Christ Quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
““And in the Incarnation the whole human race recovers the dignity of the image of God. Henceforth, any attack even on the least of men is an attack on Christ, who took the form of man, and in his own Person restored the image of God in all that bears a human form. Through fellowship and communion with the incarnate Lord, we recover our true humanity, and at the same time we are delivered from that individualism which is the consequence of sin, and retrieve our solidarity with the whole human race. By being partakers of Christ incarnate, we are partakers in the whole humanity which he bore. We now know that we have been taken up and borne in the humanity of Jesus, and therefore that new nature we now enjoy means that we too must bear the sins and sorrows of others. The incarnate Lord makes his followers the brothers of all mankind.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Cost of Discipleship, 1937
Human dignity is restored through Christ’s incarnation, making every attack on a person an attack on Christ, and calling believers to shared humanity and solidarity.
In simple terms: Christ’s humanity unites us all, making each person sacred.
Key Takeaway
Treat every person with reverence as Christ’s image.
Themes
dignity
solidarity
Christian ethics
humanity
sin
Mood
hopeful
compassionate
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- pastoral care
- social justice work
- interfaith dialogue
- community building
Key Concepts
incarnation
theology
collective responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you embody solidarity in daily interactions?
- What does seeing others as Christ’s image change your response to conflict?
A Different Perspective
The doctrine may be interpreted differently across denominations, affecting practical application.
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
