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Christ, Spirit, and Church

This chapter, ‘Christ, Spirit, and Church’, examines what is entailed in Bonhoeffer’s claim that the church is a reality of revelation. Bonhoeffer provides a rich and nuanced account of the church as established in Christ and actualized by the Holy Spirit. Nonetheless, he also insists that the church is a reality of revelation only as a human community and social entity. It is thus argued that Bonhoeffer’s engagement with social theory is integral to sustaining this dual nature of the church. This is demonstrated with reference to two of Bonhoeffer’s core theological formulations in his ecclesiology: ‘vicarious representative action’ (Stellvertretung) and ‘Christ existing as church-community’ (Christus als Gemeinde existierend). Drawing on this exposition of these core formulations, the chapter reviews and contests Ernst Feil’s charge that Sanctorum Communio lacks a robust Christology.