat und zugleich eine winzige Blume bestaunen kann, das die Abgrunde des menschlichen Herzens kennt und sich trosten lasst von dem Lacheln eines Kindes. Der Autor entwirft aus dem Mosaik vieler Texte des Alten und des Neuen Testaments ein farbiges Bild biblischer Theologie. Das Buch deckt Unbekanntes auf, zeigt das Bekannte in neuem Licht und ist voll von uberraschungen. Es richtet sich nicht nur an Fernstehende, die vorhaben, die christliche Botschaft genauer kennenzulernen. Es richtet sich an alle, die Sehnsucht danach haben, die Bibel besser und tiefer zu verstehen.

Von keinem Menschen des Altertums werden uns so viele und so wirklichkeitsnahe Gleichnisse uberliefert wie von Jesus von Nazaret. Er beobachtet einen Samann beim Saen; eine Hausfrau beim Brotbacken; Kinder, die daruber streiten, was sie spielen sollen; einen Verwalter, der seinen Chef nach allen Regeln der Kunst betrugt; einen Terroristen, der einen Anschlag plant - und noch vieles andere. Jesus versteht es, seine Zuhorer in seine Erzahlungen hereinzuholen. Er kann provozieren, entlarvt Scheinwirklichkeiten und vermag zu trosten. Vor allem aber: Er beherrscht die Kunst des Erzahlens. Seine Gleichnisse sprechen in kuhnen Bildern vom Reich Gottes und machen es gegenwartig, weil sie etwas vom Geheimnis seiner eigenen Person offenbaren. Dieses Buch behandelt alle Gleichnisse Jesu - ihre Gestalt, ihre realistischen Details, vor allem aber ihre ursprungliche Aussage und die Situation, in die hinein sie einst gesprochen wurden. Es ist immer auch unsere Situation.

2020 Catholic Press Association second place award for English translation edition Is the Christian hope for resurrection still alive or has it become tired? How can we talk about the Resurrection today? Gerhard Lohfink takes up the question of death and resurrection in this new book. He argues against the dazzling array of today's ideas and expectations and seeks his answers in Scripture, the Christian tradition, and human reason. With his characteristically gentle but clear language, he reveals the power of Christian resurrection, showing it is not about events that lie in the distant future but rather occurrences incomprehensively close to us. They were long since begun and they will embrace us fully in our own death..

Die Verharmlosung Jesu findet zur Zeit auf vielen Feldern statt. Sie geschieht, wenn Jesus als ein etwas aus der Reihe tanzender Rabbi eingestuft wird oder als wort- und wirkmachtiger Prophet, aber letzten Endes eben doch nur als einer von vielen Propheten, die es in der Geschichte gegeben hat. Zu den Verharmlosungen Jesu gehort auch, wenn sich Christen so verhalten, als sei die Kirche eine Art Verein zur Bedienung religioser Bedurfnisse; denn das endzeitliche Gottesvolk, fur das er schliesslich starb, war von ihm anders gedacht. Dieses Buch handelt deshalb nicht nur an vielen Stellen von Jesus selbst, sondern auch von der Kirche. Wo anders konnte denn sichtbar werden, wer Jesus wirklich war, wenn nicht am Leben der Kirche und der Christen, die es wagen, sich nach dem Christus zu benennen? Gerhard Lohfinks Reden gegen die Verharmlosung sind provokant und stellen den christlichen Glauben in ein neues Licht.

Is Jesus relevant for today? If you think not, don’t bother with this book. But if you think that Jesus might have something to say to today’s world, which Jesus comes to mind? Is he “gentle Jesus, meek and mild,” offering individual salvation but with no message for a suffering world? Is he to be remembered as a Zealot fighting for a hopeless cause or as an outstanding rabbi? Was he a prophet in the long series of Israel’s prophets or a religious founder like Muhammad or Gautama? Or was Jesus unique, a man utterly consumed by zeal for the reign of God, by the “fierce urgency of now,” the leader of a movement dedicated to God’s cause but committed to nonviolence and living for others? If we seek him, can we find him in the churches? In No Irrelevant Jesus, Gerhard Lohfink, author of the acclaimed Jesus of Nazareth, explores these questions and offers a resounding yes to the relevance of Jesus today.