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Jesus and The Nonviolent Revolution
English (translation)Original French
211 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 31, 2021
André Trocmé’s “Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution” is a must-read for followers of Jesus committed to nonviolent action and the liberation of the good news to the poor. Trocmé was a pastor and theologian, but he is not well-known for the work that he and his congregants in the French village or Le Chambon did during World War 2. Rather than cooperate with the Nazi authorities, this small village hid and sheltered an estimated 2000 Jewish refugees, protecting them from certain death.
“Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution,” which first appeared in English in 1972 (it was originally written in French), set the ground work for many proponents of nonviolence and religious pacifism, such as Walter Wink, John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, and others. Yoder even incorporated a number of key emphases from Trocmé’s work in specific chapters of his “The Politics of Jesus.”
Among the most unique and important contributions in this work is Trocmé’s opening section on the revolution begun by Jesus, which he maintains was based on the stipulations of the Jubilee, outlined in the Mosaic covenant. The good news that Jesus was bringing to the poor was one of jubilee, in which the debts are remitted, slaves are set free, and the oppressed are liberated. These are precisely the tasks he laid out for himself in his famous teaching at Nazareth (Luke 4:18–19).
The last section of the book is also important, as it focuses on the nonviolence of Jesus of Nazareth. Nonviolence can at times be pitted against the work of justice. This should not be so, however, for as Trocmé writes, “Though Jesus had given up violence, he did so without abandoning the struggle for liberation.” (139) Jesus committed himself wholly to the work of the kingdom of God—in the process creating a brand new social and political order, according to Trocmé—but he did so without forgetting about the individual and of the non-coercive way of the kingdom.
“Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution,” which first appeared in English in 1972 (it was originally written in French), set the ground work for many proponents of nonviolence and religious pacifism, such as Walter Wink, John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas, and others. Yoder even incorporated a number of key emphases from Trocmé’s work in specific chapters of his “The Politics of Jesus.”
Among the most unique and important contributions in this work is Trocmé’s opening section on the revolution begun by Jesus, which he maintains was based on the stipulations of the Jubilee, outlined in the Mosaic covenant. The good news that Jesus was bringing to the poor was one of jubilee, in which the debts are remitted, slaves are set free, and the oppressed are liberated. These are precisely the tasks he laid out for himself in his famous teaching at Nazareth (Luke 4:18–19).
The last section of the book is also important, as it focuses on the nonviolence of Jesus of Nazareth. Nonviolence can at times be pitted against the work of justice. This should not be so, however, for as Trocmé writes, “Though Jesus had given up violence, he did so without abandoning the struggle for liberation.” (139) Jesus committed himself wholly to the work of the kingdom of God—in the process creating a brand new social and political order, according to Trocmé—but he did so without forgetting about the individual and of the non-coercive way of the kingdom.
April 21, 2013
Trocme, a Christian who lived through WWII, writes with conviction and clarity. While he does get occasional details about the OT wrong (believing, for instance, that Elisha was a bloodthirsty man who called up bears to eat children for making fun of his baldness - a longstanding misreading of the text) there remains a great much to like about the book. He understands the unity of law and grace, that Jesus did not attack the OT law but the corruptions of it by the scribes and Pharisees, and argues that the jubilee announced by Jesus was the restoration of the depths of the OT law. What perhaps struck me most about the book is that little of it is overtly about pacifism. It is rather a detailed exposition of the gospels that leads him to a place of arguing for nonviolence, not content to assume nonviolence but actively exposit it from the Bible. While his reading does not totally hold up under scrutiny, he also exhibits a depth of insight into other passages that was quite helpful, and he certainly is right in his conclusions in not in how he gets there. While I am not a total pacifist, being peacemakers is in the Christian job description and any decision to take up arms must be done reluctantly and as a last resort when all other avenues have failed. And we must think much harder about allowing Christians to wage war in the name of state and empire.
January 8, 2013
Andre Trocme was not a trained theologian. He was a church pastor from France, one who shepherded his people (and the Jews in their midst) with amazing courage and love during the terror of World War II. During the war, Trocme and his congregation stood up defiantly to the Nazis and their sympathizers, refusing to collaborate with their government and sheltering Jews and other targets of violence in their own homes. He was imprisoned for his nonviolent resistance and eventually had to go into hiding, while his cousin and several of his parishioners were executed by the Nazis. Yet because of his actions, between 3,000 and 5,000 people were saved from death during the war.
Surprisingly, Trocme's book on nonviolent resistance, written 20 years later, does not mention his own actions even once. Instead, he focuses on Jesus's work in the Gospels and what Christ calls the church to do. Trocme focuses on Jesus's call to Jubilee, his confrontation with the way in which we live our lives, and his challenge to the people to reject their violent attempts to overthrow their enemies and take the way of peace instead. He builds from these issues into a discussion of how Jesus used nonviolence, why he chose that path, and what he calls the church to today.
Several theologians since have taken up many of Trocme's themes and written much more theologically sound treatises on them – two notable ones I have read are John Howard Yoder in The Politics of Jesus, Richard B. Hays in The Moral Vision of the New Testament, and N.T. Wright in Jesus and the Victory of God (perhaps more simply expressed in his shorter book, The Challenge of Jesus). I would recommend those books before I recommend Trocme's. But Trocme does tie together certain themes in ways different than I've seen other authors do it, and I think I benefited from the book and would benefit from reading it again. While he does not have the theological training of the other authors I mentioned and may make some errors in interpretation, his personal experience as a pastor leads him to express a much more powerful challenge to today's church. Don't just read the words of Jesus and try to understand them. Be a disciple and follow in his steps.
This book is actually available free on the internet in PDF form.
Surprisingly, Trocme's book on nonviolent resistance, written 20 years later, does not mention his own actions even once. Instead, he focuses on Jesus's work in the Gospels and what Christ calls the church to do. Trocme focuses on Jesus's call to Jubilee, his confrontation with the way in which we live our lives, and his challenge to the people to reject their violent attempts to overthrow their enemies and take the way of peace instead. He builds from these issues into a discussion of how Jesus used nonviolence, why he chose that path, and what he calls the church to today.
Several theologians since have taken up many of Trocme's themes and written much more theologically sound treatises on them – two notable ones I have read are John Howard Yoder in The Politics of Jesus, Richard B. Hays in The Moral Vision of the New Testament, and N.T. Wright in Jesus and the Victory of God (perhaps more simply expressed in his shorter book, The Challenge of Jesus). I would recommend those books before I recommend Trocme's. But Trocme does tie together certain themes in ways different than I've seen other authors do it, and I think I benefited from the book and would benefit from reading it again. While he does not have the theological training of the other authors I mentioned and may make some errors in interpretation, his personal experience as a pastor leads him to express a much more powerful challenge to today's church. Don't just read the words of Jesus and try to understand them. Be a disciple and follow in his steps.
This book is actually available free on the internet in PDF form.
March 10, 2010
This is the book that first woke me from my dogmatic slumbers several years ago. Andre Trocme was a French Reformed pastor, during World War II, who actually lived the cross and didn't just talk about it. Here he walks through the gospels and shows their radical public meaning in the first century and now. It's about far more than violence. I never recovered from his treatment of Luke 4. The Calvinist Trocme was instrumental in encouraging folks like John Howard Yoder to think of Christ in public, nonpietistic terms.
August 7, 2021
I just finished "Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution," by André Trocmé.
Supposedly he was a huge influence on Yoder and "The Politics of Jesus."
Trocmé aims to destroy a Niebuhrian Christian Realism where the high standards of the inaugurated Kingdom are seen as unobtainable and thus lessened to better fit modern man's sensibilities and practical application.
Major take away for the first two chapters us that Jesus came to bring about Jubilee. Many would start to spilt physical from spiritual but Trocmé lumps them together. 26-27 ad were Jubilee years when Jesus read Is 61 (LXX) in the synagogue. To the poor this would have been the proclamation of a revolution, a foretaste of the Kingdom, a Kingdom revolution.
It's interesting how Trocmé looks again through a Jubilee lens at the words of Jesus. "Forgiveness of debts" is seen differently if seen in this way; it is also the admittance into the Kingdom. Yes, I'm picking up on tons of Yoder. Especially in ch 4 "the politics of Jesus" where Trocmé runs over the Roman way of governance pointing to how Jesus chose and bypassed certain cities so as to speak to Israel over pagan. Further he also states that the message of Jesus was not Apolitical. He was teaching a rebellious message of another Kingdom to Isreal.
The center section of the book dealt with the historical setting of the second temple period so that we can have an eye to see what this Jubilee message of the coming Kingdom would have looked like.
The final section has a thought that all need answer: if Gandhi showed that the way of nonviolence works (though the thought behind it for him wasn't totally Christian) what keeps us from living the nonviolence of Jesus today? It is because many Christians especially in the West are entrenched in the power structures and to be nonviolent would be antithetical to their political aims. Theirs is called a salvation by compromise, not grace, because they have abandoned Jesus' way of living and showing grace.
Great message in a good book that was translated from French and went on to inspire great books. I think his writing was a bit monochromatic and it could have been because of its being a translation.
#Nonviolence
Supposedly he was a huge influence on Yoder and "The Politics of Jesus."
Trocmé aims to destroy a Niebuhrian Christian Realism where the high standards of the inaugurated Kingdom are seen as unobtainable and thus lessened to better fit modern man's sensibilities and practical application.
Major take away for the first two chapters us that Jesus came to bring about Jubilee. Many would start to spilt physical from spiritual but Trocmé lumps them together. 26-27 ad were Jubilee years when Jesus read Is 61 (LXX) in the synagogue. To the poor this would have been the proclamation of a revolution, a foretaste of the Kingdom, a Kingdom revolution.
It's interesting how Trocmé looks again through a Jubilee lens at the words of Jesus. "Forgiveness of debts" is seen differently if seen in this way; it is also the admittance into the Kingdom. Yes, I'm picking up on tons of Yoder. Especially in ch 4 "the politics of Jesus" where Trocmé runs over the Roman way of governance pointing to how Jesus chose and bypassed certain cities so as to speak to Israel over pagan. Further he also states that the message of Jesus was not Apolitical. He was teaching a rebellious message of another Kingdom to Isreal.
The center section of the book dealt with the historical setting of the second temple period so that we can have an eye to see what this Jubilee message of the coming Kingdom would have looked like.
The final section has a thought that all need answer: if Gandhi showed that the way of nonviolence works (though the thought behind it for him wasn't totally Christian) what keeps us from living the nonviolence of Jesus today? It is because many Christians especially in the West are entrenched in the power structures and to be nonviolent would be antithetical to their political aims. Theirs is called a salvation by compromise, not grace, because they have abandoned Jesus' way of living and showing grace.
Great message in a good book that was translated from French and went on to inspire great books. I think his writing was a bit monochromatic and it could have been because of its being a translation.
#Nonviolence
May 25, 2018
After reading Caroline Moorehead's, The Village of secrets, I searched for this book by Andre Trocme, whose pastoral leadership, and courage was such an inspiration to his parishioners and others in the area, during the Nazi occupation. I was "blown away" by this account. The impact that he, his wife and those who shared his determination to put into practice the teachings of Jesus in regard to 'welcoming the stranger', protecting the marginalised, non-retaliation, etc., during those horrendous years, was significant.
Jesus and the non-violent revolution, has a far greater impact because Trocme actually lived what he preached. There is much here that is challenging and thought provoking. I will be reading it again!
Jesus and the non-violent revolution, has a far greater impact because Trocme actually lived what he preached. There is much here that is challenging and thought provoking. I will be reading it again!
January 20, 2026
I started reading this book five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic. I finally finished it this morning. I appreciated the author’s understanding of who Jesus is, and what his message is about. I would encourage anyone who loves Jesus to read this book, but be careful it may change the way you think.
December 18, 2024
Trocmé modeled a life of nonviolence after Jesus that I am in awe of. I am so grateful for Christ’s life-giving declaration of Jubilee as outlined in this book and will be pondering it over and over again.
June 23, 2025
Shows us the revolution Jesus intended us to follow and ACT on. All claims are supported in great detail and with any relevant context. Great section of comparison between Jesus and Gandhi. Shows Christians how to live your life as Jesus intended.
April 27, 2022
This was better than expected. Trocme avoids falling into Yoder's questionable exegesis. I still haven't found a comprehensive case for Christian nonviolence, but this is a good place to start.
September 25, 2023
Dense. Helpful to digest in a book group.
September 22, 2025
I agree with Donald Kraybill’s assessment/warning, found on the back cover: “Read […] with caution: this book may change your life.” Trocmé’s message is indeed revolutionary.
November 2, 2025
"Homura-chan, don't try to fight evil on your own. I'll always be with you."
September 19, 2015
Andre Trocme writes with brilliant clarity, not as a removed intellectual, but as someone who risked everything during World War II for the nonviolent ideals he held so dear. His work has influenced reams of New Testament thinkers and peace activists. Even John Howard Yoder's classic, Politics of Jesus, was based on Trocme's ideas.
Throughout Trocme's life he refused to cooperate with violence. He wrote, "Loving, forgiving, and doing good to our adversaries is our duty."
From 1948 to 1960 Trocme served as European secretary for the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an international peace center in Versailles, a link in a chain that united leaders of nonviolence including Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Toyohiko Kagawa. He worked in international efforts to support conscientious objectors to war, most notably in Morocco, where with the Mennonites he helped found Eirene.
Trocme's Christ centered social ethic is that Jesus "inaugurated the kingdom of God based on the Jubilee principles of the Old Testament. These principles call for a political, economic, and spiritual revolution in response to human need. Jesus intended nothing less than an actual revolution, with debts forgiven, slaves set free, and land returned to the poor. It was this threat to vested interests that awakened the hostility toward Jesus that led to the cross..." (from the Introduction)
"Not much has changed since World War II, the Holocaust, and the Cold War. Ours is still an age of bloodshed. We live by the hellish logic of revenge, just war, might makes right, and deterrent force, while inequality, oppression, and exploitation flourish. Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution refutes such logic." (from the Introduction)
A powerful aspect of Trocme's work is that the basis of all of his arguments is crystal clear: The Hebrew Scriptures interpreted by Jesus. Trocme sees Jesus as the culmination of a long legacy of prophetic witnesses from Isaiah to Amos to John the Baptist. And Jesus' vision, rooted in the Greatest Commandment, is a viable alternative to the insane violence we see every day in the news. Trocme would stake his life on it!
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
Throughout Trocme's life he refused to cooperate with violence. He wrote, "Loving, forgiving, and doing good to our adversaries is our duty."
From 1948 to 1960 Trocme served as European secretary for the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an international peace center in Versailles, a link in a chain that united leaders of nonviolence including Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Toyohiko Kagawa. He worked in international efforts to support conscientious objectors to war, most notably in Morocco, where with the Mennonites he helped found Eirene.
Trocme's Christ centered social ethic is that Jesus "inaugurated the kingdom of God based on the Jubilee principles of the Old Testament. These principles call for a political, economic, and spiritual revolution in response to human need. Jesus intended nothing less than an actual revolution, with debts forgiven, slaves set free, and land returned to the poor. It was this threat to vested interests that awakened the hostility toward Jesus that led to the cross..." (from the Introduction)
"Not much has changed since World War II, the Holocaust, and the Cold War. Ours is still an age of bloodshed. We live by the hellish logic of revenge, just war, might makes right, and deterrent force, while inequality, oppression, and exploitation flourish. Jesus and the Nonviolent Revolution refutes such logic." (from the Introduction)
A powerful aspect of Trocme's work is that the basis of all of his arguments is crystal clear: The Hebrew Scriptures interpreted by Jesus. Trocme sees Jesus as the culmination of a long legacy of prophetic witnesses from Isaiah to Amos to John the Baptist. And Jesus' vision, rooted in the Greatest Commandment, is a viable alternative to the insane violence we see every day in the news. Trocme would stake his life on it!
-Amos Smith (author of Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots)
October 4, 2013
Simply an amazing treatise on the subject. Replete with biblical allusions, the work is still very engaging and understandable. Written about the same time as Camara's Spiral of Violence, I don't know if this can be counted as Liberation Theology proper, but it must come close:
The church must never give allegiance to the state, even if the state protects it, but must constantly call the state to a more perfect justice.
Trocme's view of Jesus as a Jubilee Prophet and not an Apocalyptic Prophet stands in contrast to authors like Grant and Ehrman, but that is trivial. And I might not agree with his conclusion on the Crucifixion as an
"act of redemption on the cross, through which God, and God alone, overcame the power of evil by using it for his glory."
but I would still recommend this book to any liberal or metaphorical Christian. (Fundamentalists need not bother. Trocme admires Gandhi, and we all know what those types thinks about people of other faiths.....) It is books like this that make the human JESUS more real to me than the mystical CHRIST.
It is available as a legally free download at:
http://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/j/jes...
The church must never give allegiance to the state, even if the state protects it, but must constantly call the state to a more perfect justice.
Trocme's view of Jesus as a Jubilee Prophet and not an Apocalyptic Prophet stands in contrast to authors like Grant and Ehrman, but that is trivial. And I might not agree with his conclusion on the Crucifixion as an
"act of redemption on the cross, through which God, and God alone, overcame the power of evil by using it for his glory."
but I would still recommend this book to any liberal or metaphorical Christian. (Fundamentalists need not bother. Trocme admires Gandhi, and we all know what those types thinks about people of other faiths.....) It is books like this that make the human JESUS more real to me than the mystical CHRIST.
It is available as a legally free download at:
http://www.plough.com/en/ebooks/j/jes...
January 15, 2016
This is a wonderful book written by a French pastor who was responsible for protecting a large number of Jews during WWII. That story does not figure in the book per se but explains something of the character of the author and lends credibility to his non-violent, peacemaking posture as a follower of Jesus. This book was originally published in English in 1972 and has since been republished in a revised edition. Trocme's work has been deeply influential on the work of other advocates of Christian non-violence such as Yoder and Stassen. The book provides an exhilarating read of the ministry and teaching of Jesus and the social implications of the biblical jubilee and Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God. I could not recommend it more highly.
July 12, 2011
I'd wanted to read this book for a few years and was excited to get my hands on it. It was a great read, with many good points on Jesus' ministry in its first century context. It is a highly influential book to authors like Walter Wink, Ched Myers, John Howard Yoder, etc. Read it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews