A Book Review - Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Over the Christmas Holidays, I read Eric Metaxas' new biography on the fascinating life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran German pastor and theologian who lived in Germany during World Wars One and Two. Bonhoeffer stood against the theological liberalism of his day called “higher criticism,” which left a vacuum in German churches that was later exploited by Hitler. Bonhoeffer came to America in the early 1930’s. He was disturbed at the theological liberalism he found here, especially in some of the famous churches in New York City at the time, like that of Harry Emerson Fosdick (a famous liberal pastor who denounced Fundamental Christianity). It was actually at a segregated Black church in Harlem under Pastor Adam Clayton Powell Sr. where Bonhoeffer felt he had found refreshingly true Christian worship, and where Bonhoeffer also had his own "born again" experience. Bonhoeffer's collection of American Black gospel recordings were among his prized possessions, which he took back to Germany and eagerly shared with his theology students. After his return to Germany, Bonhoeffer stood against Hitler’s Nazification of German churches, forming what was called the Confessing Church. Many of the leaders of the Confessing Church openly opposed Hitler and his Nazi philosophy, including men like Martin Niemoller and Karl Barth. Eventually, the Confessing Church leaders were not allowed to collect offerings, were imprisoned, forbidden to preach (which was Bonhoeffer's case), or drafted into the Military and sent to places like the Eastern Front, where most were killed in combat. Bonhoeffer had a chance to go back to America just before World War 2 started. However after a short visit, Bonhoeffer felt that he was called to go back to Germany and stand together in faith with his Confessing Church brethren against Hitler.


Bonhoeffer was able to secure a position with the German Abwer (Military Intelligence) under Admiral Conaris, a position which kept him from being drafted. In the Abwer, Bonhoeffer became aware of Hitler’s real intentions as the Jews were concerned, and the genocide that was being committed against them in Poland and the Eastern Front. It was at this time that Bonhoeffer made the fateful decision to become actively involved in the plot to kill & overthrow Hitler. This was a spiritual decision; Bonhoeffer believed what the Scripture says regarding submission to the governmental authorities, but also understood that as Peter said: “We must obey God rather than men,” especially as the Nazi government was now behaving like the Anti-Christ and involved in heinous sin. Bonhoeffer’s position in the Abwer and as a pastor allowed him to travel to neutral countries during the war and make contact with Allied operatives.

Eventually, the plot of June 20, 1944 occurred, and Bonhoeffer’s part in the conspiracy was uncovered. Bonhoeffer was jailed and he along with other conspirators, were eventually executed by Hitler’s orders just a month before the end of the war.

Throughout the book, you get a sense of Bonhoeffer’s faith in God, his humility and humanity, and an appreciation of his various stands for the truth, whether it was for the truth of Christianity, standing against the plight of Black Americans under segregation, the Jews under the Nazi’s, and the truth of Christianity against a modern day anti-Christ in Adolph Hitler. The book also motivates me to want to read more of Bonhoeffer’s writings, like “Life Together” (which the entire student body of Wheaton College is reading this year) and “The Cost of Discipleship.” Overall, I highly recommend this book.

Below is a promotional video worth watching of “Bonhoeffer” by the publisher, Thomas Nelson: