The Imitation of Christ

by Thomas à Kempis
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The Imitation of Christ
 
by
Thomas à Kempis
book data
269 ratings, 4.36 average rating, 40 reviews (more data...)
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published
April 1st 1984 by Barbour Publishing, Incorporated

binding
Hardcover, 168 pages

isbn
0916441024   (isbn13: 9780916441029)

description
The Thomas à Kempis fan club includes St. Ignatius, Thomas Merton, Thomas More, and even Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. (She reads a chapter of ...more






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the Christian life 1 6 11/30/2007 08:55PM  

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 489)



Karen L.
bookshelves: christianity, classics, devotional
recommended to Karen L. by: my beloved husband
recommends it for: those concerned with the inner life
This book is going to forever be in either of two places in my home; my coffee table or my bedside. Reading this book this morning was like drinking deep of Christ's love. Thomas a Kempis wrote this devotion in such a way to fan the flame in our soul with beautiful gentle words. It is a book that calls one deeper and farther in to the heart of God.Psalm 42:7 sums it up: "Deep calls unto deep at the sound of thy waterfalls; All thy breakers and thy waves have rolled over me.
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booklady
bookshelves: classic, spiritual
recommended to booklady by: high school teacher
recommends it for: Anyone and everyone!
Have read this book so many times I have lost count. It is WONDERFUL!!! After the Bible it is the most popular book in Christianity and a well-deserved/earned reputation too.
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Malcolm Mark
Read in February, 2000
This is very deep and high. Most of the theological and spiritual concepts are high theology and spirituality, however you can find practical concepts or thoughts that you can apply in your life. If you have good pastoral psychology background, hence, this will be a good book for you... This is also good material for reflection, meditation, or any religious exercise to deepen your spiritual experience. I have read the Spanish translation of this book which is closer to the original Latin man...more
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Patty
06/23/08

Thomas à Kempis was a Renaissance Roman Catholic monk born in Germany in 1380. His writings include sermons, meditations and tracts, and are reflective and prayerful in character. His The Imitation of Christ is considered one of the greatest manuals of devotion in Christianity—theologian John Wesley and clergyman John Newton (who penned Amazing Grace) both list it among the works that influenced them at their conversion.

After studying the original Latin text and corresponding English tran...more
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Keeley
04/09/07

bookshelves: academicserious
Read in April, 2007
recommends it for: monks
Note: I'm not reviewing the Dover Thrift Edition.
I've had a nineteenth century edition of this book out from the library since 2002 or 2003, when I started reading it as part of my effort to read religious classics. Misplaced it for a couple years and finished it just now. Unfortunately, I now read the introduction and find that our kindly 19th century Protestant editor/translator chap has kindly excised anything in Thomas a' Kempis' work that might "offend" by being too "pap...more
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Bev
03/24/08

Read in March, 2008
Wonderful, Wonderful!!!! I wish that I would have read this book years ago. The book itself was written 600 years ago, but could have been written just for me. Truely a timeless book about living a Christain life. The book points out our failures as humans, as we might think that we aren't good enough or perfect enough, to be accepted by God. The author explains the deep love that God has for us, and how he understands our situations. It is good book for anyone with or without challening circums...more
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Jeremiah
bookshelves: christian-discipleship
My favorite Catholic devotional writer and a spiritual giant who will lead you into new territory with Christ. Some of the material in the last part of the book deals with the eucharist, so it isn't of great interest to me and probably to most of my Protestant friends. Please don't let that dissuade you from reading this; it is a classic and will reward you greatly.
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Owen
03/29/08

Written in the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance by the monk Thomas a' Kempis and is still read by thousands every year. Reading it along with "Mere Christianity" and "Pensees" would profit all meditative Christians. Contains the quote:

"At the Day of Judgment we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done."

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Rebecca
I love this book because it's something you can pick up with a worry in mind and flip to solid scripture teaching on it. It's broken into little books on spiritual council, directives, consolation and talks about the blessed sacrament. It really helps you keep in mind how you should be forming yourself to the will of God.
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mahatma anta
bookshelves: indonesian
yaa...katakanlah, ini adalah alkitab kedua saya.
renungan-renungan ini sudah lama dikenal dalam terjemahan bahasa indonesia dan jawa ['mengikuti jejak kristus' dan 'napak pada dalem sang kristus':].
ini tadi nemu di lemari lama. masukin aja di sini, buat mengingat betapa istimewanya buku ini bagi saya.
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Mike
03/19/08

bookshelves: inspiration
I come back to this book all the time for its basic depth and relationship to God teaching. It can be read as a daily meditation or in larger chunks for inspiration. This is good to have on a three-day retreat with some organic orange juice and celtic music playing in the background.
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Lawrence
bookshelves: currently-reading
Read in January, 2005
recommends it for: every Christian
I read this book over and over again. Every morning when I wake up, I read a chapter (1-3 pages). It gets me out of bed and helps me dedicate my day to God.

I haven't really read any other translations except for a chapter here and there but I really like this translation.
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Jenny
05/15/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
I actually began reading this because St. Therese mentioned it so often in her "Story of a Soul" autobiography. Now I try to read a chapter a day and it often amazes me how Kempis will speak to something that pertains so much to my life in the 21st century...
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Kimberly
Read in April, 2008
recommends it for: anyone needing to deepen their faith
This is my book for lectio divina (in a nutshell, prayerful reading). Second to the Bible in popularity, the Imitation is a gem. There are many, many short sentences that one can reflect on and find ways to root out sinful tendencies and grow closer to God.
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Aaron
03/15/08

bookshelves: own-it
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for: Christians
This is a great book; it is so applicable to life in general. It convicted me on so many counts... I can't begin to enumerate them. There are so many ways that we ought to live, that we fail at, especially as Americans... I could recommend this book to anyone.
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Heidi
06/05/08

bookshelves: non-fiction, religious
Read in June, 2008
This book took me forever to finish, not because it's not good, but because it reads more like a daily devotional book. I just read a page or two at a time. The message of this book is wonderful for anyone--to live your life in such a way as to imitate Christ.
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prakdude
Everyone naturally desires knowledge, but of what use is knowledge itself without the fear of God? (p.28)

Jesus has many who love His Kingdom in Heaven, but few who bear His Cross. (p. 83)

Of what use is a long life, if we amend so little? (p. 58)
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Nathan
09/28/07

Read in September, 2007
On the one hand, A Kempis has some great points and some great insight into many theological matters. On the other hand, as a Catholic monk from the 15th century, I have some serious qualms with several other theological issues he addresses.
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TJ
06/19/07

bookshelves: ministry
Read in June, 2007
I have an older version that is written in King James' English. So it's harder to understand. And it's not doing it for me. Just not the kind of spirituality I aspire to. I don't need to prostrate myself and sumbit myself anymore.
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~eljefe
Read in January, 2007
recommends it for: not afraid of brokeness
Gosh, are you willing to pay to the cost for holiness? It takes work to die to the mal-inented desires of your heart. Are you willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus disciples for the last 2000 years? It is possible.
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The Imitation of Christ (Vintage Spiritual Classics)
The Imitation Of Christ (Hendrickson Christian Classics)
The Imitation of Christ (Paperback)
The Imitation of Christ (Penguin Classics)
The Imitation of Christ (Dover Thrift Editions)






quotes from this book

"I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it." More quotes...


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