Gerhard Lohfink (1934-2024), was professor of New Testament
exegesis at the University of Tübingen. His many books
include No Irrelevant Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Is This All
There Is?, The Our Father, and Prayer Takes Us Home, all
from Liturgical Press.
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.
Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity
and Law, Duke University
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
No Irrelevant Jesus by Gerhard Lohfink is an excellent complement
to the author's Jesus of Nazareth. 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 Jesus of Nazareth, 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 Saint Paul and the New Evangelization
Gerhard Lohfink’s work, No Irrelevant Jesus, 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 Jesus of
Nazareth.
Jason Bermender, Catholic Books Review
Gerhard Lohfink is a superb scholar and a beautiful writer who
helped many readers see the Son of God in an entirely new light
with his brilliant book Jesus of Nazareth. Now, in a series of
wise, provocative, and inspiring essays, backed by vast learning
and deep prayer, Lohfink reveals Jesus as he was and is, and the
church as it was and is meant to become.James Martin, SJ, Author of
Jesus: A Pilgrimage
“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
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