Kierkegaard published this book under the pseudonym "Johannes de Silentio."
Johannes begins by analyzing the Biblical story of Genesis, specifically the story of Abraham, specifically the part of Abraham's story when he was told by the voice of God to murder his own son. He accepts his fate, and he is rewarded for his faith by an angel who stops him during the act.
In the section titled "Exordium," Johannes analyzes all the other responses Abraham might have felt. He gives four essential responses, but in "The Eulogy of Abraham," Johannes maintains that only Abraham's acceptance of his fate could have earned him the title "The Father of Faith."
After this, there is a philosophical issue raised: Ethical wisdom is universal, because everything that exists has a telos which means, a philosophical end. When Johannes says "ethics," he means that a person is taking the purpose of an experience into account. He analyzes the Hegelian value of these ideas (synthesizing various points of view).
Secondly, he discusses Kant and asserts that every human life contains an absolute fate, a duty to rend one's life to God for the purposes of fate.
Then, he raises a third issue: Why Abraham continued to follow faithfully, without sharing his plans with anyone. He chose to carry out his obedience in absolute silence. Johannes concludes that without passion, he would not have chosen to have faith.
