Dietrick Bonhoeffer was a German protestant theologian who was important foe his support of ecumenism (unity) and his view of Christianity’s role in the secular world. His slight involvement in a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler led to hie imprisonment and execution. His Letters and Papers from Prison published after his death is perhaps the most profound document of his convictions.
Dietrick was brought up amid the academic circles of the University of Berlin. He was a gifted pianist and his family through the would study music.To their disappointment, aged just 14, he said he wanted to be a minister and theologian.
Aged 21 he graduated from University of Berlin with a degree in Theology. He spent a short time in Spain being an assistant pastor to a German congregation. He went back to Germany to write a dissertation to earn the right to a university appointment. After a year in the USA he returned to take up the post of lecturer in systematic theology at University of Berlin.
Adolf Hitler and Nazism were coming to the for.
He wrote the Cost of Discipleship in 1937 - a call to a more faithful and radical obedience to Christ. During this time he was teaching pastors in an underground seminary. When it was discovered the Confessing Church became increasingly reluctant to speak out against Hitler. Dietrick to this point had been a pacifist and had tried to oppose Nazis through religious action and moral persuasion.
He decided to become a double agent. He also became involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. He was never at the centre of the plans but his resistance efforts to help the Jews was discovered. he was taken to Tegel prison.
He spent 2 years in prison. Dietrick corresponded with family and friends, pastoring fellow prisoners and reflecting on the meaning of *Jesus Christ for Today*. In prison he began to outline a new theology.
He was transferred to Buchenwald and then to the extermination camp at Flossenburg. 9th April 1945 , with 6 other from the resistance he was hanged.
10 years later a camp doctor who witness the hanging said ,
- I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God. *
Sources used
Britannia Online Encyclopedia
Christianity Today
Great Leaders of the Christian Church edited by John D, Woodbridge
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