No Irrelevant Jesus is composed of short talks Lohfink has given over the years that are filled with exegetical and theological wisdom. . . . Lohfink is a German determined not to forget the terror that was Nazi Germany. This book is also relevant for the challenges facing Christians in America. His is a vision, deeply grounded in scripture, that I believe is our future.<br /> Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law, Duke University<br /> The Christian Century
Gerhard Lohfink is to theology what Flannery O'Connor is to literature: a voice calling us to be aware of what really matters. O'Connor shouts to a culture deaf to grace; Lohfink confronts anyone trying to tame and domesticate Jesus. Modern-day prophets they are.Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Robert F. Morneau, Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin
Gerhard Lohfink not only demonstrates that Jesus and his church are unquestionably relevant for life today, his essays also offer readers clear and theologically wise responses to critical issues of our day. While his writing is solid and sophisticated, it is accessible to scholar and seeker alike. Brilliantly written and translated, this work should be on the reading list of everyone interested in updating their understanding of Jesus and his church with fresh and stimulating insights.Stephen J. Binz, independent scholar, speaker, and author of biblical theology and spirituality
<i>No Irrelevant Jesus </i>by Gerhard Lohfink is an excellent complement to the author's <i>Jesus of Nazareth</i>. It highlights the mystery of Jesus Christ and his message in relation to the church's nature and mission. Speaking to general readers as well as to scholars, it illumines the living Lord's "good news" in its biblical setting and also in the context of our contemporary world. Its short, clear, down-to-earth essays challenge us to orient our lives and the church to the coming of God's reign.Robert A. Krieg, Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
Following his highly successful <i>Jesus of Nazareth</i>, Gerhard Lohfink delivers another stunning achievement with this passionate set of essays about why Jesus remains relevant. Originally a series of public lectures, the chapters retain their oral flair, reflected in the excellent translation. They also impart a wealth of sophisticated information on a variety of themes tied to Jesus and his ministry: miracles, the love commandment, salvation, sin and reconciliation, the nature of the church, the episcopacy, and more. This book demonstrates once more Lohfink's eminent status as a seasoned scholar who nonetheless has the ability to communicate a meaningful pastoral message. In short, a superb book on Jesus' significance for the church today!Ronald D. Witherup, SS, Superior General of the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice and author of <i>Saint Paul and the New Evangelization</i>
Gerhard Lohfink’s work, <i>No Irrelevant Jesus</i>, seeks to make Jesus and His Church relevant in the contemporary culture that reduces Jesus and Christianity to one religion that is equal to all others. The book is a collection of essays from oral presentations that Lohfink made during the past several years that he later realized centered around the theme of making Jesus and/or His Church relevant today. . . . His work exhibits a mastery over the material that he has sought to understand throughout his life and it shares many theological themes found in his other work <i>Jesus of Nazareth</i>.<br /> Jason Bermender, <i>Catholic Books Review</i>
“With his succinct treatment of complex topics, Lohfink writes with his customary level of scholarly depth. When a writer or a speaker knows their material and has had years of experience in sharing it with others, there simply is a sense of “gravitas” or trustworthiness to their writing. . . . As Lohfink sketches the “untamed” Jesus, he moves freely between biblical texts, ancient writers, modern theologians and expressions of contemporary culture. . . . Everyone who takes the time to read and ponder this book will be challenged to new depths of discipleship and alerted to new possibilities as we live into the arrival of God’s kingdom already present in Christ and his Church.” Michael J. Bowling Englewood Review of Books<br />
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Chapter 1 On Not Taming Jesus 1
Chapter 2 Jesus Revolutionizes Linear Time 20
Chapter 3 How Will the Hungry Be Filled in the Reign of God? 37
Chapter 4 How Did Jesus Heal? 47
Chapter 5 What Does the Love Commandment Mean? 64
Chapter 6 No Place for Warriors in the Name of God 75
Chapter 7 Did Jesus Die for “Many” or for “All”? 86
Chapter 8 How Could an Individual Redeem the Whole World? 90
Chapter 9 Jesus and the Shattered People of God 105
Chapter 10 The Canon and the Many Confessions 121
Chapter 11 Some Irenic Thoughts on the Episcopacy and the Primacy 132
Chapter 12 Must the Pope Be Conservative? 143
Chapter 13 What Constitutes the Church’s “Newness”? 147
Chapter 14 The Church’s Proper Name Is “Assembly” 160
Chapter 15 The Unknown Paul 175
Chapter 16 How a Sacrament Works 187
Chapter 17 A Catastrophe in the Life of David 207
Chapter 18 On the Sense and Nonsense of Good Intentions 220
Chapter 19 Has the Church Been Deprived of Fasting? 226
Chapter 20 Prayer as Access to Reality 231
Chapter 21 What Distinguishes Christianity from the Religions? 247
Chapter 22 Where Do We Get Our “Values”? 266
Chapter 23 The Magnificat: Signal for a Revolution 279
Chapter 24 Faith: How Does It Work? 285
Chapter 25 The Bible in My Life as an Exegete 301
Notes 315
Index of Biblical Citations and Other Ancient Literature 322
Index of Proper Names 328