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John Howard Yoder

7 Reasons to Read John Howard Yoder and 8 New John Howard Yoder Books

Here are seven reasons why I like reading John Howard Yoder (1927-1997).

1. He effectively argues for the importance of vibrant local churches.

2. His explains the importance of the church orienting itself by Scripture. 

3. He interacts with a broad range of Christian perspectives. 

4. He is a very good writer.

5. He is very interested in the practical. 

6. His work is respected by philosophers, theologians and New Testament scholars. 

7. His work is extremely valuable for articulating the free church, baptist, nondenominational, or Mennonite perspective on issues.

The Politics of Jesus is Yoder's best known work but I would recommend people start with the quick 80 page Body Politics which I reviewed at Best book on ecclesiology I read this year: Body Politics by John Howard Yoder.  Then I would recommend reading The Politics of Jesus, Priestly Kingdom, Royal Priesthood, and For the Nations. The last three books are compilations of essays by Yoder. 

I have also written a long academic paper on Yoder at: The Ecclesiology of John Howard Yoder paper

Here are eight recent books that have come out or are coming out that
deal with his work.  Below that I have listed a partial bibliography of older books
as well. 

New John Howard Yoder Books (2008-2010)

  • Edited by Jeremy M. Bergen and Anthony G. Siegrist: Power and Practices: Engaging the Work of John Howard Yoder

    Edited by Jeremy M. Bergen and Anthony G. Siegrist: Power and Practices: Engaging the Work of John Howard Yoder
    Herald Press (August 20, 2009) Description excerpt: In this collection of essays, a new generation engages the theology of John Howard Yoder.

  •  Radical Ecumenicity edited by John C. NugentEdited by John C. Nugent: Radical Ecumenicity: Pursuing Unity and Continuity after John Howard Yoder Abilene Christian University Press (March 2010) Description excerpt: A collection of essays that explores the ecumenical work of celebrated Mennonite theologian John Howard Yoder, including two rare but important works by Yoder himself. "John Howard Yoder would have liked this book.  He would have liked it because of the conversations made possible by the critical yet constructive essays engaging his work.  We are extremely fortunate to have this book, which exemplifies not only Yoder's thought but also his life." –Stanley Hauerwas, Duke University

  • Edited by Peter Dula and Chris K. Huebner: The New Yoder

    Edited by Peter Dula and Chris K. Huebner: The New Yoder
    Cascade Books (January 1, 2010) Description excerpt: A new generation of scholars has begun reading Yoder alongside figures
    most often associated with post-structuralism, neo-Nietzscheanism, and
    post-colonialism, resulting in original and productive new readings of
    his work. At the same time, scholars from outside of theology and
    ethics departments, indeed outside of Christianity itself, like Romand
    Coles and Daniel Boyarin, have discovered in Yoder a significant
    conversation partner for their own work. This volume collects some of
    the best of those essays in hope of encouraging more such work from
    readers of Yoder and in hopes of attracting others to his important
    work.

  • John Howard Yoder: Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution

    John Howard Yoder: Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution
    Brazos Press (April 1, 2009) Description excerpt: John Howard Yoder was one of the most important thinkers on just war
    and pacifism in the late twentieth century. This newly compiled
    collection of Yoder's lectures and writings on these issues describes,
    analyzes, and evaluates various patterns of thought and practice in
    Western Christian history.

  • John Howard Yoder: The War of the Lamb: The Ethics of Nonviolence and Peacemaking

    John Howard Yoder: The War of the Lamb: The Ethics of Nonviolence and Peacemaking
    Brazos Press; 1 edition (December 1, 2009) Description excerpt: John Howard Yoder was one of the major theologians of the late
    twentieth century. Before his death, he planned the essays and
    structure of this book, which he intended to be his last work. Now two
    leading interpreters of Yoder bring that work to fruition. The book is
    divided into three sections: pacifism, just war theory, and just
    peacemaking theory. The volume crystallizes Yoder's argument that his
    proposed ethics is not sectarian and a matter of withdrawal. He also
    clearly argues that Christian just war and Christian pacifist
    traditions are basically compatible–and more specifically, that the
    Christian just war tradition itself presumes against all violence.

  • John Howard Yoder: To Hear the Word

    John Howard Yoder: To Hear the Word
    Cascade Books; 2nd Ed (January 1, 2010) "Of very few people can it be legitimately said that their work
    fundamentally reconfigured the landscape of two theological
    disciplines. But if there is anyone in recent memory who would be
    worthy of such an accolade, it is John Howard Yoder. The two
    disciplines are, of course, theological ethics and biblical
    studies—though Yoder would cringe at their separation, and his work was
    both explicitly and implicitly a prolonged exercise in maintaining
    their indissoluble union. For him, to hear the word rightly was to do
    the word publicly. . . . [Yoder] guides us toward a truly ecclesial yet
    missional reading of Scripture, with a profoundly Anabaptist yet
    ecumenical and catholic spirit, in historically astute and literarily
    sensitive ways that are nonetheless "straightforward" and pastoral. Or,
    as he would himself say, he guides us toward a reading of Scripture
    that proceeds from and focuses on Jesus: Vicit Agnus Noster, Eum
    Sequamur; 'Our Lamb has conquered; let us follow him.'"—from the foreword by Michael J. Gorman

  • John Howard Yoder: Nonviolence - a Brief History: The Warsaw Lectures

    John Howard Yoder: Nonviolence – a Brief History: The Warsaw Lectures
    Baylor University Press (March 15, 2010) Description excerpt: The eleven lectures collected in Nonviolence A Brief History
    were presented in 1983 in Warsaw, Poland, and this is their first
    publication together. Despite their apparent diversity, the lectures
    trace a single trajectory: the increasing relevance of nonviolent
    thought and action. They argue that nonviolence aligns with the inner
    logic of the world and, therefore, with human social existence.

  • Nathan R. Kerr: Christ History And Apocalyptic: The Politics of Christian Mission

    Nathan R. Kerr: Christ History And Apocalyptic: The Politics of Christian Mission
    Cascade Books (October 13, 2008) Description excerpt: On the basis of a rereading of John Howard Yoder's place within this
    genealogy, the author outlines an alternative "apocalyptic
    historicism," which conceives the work of Christian politics as a mode
    of subversive, missionary encounter between church and world. See also Analysis of Nathan Kerr's Christ, History and Apocalyptic at The Church and Postmodern Culture blog

Older John Howard Yoder Books (2007 and earlier)

I would also love someday to watch

John Howard Yoder's course New Testament Social Ethics at Regent College which is available on DVD at the Regent College Bookstore. 

8 replies on “7 Reasons to Read John Howard Yoder and 8 New John Howard Yoder Books”

Thanks for this. A group of friends and I are currently reading through “The Politics of Jesus” right now and it has been quite fascinating. Some of his thoughts seem a bit stretched but it has been very provocative and stimulating. Personally, I see the book being just as much about hermeneutics as about social ethics (at least the first 6 chapters, which is where we’re at). It’s definitely giving me a new lens to read scripture through.

I have added the Body Politics book to my wishlist and hope to get to it soon. In fact, I’ve added about 5 Newbigin/Yoder books today, so stop posting or I’m gonna go broke!

Great list, Andy.

I found What Would You Do? to be an accessible entry point into Yoder’s thoughts on nonviolence. Also, Discipleship as Political Responsibility concisely articulates his understanding of the difference between the “mandates” of church and state.

Luke and Josh, thanks for your comments. Josh, I hope you enjoy the Newbigin and Yoder books. 🙂
Josh, I haven’t read those so thanks for your recommendations. You’re one of my favorite commenters.

See also Beyond suspicion: Post-Christendom Protestant political theology in the thought of John Howard Yoder and Oliver O’Donovan by Paul Doerkson (published by paternoster in the UK, 2009 probably wipf & stock in due course in the US)

I recall prof. Verhey stating that The Politics of Jesus caused a revolution in the field of Biblical Studies because it argued strongly for a non-violent reading of Luke whereas previously Luke was considered the most violent of the Gospels.

Yet I’ve rarely come across Yoder in the bibliographies of Lukan Studies. The response from Bible-folk seems to be that The Politics of Jesus is a “forced reading” of Luke that no serious Lukan scholar would take seriously.

Your thoughts?

I think all 7 of your reasons are good reasons for reading Yoder. However, there was one reason I did not see on your list: Yoder argues persuasively that all followers of Jesus Christ are called to live nonviolently. Did I miss this? or did you intentionally leave that off the list because you did not think it so?

I always enjoy reading your blog!

and Scott, I think The Politics of Jesus represents very good Lukan scholarship.

Jonathan, yes Yoder is probably most known for his arguments for nonviolence but I think unfortunately many people dismiss him before reading him because they think this is what he is all about. His views on this are very nuanced and he has much more to offer.

Thanks for commenting everyone!

Andy

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