Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, Life Together, is a winsomely written set of select scripture commentaries to help his readers grasp the weight of genuine Christian community. His stated purpose is to describe for Christians what their “life together under the Word” consists of and what practical obediences must necessarily follow (p1).

The book is grouped under five headings of “community,” “the day together,” “the day alone,” “service,” and “confession and the Lord’s supper.” Each of these sections begins with a key scripture passage referring to some command or description of Christian fellowship, each of which Bonhoeffer reflects upon, explains, and applies to the lives of believers in Christ together. (Ps 133:1, Col 3:16, Ps 65:2, Lk 9:46, Jas 5:16).

On Christian Community Proper (what it is)

First, he defines Christian community as being a “community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. Christian community is solely this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ (p5).” He upholds justification as coming from the imputed “alien righteousness of Christ,” to the one who has faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ (p5). Building on this first doctrine, he explains how community is also a reality coming to believers from outside of themselves, namely in and through Jesus Christ. He writes that, “I am a brother or sister to another person through what Jesus Christ has done for me and to me; others have become brothers and sisters to me through what Jesus Christ has done for them and to them. The fact that we are brothers and sisters only through Jesus Christ is of immeasurable significance”

This community is grounded in and governed by the person and work of Jesus Christ,  Everything that arises from Christians living in community is and must be derivative of the communal reality that already exists in the body of Jesus Christ. This means that, “Christian community is not an ideal we have to realize, but rather a reality created by God in which we may participate (p13).” According to Bonhoeffer, this community should be savored by believers and not set aside in search of other experiences (p10).

On Christian Community in Practice   (what it does)

The second and third sections of the book give very detailed and practical spiritual disciplines for Christians living out their shared life both together and apart from one another. He highlights the scriptural foundation for such corporate elements such as morning worship, scripture reading, praying, singing, and taking the Lord’s supper together (p26-42). As he sets forth these practices, Bonhoeffer practically explains how and why each should be influenced by believers’ shared life in Jesus Christ.

For example, corporate prayers are to reflect the needs of the whole gathered body of Christ (42), and even all the Psalms are to be prayed by the church on account of all these prayers belonging to them through their belonging to Jesus Christ, the one to whom the prayers of the Psalms truly belong to (p30).

Essentially, believers are not meant to only worship alone due to the nature of our community in Christ. The “day alone” highlights the reality of how every believer continues to follow Christ even when away from the community. They have real work, given by God, to do in the world and their individual lives serve to benefit the shared life of the whole (p66).

On Christian Community’s Power  (how it works)

In the fourth and fifth sections on the book Bonhoeffer highlights the service that Christians must render to one another because of the fact that Christ has served each and every believer. Saying that, “God truly suffered and endured human beings in the body of Jesus Christ,” he emphasizes the various ways that Christians must bear with and serve one another for the sake of Jesus Christ (p78). Acts such as genuine listening to one another, declaring the Word of God to one another, and embodying an attitude of humility toward one another are crucial means of serving one another in Christ (p74-81). Lastly, Bonhoeffer writes on the way that confession of sin and partaking of the Lord’s supper work to open believer’s eyes afresh to the grace of God in Jesus Christ (p91) producing a “breakthrough to the community of the cross (p92).”