--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What determines our brotherhood is what…" description: "\"“What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ. Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to bot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_christ_what-determines-our-brotherhood-is-what_2229804.jpg" --- # What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by… ![“What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ. Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us. This is true not merely at the beginning, as though in the course of time something else were to be added to our community; it remains so…” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_christ_what-determines-our-brotherhood-is-what_2229804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_christ_what-determines-our-brotherhood-is-what_2229804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_christ_what-determines-our-brotherhood-is-what_2229804.jpg) > ““What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ. Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us. This is true not merely at the beginning, as though in the course of time something else were to be added to our community; it remains so for all the future and to all eternity. I have community with others and I shall continue to have it only through Jesus Christ. The more genuine and the deeper our community becomes, the more will everything else between us recede, the more clearly and purely will Jesus Christ and his work become the one and only thing that is vital between us. We have one another only through Christ, but through Christ we do have one another, wholly, for eternity.”” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian community is defined solely by Christ; all other bonds fade, leaving Christ as the eternal, vital connection between people. **In simple terms:** Community exists only through Christ. Key Takeaway Center relationships on shared faith in Christ. Themes faith community eternity spiritual unity Christocentrism Mood contemplative devotional Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - Church services - small group Bible studies - mission work - personal prayer Key Concepts Ecclesiology theology of fellowship Christocentric ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does Christ‑centered community address social injustice? - What does true fellowship look like in a pluralistic world? A Different Perspective Excluding non‑Christians can limit broader humanitarian outreach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [The-church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-church/) ## Related quotes > [You may be poor yourselves in material ways, but you have an abundance of gifts to offer when you offer Christ and the community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-may-be-poor-yourselves-in-material-ways-but-you-have-an-abundance/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Family is the one human institution we have no choice over. We get in simply by being born, and as a result we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/family-is-the-one-human-institution-we-have-no-choice-over-we-get-in/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“The brother is a burden to the Christian, precisely because he is a Christian. For the pagan the other person never becomes a burden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-brother-is-a-burden-to-the-christian-precisely-because-he-is-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-christian-however-must-bear-the-burden-of-a-brother-he-must/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-a-kind-of-listening-with-half-an-ear-that-presumes-already/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“They wander on earth and live in heaven, and although they are weak, they protect the world; they taste of peace in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/they-wander-on-earth-and-live-in-heaven-and-although-they-are-weak/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-h-boetcker/you-cannot-further-the-brotherhood-of-man-by-inciting-class-hatred/) [William J. H. Boetcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-h-boetcker/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of man, not merely the brotherhood of white men but the brotherhood of all men before law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-man-not-merely-the-brotherhood-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [All are brothers and sisters. All are one, be alike to every­one. That is Unity... the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/all-are-brothers-and-sisters-all-are-one-be-alike-to-every-one-that/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [I have always held those political opinions which point to the universal brotherhood of man, no matter in what rank of life he may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mackenzie/i-have-always-held-those-political-opinions-which-point-to-the/) Alexander Mackenzie > [In all my travels the thing that has impressed me the most is the universal brotherhood of man-what there is of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-all-my-travels-the-thing-that-has-impressed-me-the-most-is-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The brotherhood of man is an integral part of Christianity no less than the Fatherhood of God; and to deny the one is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyman-abbott/the-brotherhood-of-man-is-an-integral-part-of-christianity-no-less/) [Lyman Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyman-abbott/) > [Right knows no boundaries, and justice no frontiers; the brotherhood of man is not a domestic institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/right-knows-no-boundaries-and-justice-no-frontiers-the-brotherhood-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of man, all men, but I don't believe in brotherhood with anybody who doesn't want brotherhood with me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-man-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [She regarded books as the emblems of secret brotherhood. A man with this sort of library couldn't possibly hurt her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/she-regarded-books-as-the-emblems-of-secret-brotherhood-a-man-with/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Brotherhood quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Saying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/saying-that-the-origin-of-the-islamic-state-is-is-within-the-muslim/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/) Emile Ajar > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [This is me and my older brother alasandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother/this-is-me-and-my-older-brother-alasandro/) Brother > [You may call for peace as loudly as you wish, but where there is no brotherhood there can in the end be no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/you-may-call-for-peace-as-loudly-as-you-wish-but-where-there-is-no/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [My brothers and I would try to talk our dad into letting us stay up and watch 'Star Trek.' I remember watching it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-brothers-and-i-would-try-to-talk-our-dad-into-letting-us-stay-up/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I work incredibly hard - just like every other person in business and work. And aside from the fact of, yes, I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/i-work-incredibly-hard-just-like-every-other-person-in-business-and/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. 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