Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer (4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic.

Early Life and Education

Born in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), into a large and intellectual family, Bonhoeffer was the sixth of eight children. His father was a psychiatrist and neurologist, and his mother was a teacher. From an early age, Bonhoeffer displayed a profound interest in theology and the moral implications of faith. He went on to study theology at the universities of Tübingen and Berlin. By the age of 21, he had completed his doctorate in theology.

Career and Resistance Against Nazism

During the early 1930s, as the Nazi Party rose to power in Germany, Bonhoeffer became one of the first to voice concern over Adolf Hitler's regime. He was particularly disturbed by the Nazis' Aryan paragraph, which barred individuals of Jewish descent from serving in the ministry or any civil service positions. In response, Bonhoeffer argued for the church's independence and its duty to intervene on behalf of the persecuted, regardless of their faith.

In 1933, Bonhoeffer's opposition to the Nazi regime led him to become a founding member of the Confessing Church, which declared its allegiance to the Bible over the German state. Despite increasing pressure from the Nazi government, including the banning of his books and a prohibition on speaking publicly, Bonhoeffer continued his theological work and his involvement in the Confessing Church.

Involvement in the German Resistance

Bonhoeffer's resistance took a more direct form in 1939 when he was recruited into the German Military Intelligence Office, which was a center for the German resistance to Hitler. Through this position, he was involved in plans to overthrow the Nazi regime. His role in the resistance included helping Jews escape to Switzerland and using his ecumenical contacts abroad to try to gain support for the anti-Nazi efforts.

Arrest and Execution

Bonhoeffer's involvement in the plot to assassinate Hitler led to his arrest in April 1943. He was initially charged with conspiracy but was later implicated in the July 20, 1944, assassination attempt on Hitler. After months in prison, during which he continued to write and reflect on the nature of faith and ethics, Bonhoeffer was executed by hanging at Flossenbürg concentration camp on 9 April 1945, just weeks before the end of World War II.

Legacy

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's legacy is profound and multifaceted. His theological writings, particularly those penned during his imprisonment, such as Letters and Papers from Prison, have inspired generations of theologians, ethicists, and believers. His stance against the Nazi regime and his involvement in the resistance movement have made him a symbol of courage and moral integrity in the face of oppression.

Selected Works

• The Cost of Discipleship
• Life Together
• Letters and Papers from Prison

See Also

• Confessing Church
• Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• German Resistance to Nazism