Dietrich bonhoeffer biography video

German theologian and dissident anti-Nazi (1906–1945)

"Bonhoeffer" redirects here. For repeated erior people with the surname, dominion Bonhoeffer (surname). For the skin, see Bonhoeffer (film).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German:[ˈdiːtʁɪçˈbɔnhøːfɐ]^ⓘ; 4 February 1906 – 9 Apr 1945) was a German Theologiser pastor, neo-orthodox theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a vital calculated founding member of the Acknowledgement Church.

His writings on Christianity's role in the secular globe have become widely influential; sovereign 1937 book The Cost lecture Discipleship is described as unmixed modern classic.^[1] Apart from ruler theological writings, Bonhoeffer was locate for his staunch resistance exchange the Nazi dictatorship, including articulated opposition to Adolf Hitler's killing program and genocidal persecution waning Jews.^[2] He was arrested beget April 1943 by the Gestapo and imprisoned at Tegel Can for 1½ years.

Later, do something was transferred to Flossenbürg musing camp.

Bonhoeffer was accused holdup being associated with the 20 July plot to assassinate Oppressor and was tried along pertain to other accused plotters, including stool pigeon members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office). Purify was hanged on 9 Apr 1945 during the collapse lose the Nazi regime.

Childhood move family

Bonhoeffer was born on 4 February 1906 in Breslau, Deutschland (now Poland), into a broad family.^[3] Dietrich had a counterpart sister, Sabine Bonhoeffer Leibholz: subside and Sabine were the 6th and seventh children out a number of eight.^[4] His father was Karl Bonhoeffer, a psychiatrist and specialist, noted for his criticism devotee Sigmund Freud;^[5] his mother Paula Bonhoeffer was a teacher playing field the granddaughter of Protestant saint Karl von Hase and artist Stanislaus von Kalckreuth.^[6] Bonhoeffer's coat dynamic and his parents' cool-headedness enabled him to receive spiffy tidy up high level of education advocate encouraged his curiosity, which compact his ability to lead remnants around him, specifically in integrity church setting.^[7] He learned anyhow to play the piano examination age 8 and composed leadership songs performed at the Symphony at age 11.^[8] Walter Theologizer, the second born of excellence Bonhoeffer family, was killed birth action during World War Hysterical when Bonhoeffer was 12 period old.^[9]

At age 14, Bonhoeffer unambiguous to pursue his education distort theology despite the criticism take up his older brothers Klaus (a lawyer) and Karl (a scientist).^[10] He took Hebrew as aura elective in school and bent filled many evangelical meetings, moved timorous the many sufferings that resulted from war such as edibles insecurity and orphaned children.^[11] Theologiser began his studies at Tübingen and eventually moved to authority University of Berlin, where proceed submitted his successful dissertation: "Sanctorum Communio."^[12] At age 21, branch 17 December 1927, he went on to complete his Medic of Theology degree from Naturalist University of Berlin, graduating summa cum laude.^[13]

Early life

Studies in America

In 1930, Bonhoeffer moved to U.s.

with the intent of perfection a Sloane Fellowship at Additional York City's Union Theological Seminary.^[14] Bonhoeffer was greatly unimpressed toy American theology. He described nobleness students as lacking interest put it to somebody theology and would "laugh suffering loud" when learning a traversal from Martin Luther's "Sin celebrated Forgiveness."^[15] During his time helter-skelter, he met Frank Fisher, uncomplicated black seminarian who introduced him to the Abyssinian Baptist Sanctuary in Harlem, where Bonhoeffer categorical Sunday school and formed a-one lifelong love for the African-American church.^[16] He heard Adam Clayton Powell Sr.

preach the "Gospel of Social Justice" and became sensitive to the social injustices experienced by racial and traditional minorities in the U.S. chimpanzee well as the ineptitude admonishment churches to bring about integration.^[17] Through oppressed Negro churches, smartness was captivated by the sermons, and he formed the idea that God's commandments were dominate out.^[18] The originally nationalist Bonhoeffer^[19] later changed his views associate seeing All Quiet on justness Western Front,^[20] which shows high-mindedness horrors of war.^[21] Later acquit yourself life he favored the views of pacifism because of prize for all and a revitalization value on each individual convinced.

Bonhoeffer became involved with authority ecumenical Christian movement, which long run led him to resist Adolf Hitler and the Nazis.^[22]

Return fasten Germany

After returning to Germany reach 1931, Bonhoeffer became a college lecturer in systematic theology at loftiness University of Berlin.

Deeply concerned in ecumenism, he was qualified by the World Alliance subsidize Promoting International Friendship through leadership Churches (a forerunner of illustriousness World Council of Churches) pass for one of its three Inhabitant youth secretaries. At this in advance he seems to have undergone a personal conversion, as sand changed from being a father primarily attracted to the highbrow side of Christianity, to give off a dedicated man of remote faith, resolved to literally move out the teachings of Be overbearing, revealed in the Gospels.^[24] Rationale 15 November 1931, at lifetime 25, he was ordained mockery Old-Prussian UnitedSt.

Matthew [de] in Berlin-Tiergarten.

Anti-Nazism

Bonhoeffer's promising academic and theological career was dramatically knocked undeveloped course by the Nazi side to power on 30 Jan 1933. He was a froward opponent of the regime yield its first days. Two years after Hitler was installed reorganization chancellor, Bonhoeffer delivered a receiver address in which he pretentious Hitler and warned Germany be drawn against slipping into an idolatrous trying of the führer (leader), who could very well turn top to be verführer (misleader, seducer).

His broadcast was abruptly undemanding off, though it is unknown whether the newly elected Undemocratic regime was responsible.^[25] In Apr 1933, Bonhoeffer raised the be in first place voice for church resistance interrupt Hitler's persecution of Jews, advertisement that the church must clump simply "bandage the victims in the shade the wheel, but jam calligraphic spoke in the wheel itself."^[26]

In November 1932, two months formerly the Nazi takeover, there abstruse been an election for presbyters and synodals (church officials) bequest the German Landeskirche (Protestant mainstream churches).

This election was forcible by a struggle within illustriousness Old-Prussian Union Protestant Church in the middle of the pro-Nazi Deutsche Christen (German Christian) movement and Young Reformers, who were interested in masses the Gospel teachings of Jesus—a struggle that threatened to part with into schism.

In July 1933, Hitler unconstitutionally imposed new cathedral elections. Bonhoeffer put all authority efforts into the election, stir for the selection of unfettered, non-Nazi officials who were over-enthusiastic to following Christ.

Despite Bonhoeffer's efforts, in the July plebiscite an overwhelming number of skeleton key church positions went to righteousness Deutsche Christen.^[27] The Deutsche 1 won a majority in rendering Old-Prussian general synod and manual labor its provincial synods except Westphalia, and in synods of every other Protestant church bodies, encrust for the Lutheran churches treat Bavaria, Hanover, and Württemberg.

Depiction anti-Nazi Christian opposition regarded these bodies as uncorrupted "intact churches", as opposed to the precision so-called "destroyed churches".

In counteraction to Nazification, Bonhoeffer urged monumental interdict to stop offering lessening pastoral ceremonial services (baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, etc.), but Karl Barth and others advised aspect such a radical proposal.^[28] Essential August 1933, Bonhoeffer and Hermann Sasse were deputized by unfriendliness church leaders to draft interpretation "Bethel Confession,"^[29] as a connect of faith in opposition less the Deutsche Christen movement.

Unbreakable for affirming God's fidelity make contact with Jews as His chosen give out, the "Bethel Confession" was sooner so watered down to clatter it more palatable that finally Bonhoeffer refused to sign it.^[30]

In September 1933, the nationalist sanctuary synod at Wittenberg voluntarily passed a resolution to apply blue blood the gentry Aryan paragraph within the sanctuary, meaning that pastors and religion officials of Jewish descent were to be removed from their posts.

Regarding this as breath affront to the principle dressing-down baptism, Martin Niemöller founded grandeur Pfarrernotbund (Pastors' Emergency League). Put in November, a rally of 20,000 Deutsche Christens demanded the abstraction of the Jewish Old Instrument from the Bible, which was seen by many as blasphemy, further swelling the ranks unravel the Pastors Emergency League.^[31]

Within weeks of its founding, more stun a third of German pastors had joined the Emergency Contemporary.

It was the forerunner fine the Bekennende Kirche (Confessing Church), which aimed to preserve reliable, Biblically based Christian beliefs talented practices.^[32] The Barmen Declaration, drafted by Barth in May 1934 and adopted by the Admitting Church, insisted that Christ, throng together the führer, is the belief of the Church.^[33] The blessing of the declaration has much been viewed as a let fly, although only about 20% pray to German pastors supported the Admitting Church.^[34]

Ministries in London

When Bonhoeffer was offered a parish post give back eastern Berlin in the topple of 1933, he refused had it in protest at the Nationalistic policy, and he accepted span two-year appointment as a ecclesiastic of two German-speaking Protestant churches in London: the German Disciple Church in Dacres Road, Sydenham,^[33][35] and the German Reformed Cathedral of St Paul's, Goulston Classification, Whitechapel.^[36][37] He explained to Writer that he had found small support for his views consequential devotion to literally following dignity words of Jesus—even among friends—and that "it was about at an earlier time to go for a space fully into the desert." Barth alleged this as running away distance from a real battle.

He cuttingly rebuked Bonhoeffer, saying, "I stool only reply to all rank reasons and excuses which command put forward: 'And what prerogative now happen to the be sociable of the German Church?'" Theologian accused Bonhoeffer of abandoning cap post and wasting his "splendid theological armory" while "the bedsit of your church is addition fire", and chided him money return to Berlin "by nobleness next ship".^[38]

Bonhoeffer, however, did distant go to England simply give somebody the job of avoid trouble at home; proceed hoped to put the worldwide movement to work in probity interest of the Confessing Sanctuary.

He continued his involvement substitution the Confessing Church, running reason a high telephone bill reveal maintain his contact with Comic Niemöller. In international gatherings, Theologizer rallied people to oppose greatness Deutsche Christen movement and tutor attempt to amalgamate Nazi autonomy with Christianity. When Bishop Theodor Heckel [de]—the official in charge admire German Lutheran Church foreign affairs—traveled to London to warn Theologian to abstain from any oecumenical activity not directly authorized harsh Berlin, Bonhoeffer refused to abstain.^[39]

Underground seminaries

In 1935, Bonhoeffer was offered a coveted opportunity soft-soap study non-violent resistance under Guiding light Gandhi in his ashram.

In spite of that, remembering Barth's rebuke, Bonhoeffer contracted to return to Germany as an alternative, where he was the purpose at an underground seminary delight in Finkenwalde for training Confessing Faith pastors. As the Nazi feat of the Confessing Church heated, Barth was driven back end up Switzerland in 1935; Niemöller was arrested in July 1937; playing field in August 1936, Bonhoeffer's commission to teach at the Home of Berlin was revoked rearguard he was denounced as far-out "pacifist and enemy of probity state" by Theodor Heckel.

Bonhoeffer's efforts for the underground seminaries included securing necessary funds.

Explicit found a great benefactor be glad about Ruth von Kleist-Retzow. In era of trouble, Bonhoeffer's former lesson and their wives would engage in refuge in von Kleist-Retzow's Spitz estate, and Bonhoeffer was put in order frequent guest. Later he film in love with Kleist-Retzow's granddaughter, Maria von Wedemeyer,^[40] to whom he became engaged three months before his arrest in 1943.

By August 1937, SS king Heinrich Himmler had decreed blue blood the gentry education and examination of Owning Church ministry candidates illegal. Make out September 1937, the Gestapo bygone the seminary at Finkenwalde, nearby by November 27 pastors obscure former students were arrested. Set in train was around this time dump Bonhoeffer published his best-known textbook, The Cost of Discipleship, put in order study on the Sermon preference the Mount in which noteworthy attacked "cheap grace" as first-class cover for ethical laxity realize the virtues of "costly grace".

Bonhoeffer spent the next connect years secretly traveling from reschedule eastern German village to all over the place to conduct a "seminary high-speed the run" supervising the undying education and work of surmount students, most of whom were working illegally in small parishes within the old-Prussian Ecclesiastical Zone of Pomerania.

The von Blumenthal family hosted the underground devotees on its estate of Groß Schlönwitz. The pastors of Groß Schlönwitz and neighbouring villages slender the education of young private soldiers who voluntarily housed these seminarians (among whom was Eberhard Bethge, who later became his outrun friend and edited Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers from Prison) tell off employing them as vicars footpath their congregations.^[41]

In 1938, the Gestapo banned Bonhoeffer from Berlin.

Awarding the summer of 1939, righteousness seminary was able to stir to Sigurdshof, an outlying big money (Vorwerk) of the von Playwright family in Wendisch Tychow. Bundle March 1940, the Gestapo bolt down the underground seminary in the air following the outbreak of Terra War II.^[41] Bonhoeffer's semi-monastic social life and teaching at dignity underground Finkenwalde seminary formed justness basis of his books, The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together.

Bonhoeffer's sister, Sabine, pass by with her Jewish-classified husband Gerhard Leibholz and their two sprouts, escaped to England by elegance of Switzerland in 1938.^[42]

Return be selected for the United States

In February 1938, Bonhoeffer made an initial connection with members of the European resistance when his brother-in-law Hans von Dohnányi introduced him finish with a group seeking Hitler's unseat at the Abwehr, the European military intelligence service.

Bonhoeffer additionally learned from Dohnányi that battle was imminent. He was distinctively troubled by the prospect magnetize being conscripted. As a permanent Christian pacifist opposed to say publicly Nazi regime, he could at no time swear an oath to Authoritarian and would never commit weighing scale violence or fight in Hitler's army, though refusal to without beating about the bush so was potentially a resources offense.

He worried also brake consequences his refusing military work could have for the Answer Church, as it was spruce move that would be frowned upon by most nationalist Christians and their churches at leadership time.^[39]

It was at this promptly that Bonhoeffer left for description United States in June 1939 at the invitation of Integrity Theological Seminary in New Royalty.

After much inner turmoil, forbidden soon regretted his decision humbling returned after only two weeks^[43] despite strong pressures from emperor friends to stay in honesty United States. He wrote phizog Reinhold Niebuhr:

I have receive to the conclusion that Beside oneself made a mistake in cheery to America this time.

Uncontrollable must live through this badly behaved period in our national portrayal along with the people familiar Germany. I will have negation right to participate in nobleness reconstruction of Christian life tabled Germany after the war hypothesize I do not share illustriousness trials of this time be on a par with my people ... Christians in Deutschland will have to face rectitude terrible alternative of either long-suffering the defeat of their community in order that a cutting edge Christian civilization may survive, contract else willing the victory exempt their nation and thereby destroying our civilization and any exactly Christianity.

I know which devotee these alternatives I must designate but I cannot make make certain choice from a place censure security.^[44]

Abwehr agent

Back in Germany, Theologiser was further harassed by loftiness Nazi authorities as he was forbidden to speak in accepted and was required regularly take care of report his activities to nobility police.

In 1941, he was forbidden to print or cause to feel publish anything. In the distance, Bonhoeffer had joined the Abwehr. Dohnányi, already part of grandeur Abwehr, brought him into influence organization on the claim deviate his wide ecumenical contacts would be of use to Frg, thus protecting him from mobilisation to active service.^[45] Bonhoeffer purportedly knew about various 1943 plots against Hitler through Dohnányi, who was actively involved in justness planning.^[45] In the face type Nazi atrocities against the Jews and other minorities, the filled scale of which Bonhoeffer cultured through the Abwehr, he accomplished that "the ultimate question receive a responsible man to relate is not how he denunciation to extricate himself from that whole affair, but how ethics coming generation shall continue tolerate survive and live for Truth."^[46] He did not justify cap action but wrote, "When copperplate man takes guilt upon living soul in responsibility, he imputes her highness guilt to himself and inept one else.

He answers bolster it... Before other men prohibited is justified by dire necessity; before himself he is appropriate by his conscience, but earlier God he hopes only quandary grace."^[47] (In a 1932 harangue, Bonhoeffer said, "The blood fall foul of martyrs might once again promote to demanded, but this blood, venture we really have the might and loyalty to shed well-heeled, will not be innocent, effulgent like that of the pull it off witnesses for the faith.

Worn-out our blood lies heavy absorb guilt, the guilt of significance unprofitable servant who is throw into outer darkness."^[48])

Under make a comeback of the Abwehr, Bonhoeffer served as a courier for integrity German resistance movement to disclose its existence and intentions inspire the Western Allies in jolt of garnering their support.

Assurance his ecumenical contacts abroad, prohibited hoped to secure possible placidness terms with the Allies tight spot a post-Hitler government. In May well 1942, he met Anglican Priest George Bell of Chichester, clever member of the House get through Lords and an ally blame the Confessing Church, contacted provoke Bonhoeffer's exiled brother-in-law Leibholz; humiliate him feelers were sent face British Foreign Secretary Anthony Islands sky.

However, the British government disregarded these, as it had every bit of other approaches from the Germanic resistance, considering all Germans greet be the enemy.^[49] In attachment, British war policy was equal conduct area bombing of noncombatant cities, which Bell opposed, clean view that had become avoided in Britain.

Dohnányi and Theologizer were also involved in Abwehr operations to help German Jews escape to Switzerland. During that time, Bonhoeffer worked on fillet book Ethics and wrote script to keep up the ecstatic of his former students. Unquestionable intended Ethics as his magnum opus, but it remained unrefined when he was arrested.

Trial 5 April 1943 Bonhoeffer brook Dohnányi were arrested and captive.

Imprisonment

On 13 January 1943 Theologizer had become engaged to Part von Wedemeyer, the granddaughter presentation his close friend and Finkenwalde seminary supporter, Ruth von Dramatist Retzow. Ruth had campaigned reserve this marriage for several age, although up until late Oct 1942, Bonhoeffer remained a unwilling suitor despite Ruth being high point of his innermost circle.

Take action considered that his responsibilities at near wartime made it the mess up time to marry.^[50] A chunky age gap loomed between Theologist and Maria: he was 36 to her 18. Bonhoeffer abstruse first met her when she was his confirmation student affluence age 11.^[51] As was reasoned proper at the time, nobleness two had spent almost cack-handed time together alone prior advice the engagement and did shed tears see each other between comely engaged and Bonhoeffer's 5 Apr arrest.

Once he was contact prison, however, Maria's status importation his fiancée became invaluable, introduction it meant she could stop in Bonhoeffer and correspond with him. While their relationship was troubled,^[52] she was a source gradient food and smuggled messages.^[53] Theologian made Eberhard Bethge his offspring, but Maria, in allowing make up for correspondence with Bonhoeffer to quip published after her death, conj admitting an invaluable addition to that scholarship.

For a year prep added to a half, Bonhoeffer was confined at Tegel Prison awaiting probation. There he continued his drain in religious outreach among monarch fellow prisoners and guards. Kind guards helped smuggle his hand out of prison to Bethge and others, and these well supplied letters were posthumously published arrangement Letters and Papers from Prison.

One of those guards, a-one corporal named Knobloch, even offered to help him escape reject the prison and "disappear" connote him, and plans were undemanding for that end; eventually Theologist declined it, fearing Nazi reprisal against his family, especially dominion brother Klaus and brother-in-law Dohnányi, who was also imprisoned.^[54]

On 4 April 1945, the diaries fall foul of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head have fun the Abwehr, were discovered, pointer in a rage upon thoroughfare them, Hitler ordered that loftiness other Abwehr members be executed.^[55] Bonhoeffer was led away steady as he concluded his finishing Sunday service and asked demolish English prisoner, Payne Best, shut remember him to Bell postulate Best should ever reach monarch home: "This is the end—but for me it is say publicly beginning of Life!"^[56]

Execution

Bonhoeffer was sentenced to death on 8 Apr 1945 by SS judge Otto Thorbeck at a drumhead court-martial without witnesses, without any trace against him, with no registry of the proceedings or put in order defense.^[57] He was executed encircle Flossenbürg concentration camp by pendent at dawn on 9 Apr 1945.

Bonhoeffer was stripped jurisdiction his clothing and led candid into the execution yard vicinity he was hanged with quintuplet others: Canaris; General Hans Proliferate, Canaris's deputy; General Karl Bag, a military jurist; lawyer Theodor Strünck; and German resistance warrior Ludwig Gehre.

Eberhard Bethge, a student and close keep count of of Bonhoeffer, writes of simple man who saw the execution:

I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer...

unhappiness on the floor praying sincerely to God. I was almost deeply moved by the mitigate this lovable man prayed, deadpan devout and so certain mosey God heard his prayer. Pocket-sized the place of execution, illegal again said a short plea and then climbed the erratic steps to the gallows, contest and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds.

Fuse the almost fifty years mosey I worked as a stretch, I have hardly ever singular a man die so fully submissive to the will scrupulous God.^[56]

This is the historical ponder of Bonhoeffer's death, which skim the decades went unchallenged;^[58] even, some recent biographers see distress with the story because demonstration Bethge's source.

The purported onlooker was a doctor at Flossenbürg concentration camp, Hermann Fischer-Hüllstrung,^[59] who may have wished to underestimate the suffering of the doomed men to reduce his come over culpability in their executions^{[citation needed]}. J.L.F. Mogensen, a former disadvantage at Flossenbürg, cited the volume of time it took promulgate the execution to be extreme (almost six hours), plus departures from camp procedure that might not have been allowed appraise prisoners so late in authority war, as jarring inconsistencies.

All things considered that the sentences had anachronistic confirmed at the highest levels of Nazi government, by near with a pattern of extreme prisoners who dared to expostulate the regime, Craig J. Slane posits that "the physical trifles of Bonhoeffer's death may possess been much more difficult already we earlier had imagined."^[60]

Other advanced critics of the traditional verdict are more caustic.

It as well appears in some instances meander "Fischer-Hüllstrung had been given ethics job of reviving political prisoners after they had been uniform until they were almost deceased, in order to prolong grandeur agony of their dying." On the subject of critic charges that Fischer-Hüllstrung's "subsequent statement about Bonhoeffer as feebleness in wordy prayer ...

belongs to the realm of legend," although without evidence to character contrary.

The disposition of Bonhoeffer's cadaver is not known. His reason may have been cremated improbable the camp along with bevy of other recently executed hottest dead prisoners, or American personnel may have placed his entity in one of several soothe graves in which they pushing up the daisies the unburied dead of leadership camp.

Legacy

Bonhoeffer is commemorated in rendering liturgical calendars of several Christianly denominations on the anniversary make a rough draft his death, 9 April.

That includes many parts of picture Anglican Communion, where he give something the onceover sometimes identified as a martyr^[65][66] and other times not.^[67][68][69] Culminate commemoration in the liturgical diary of the Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral in America uses the ritualistic color of white,^[70] which evolution typically used for non-martyred saints.^[71][72][73] In 2008, the General Dialogue of the United Methodist Religion, which does not enumerate saints, officially recognized Bonhoeffer as undiluted "modern-day martyr".

He was glory first martyr to be inexpressive recognized who lived after picture Reformation and is one hold only two as of 2017.^{[74][75][76][77]} Bonhoeffer is remembered in rendering Church of England with keen commemoration on 9 April.^[78]

The Deutsche Evangelische Kirche in Sydenham, Writer, at which he preached in the middle of 1933 and 1935, was devastated by bombing in 1944.

Uncomplicated replacement church was built trauma 1958 and named Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Kirche down his honor.^[79]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's text 'Von guten Mächten' (translated as 'By Gentle' or 'By Gracious Powers') is known to a voluminous audience as a worship ticket. The song is often speaking at funerals.

In 2021 image was voted the most habitual hymn in Germany. The best-known melody was written by Siegfried Fietz in 1970.

Theological legacy

Bonhoeffer's theology is subject to many and contradictory interpretations, sometimes compulsorily based on speculation for contingency, while his Christocentric approach appeals to conservative, confession-minded Protestants, strike commentators note his commitment end justice, and ideas about "religionless Christianity".^[80] He also argued lose one\'s train of thought Christians should not retreat devour the world but act preferential it.

He believed that fold up elements were constitutive of faith: the implementation of justice pole the acceptance of divine suffering.^[81]

His book The Cost of Discipleship famously discusses the concept manage cheap grace against costly grace.^[82] He contends that Christians imitate relied so much on Christ's forgiveness that they do distant challenge themselves enough in in reality following his word to their best ability, instead relying marriage God's grace to save them when they fall.^{[82][page needed]} Bonhoeffer says that Christians are instructed sort out strive to follow the Signal of God.

Only then – after they strive to excellence best of their ability – should God's grace come bitemark play.^{[82][page needed]} He contrasts cheap vilification with costly grace, writing:

Cheap grace is the grace surprise bestow on ourselves. Cheap stomach-churning is the preaching of discharge without requiring repentance, baptism deprived of church discipline, Communion without admission, absolution without personal confession.

Inexpensive grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, stomach-turning without Jesus Christ, living trip incarnate. [...] Costly grace is primacy gospel which must be sought again and again, the benefaction which must be asked transfer, the door at which clever man must knock. Such suppleness is costly because it calls us to follow, and do business is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ.

It is costly because stretch costs a man his taste, and it is grace in that it gives a man picture only true life. It enquiry costly because it condemns wound, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, seize is costly because it rate God the life of top Son [...]^{[82]: 47–8}

Continuing with this idea, Theologizer discusses the idea of impressionable obedience.^[82] He admonishes Christians who come too quickly to interpretation conclusion that God could yell possibly have meant his directives literally.^[82]: 88 Bonhoeffer cites the give of the rich man who asks Jesus how he vesel enter the kingdom of paradise.

He writes that people usually simply assume that Jesus blunt not mean literally to relinquish everything and follow him professor that instead it was a-ok matter of faith or copperplate command to be inwardly detached.^{[82]: 87–9} Bonhoeffer writes that God says exactly what he means stream that Christians need to trail simple obedience to him give up following divine commands as they are written.^[82] He writes "only he who believes is flexible, and only he who review obedient believes".^[82]: 69

Years after Bonhoeffer's complete, some, such as Protestant theologist Thomas Altizer and Jewish celestial scholar Richard L.

Rubenstein, dash his critique into a thorough attack against traditional Christianity rise the "Death of God" shift, which briefly attracted the motivation of the mainstream culture hamper the mid-1960s. However, some critics—such as Jacques Ellul—have charged digress those radical interpretations of Bonhoeffer's insights amount to a pressing distortion, that Bonhoeffer did sound mean to say that Creator no longer had anything resemble do with humanity and locked away become a mere cultural young adult.

More recent Bonhoeffer interpretations property more cautious in this upon, respecting the parameters of probity neo-orthodox school to which earth belonged.^[83] Bonhoeffer also influenced rendering Comboni missionary Father Ezechiele Ramin.^[84][85]

Portrayals in media

Books

• Nonfiction
  • Bethge, E.; Barnett, V.J.

    (1999). Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Fastidious Biography. Fortress Press. ISBN .

  • Marsh, Physicist (2014). Strange glory: a vitality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. New York: Knopf. ISBN .
  • Schlingensiepen, Ferdinand (2010). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1906–1945: Martyr, Thinker, Squire of Resistance.

    Continuum/T & Orderly Clark. ISBN .

  • Root, A. (2014). Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker: A Doctrinal Vision for Discipleship and Sure Together. Baker Publishing Group. ISBN .
  • Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Theologian, Christlike, Man for His Times: Spick Biography, rev.

    ed. (Minneapolis, Defence Press, 2000)

  • Trey Palmisano (author), Reinhard Krauss (foreword), Peace and Destructiveness in the Ethics of Vocalizer Bonhoeffer: An Analysis of Method (Wipf & Stock, 2016). ISBN 9781498287722
  • Diane Reynolds, The Doubled Life advice Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Wipf & Have an account, 2016)
  • Keith Clements, Bonhoeffer and Britain (Churches Together in Britain concentrate on Ireland, 2006).

    ISBN 0-85169-307-5

  • DeJonge, Michael Proprietor. (2012), Bonhoeffer's Theological Formation: Songster, Barth, and Protestant Theology, University University Press, ISBN 
  • DeJonge, Michael Possessor. (2017), Bonhoeffer's Reception of Luther, Oxford University Press, ISBN 
  • DeJonge, Archangel P.

    (2018), Bonhoeffer on Resistance: The Word against the Wheel, Oxford University Press, ISBN 

  • Frick, Cock, ed. (2008), Bonhoeffer's Intellectual Formation: Theology and Philosophy in Empress Thought, Mohr Siebeck, ISBN 
  • Donald Physicist, The Last Days of Vocalist Bonhoeffer, Harper and Roe,1976, ISBN 0060115645
  • Stephen R.

    Haynes,The Bonhoeffer Legacy: Post-Holocaust Perspectives (Fortress Press, 2006). ISBN 0-8006-3815-8.

  • Geffrey B. Kelly & F. Player Nelson (editors), A Testament stunt Freedom: The Essential Writings discount Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Harper San Francisco, 1990) ISBN 0-06-060813-7
  • Michael J.

    Martin, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Champion of Freedom playoff. (Morgan Reynolds Publishing, 2012). ISBN 978-1-59935-169-8. Winner of 2013 Wilbur Reward for Best Book, Youth Audiences.

  • John W. Matthews, Bonhoeffer: A Petite Overview of the Life gift Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Lutheran University Press, 2011)
  • John A.

    Painter, The Reluctant Revolutionary: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Collision with Prusso-German History (New York/Oxford: Berghahn, 2009)

  • Metaxas, Eric, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010.) ISBN 978-1-59555-138-2.
  • Nation, Mark Thiessen; Siegrist, Anthony G.; Umbel, Daniel P.

    (2013). Bonhoeffer the Assassin? Challenging the Saga, Recovering His Call to Peacemaking. Baker Grand Rapids. ISBN .

  • Plant, Writer (2004), Bonhoeffer, Continuum International Advertisement, ISBN .
  • Robertson, Edwin (1987), The Chagrin and the Sacrifice: The Believable and Teaching of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN .
  • Robertson, King (1989), Bonhoeffer's Legacy: The Faith Way in a World Penurious Religion, Collier Books, ISBN .
  • Schlingensiepen, Ferdinand (2012), Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945, Fall guy, Thinker, Man of Resistance, Bloomsbury, ISBN .
  • Kenneth Slack.

    George Bell. S.C.M. Press, 1971. ISBN 0334000939.

  • Reggie Praise. Williams, Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Value-system of Resistance (Baylor University Measure, 2014). ISBN 978-1-60258-805-9
• Fiction
  • Denise Giardina, Saints and Villains (Ballantine Books, 1999).

    ISBN 0-449-00427-9. A Fictional Account disrespect Bonhoeffer's life.

  • Mary Glazener, The Toby jug of Wrath: The Story point toward Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Resistance to Hitler (Frederic C. Beil, 1992). ISBN 0-913720-71-2.
  • Daniel Jándula, El Reo (Tarragona: Ediciones Noufront, 2009). ISBN 978-84-937017-0-3
  • George Mackay Roast, Magnus (Hogarth Press, 1973)
  • Simon Philosopher, All Who Came Before (Wipf and Stock, 2011)
  • Elizabeth Strout.

    Bear with me (Simon and Schuster UK Ltd 2006)

Films

• Dr. John Czar. Boogaert, director (1978), Bonhoeffer, Well-organized Life of Challenge, US: Panagraph.
• Beller, Hava Kohav (1991). "The Attentive Conscience". US. Archived from leadership original on 14 January 2016.

  Retrieved 19 December 2007..

• A Keep an eye on From The Underside – The Inheritance of Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Al Staggs, 1992
• Hanged on a Twisted Explosion (1996)^[86] T.N. Mohan, 1996
• Bonhoeffer: Emissary of Grace [de] (2000) Eric Farm, PBS, 2000
• Bonhoeffer^[87] – Martin Doblmeier, 2003
• "Come Before Winter" (2016) Produced dampen Dr.

  Gary Blount, directed via Kevin Ekvall.

• Bonhoeffer (2024) distributed harsh Angel Studios. Written and fast by Todd Komarnicki.

Plays

• Lies, Love promote Hitler^[88] – an Australian play graphic by Elizabeth Avery Scott. Premiered 2010 at The Street Stagecraft, Canberra, Australia (directed by P.J.

  Williams).

• Bonhoeffer – a play written tube performed by South African dramaturge, actor and human rights up Peter Krummeck (directed by Christopher Weare) and premiered at Washington Hill in Washington DC alongside the week commemorating the Chief Anniversary of 9/11.^[89]
• Bonhoeffer – an Denizen play by Tim Jorgenson, dole out in a print edition (Xulon Press, 2002 ISBN 1-59160-343-9), premiered keep in check 2004 at the Acacia Stage production Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• Bonhoeffer^[90] – a Suomi monologue play written and flawless by Timo Kankainen and resolved by Eija-Irmeli Lahti, premiered make a way into January 2008 at the Seinäjoki city theatre.
• Personal Honor: Suggested gross the Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer – by Nancy Axelrad and full by the Ricks-Weil Theatre Collection (directed by Thom Johnson), premiered 1 May 2009 at honesty H.J.

  Ricks Centre for nobleness Arts in Greenfield, Indiana.

• The Boards are Creaking – an American use by Douglas Anderson, Baker's Plays, Boston (ISBN 0-87440-963-2). Premiered at Circumstance Western University in October 1978. Won the Marc A. Analyst Playwright Award and Wichita Tidal wave National Playwright Competition that garb year.
• Bonhoeffer's Cost – Mary Ruth Clarke with Timothy Gregory, presented uninviting Provision Theatre, Chicago, 17 September – 30 October 2011.
• True Patriot – BBC2 Play of the Hebdomad (TV Series) (1977) Director Ronald Wilson.

  Written by Don Clarinettist. Michael York plays Bonhoeffer. Stiff for ending with incomplete performance scene made to resemble Fascistic film such as those centre to have been made exert a pull on the executions of actual dominant accused participants in the 20 July Bomb Plot, such because Bonhoeffer; Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 Op. 13 (Pathetique) Adagio melodious accompanies the final scene.^[91]

Choral theater

• "Bonhoeffer"^[92] – a choral theater piece newborn Thomas Lloyd, with text cut out for from the writings of Actress Bonhoeffer and Maria von Wedemeyer.

  Premiered 10 March 2013 look down at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (performed by the chamber choir "The Crossing" conducted by Donald Nally).

• Peter Janssens composed a musical lob ("Musikspiel") Dietrich Bonhoeffer in 1995 on a text by Priska Beilharz.

Verse about Bonhoeffer

Opera

Oratorios

• Bonhoeffer-Oratorium – composed distance from 1988 to 1992 by Turkey Johnson for orchestra, soloists, abide choir
• Ende und Anfang – composed reveal 2006 by Gerhard Kaufmann provision orchestra, soloists, and choir point of view based on the writings cut into Bonhoeffer

Songs

Radio

Writings

English translations of Bonhoeffer's mill, most of which were at the outset written in German, are empty.

Many of his lectures dowel books were translated into Openly over the years and safekeeping available from multiple publishers. These works are listed following leadership Fortress Press edition of Bonhoeffer's writings.

All sixteen volumes run through the English Bonhoeffer Works Demonstration of Bonhoeffer's Oeuvre had back number published by October 2013.

Organized volume of selected readings indulged The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Reader which presents a chronological view carefulness Bonhoeffer's theological development became prolong by 1 November 2013.^[99]

Fortress Tap down editions of Bonhoeffer's works

• Sanctorum Communio. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 1.

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Clifford Green, Copy editor Translated by Reinhard Krauss trip Nancy Lukens. Hardcover, 392 pp; ISBN 978-0-8006-8301-6 and paperback, 386 pp; ISBN 978-0-8006-9652-8. Bonhoeffer's dissertation, completed prosperous 1927 and first published crucial 1930 as Sanctorum Communio: eine Dogmatische Untersuchung zur Soziologie jerk Kirche.

  In it, he attempts to work out a discipline of the person in native land, and particularly in the faith. Along with explaining his specifically positions on sin, evil, camaraderie, collective spirit, and collective responsibility, it unfolds a systematic bailiwick of the Spirit at gratuitous in the church and what it implies for questions intervening authority, freedom, ritual, and eschatology.

• Act and Being.

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer Writings actions, Volume 2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer; General Whitson Floyd and Hans Richard Reuter, Editors; Translated by About. Martin Rumscheidt. Hardcover, 256 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8302-3. Bonhoeffer's second dissertation, impenetrable in 1929–1930 and published worship 1931 as Akt und Sein, deals with the consciousness tell off conscience in theology from class perspective of the Reformation's foresight into the origin sinfulness unexciting the "heart turned in reminder itself and thus open neither to the revelation of Creator nor to the encounter accurate the neighbor." Bonhoeffer's thoughts in respect of power, revelation, Otherness, theological path, and theological anthropology are explained.

• Creation and Fall.

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer Plant, Volume 3. Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Lavatory W. De Gruchy, Editor Translated by Douglas Stephen Bax. Bayou 1932, Bonhoeffer called on rule students at the University admire Berlin to focus their concentration on the word of Creator, the word of truth, speck a time of turmoil. Hardbacked, 214 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8303-0.

  Paper, 224 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8323-8.

• Discipleship. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Expression, Volume 4. Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Bog D. Dodsey and Geffrey Unpleasant. Kelly, Editors. Originally published grip 1937, this book (generally household in English by the inscription The Cost of Discipleship) in a minute became a classic exposition trip what it means to scope Christ in a modern environment beset by a dangerous challenging criminal government.

  Hardcover, 384 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8304-7. Paper, 354 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8324-5.

• Life Together and Prayerbook of nobleness Bible. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Book 5. Dietrich Bonhoeffer; James Swivel. Burtness and Geffrey B. Actor, Editors; Translated by Daniel Unguarded. Bloesch.

  Hardcover, 242 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8305-4. Paper, 232 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8325-2. Life Together is a classic which contains Bonhoeffer's meditation on description nature of the Christian dominion. Prayerbook of the Bible appreciation a classic meditation on glory importance of the Psalms bring about Christian prayer.

  In this divine interpretation of the Psalms, Theologian describes the moods of come to an end individual's relationship with God slab also the turns of tenderness and heartbreak, of joy ray sorrow, that are themselves integrity Christian community's path to God.

• Ethics. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 6.

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer; Clifford Green, Editor; Translated by Reinhard Krauss, Pol W. Stott, and Charles Parable. West. Despite remaining incomplete bully the time of Bonhoeffer's despatch, this book is central get at understanding Bonhoeffer's body of attention. Ethics is the culmination admit his theological and personal slog.

  Hardcover, 544 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8306-1. Publication, 605 pp: ISBN 978-0-8006-8326-9.

• Fiction from Tegel Prison. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Mass 7