Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Costly & Courageous Obedience to God | 1906-1945
“We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
Biography:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian, pastor, author, spy, and martyr. An outspoken Nazi critic whose faithfulness to Christ cost him his life, Bonhoeffer’s legacy continues to inspire Christians across generations.
Born into a prestigious and intellectual family in Germany, Bonhoeffer’s early life was marked by academic excellence. His father and older siblings challenged him to think deeply, take ownership of his own ideas, and confidently defend them. By the age of 13, he knew that he wanted to follow in his maternal grandfather’s steps and become a theologian. He studied theology at the University of Tübingen and then the University of Berlin, earning his doctoral degree when he has just 21 years old. He also became an ordained minister, wanting to shepherd believers in Biblical community in addition to work as an academic. At both universities, he quickly became known for both his remarkable intellect and profound spiritual insights. His faith, however, was not merely theoretical; it was deeply practical, rooted in the belief that Christians are called to follow Christ’s example by standing against injustice and suffering for righteousness.
These convictions that faith should shape everyday life were only deepened when Bonhoeffer came to America in 1930 as a Sloane Fellow continuing studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. However, one of the other students, Frank Fisher, an African American from Alabama, had the greatest impact on Bonhoeffer’s faith and applied theology. Fisher introduced Bonhoeffer to the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where Bonhoeffer saw a style of worship, firey preaching, and faith amid suffering that would forever change his relationship with Christ. Here, Deitrich began teaching children’s Sunday school and saw the transformative power of the Gospel in new ways.
With this fresh passion for the Gospel consuming him, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany in 1931, where he began teaching theology at the elite University of Berlin and accepted an appointment to the World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship through the Churches. As he became more involved in the ecumenical movement (which focused more on the health and role of the whole, global body of Christ rather than a single congregation or denomination), he also became increasingly involved with Pastor Martin Niemöller and the Pastor’s Emergency League, and ultimately the Confessing Church. These groups of dedicated pastors represented about 1/3 of the German Church that led the resistance to the Nazi rise to power and the atrocities that followed.
On January 30, 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. Many of the German people were shocked by the election results of such a radical leader, and some predicted that he would not last long. Bonhoeffer, however, was not so optimistic. Just two days after Hitler was installed, Bonhoeffer delivered a widely publicized radio address disclaiming Hitler’s leadership on the basis of Biblical standards and warning the German people against the insidious cult of a national “leader” who would “mislead” the people away from God’s Word. The broadcast was abruptly terminated and Bonhoeffer was listed as an enemy of the new Nazi state.
As Hitler’s rise to power cast a dark shadow over Germany, Bonhoeffer’s commitment to truth and justice led him to stand firmly against the atrocities of the Nazi regime, including its antisemitic policies and attacks on the Church. In April, while preaching in a church attended by many political elites of the day, he minced no words condemning the early treatment of the Nazis against Jewish people, declaring that the church must not simply “bandage the victims under the wheel, but jam a spoke in the wheel itself. In the months that followed, he continually taught that the Church had a duty to be a “church for others,” reaching out to the oppressed rather than conforming to the state’s demands.
Bonhoeffer’s courage came to the fore when he and other leaders of the Confessing Church stood publicly denounced the Nazis. Though in the minority, the Confessing Church stood in solidarity, calling on all God-fearing people to preserve the integrity of the Christian faith against the Nazi’s manipulation of religion. In his book The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer emphasized that true discipleship requires a willingness to take up one’s cross and follow Christ, even when faced with danger. His commitment to a radical obedience to Christ led him to take actions that would eventually lead to his arrest and death.
As the war intensified, Bonhoeffer’s resistance against the Nazis grew more active. He became involved in a secret plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, believing that stopping Hitler’s reign of terror was morally justified, even though it meant compromising his own personal safety. Despite his deep faith in God, Bonhoeffer recognized that his duty to protect the innocent and end the violence outweighed the traditional Christian doctrine of nonviolence. This decision underscores the depth of his moral and spiritual conviction: the war against evil could no longer be waged through passivity.
In 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested by the Gestapo. He spent the remaining years of his life in prison, enduring harsh conditions and yet continuing to encourage those around him with his unwavering faith and conviction. Even while in captivity, Bonhoeffer continued to wrestle with his theological reflections, writing letters that would later be compiled into Letters and Papers from Prison. In these writings, Bonhoeffer grapples with the nature of faith in the modern world and the need for Christians to live authentically, boldly, and sacrificially, even (and especially) when the cost is high.
Bonhoeffer’s heroism culminated in his martyrdom. In April 1945, just weeks before the end of the war, Bonhoeffer was executed by hanging at the Flossenbürg concentration camp. He faced his death with courage, choosing to follow Christ to the ultimate sacrifice. His final words, “This is the end—for me the beginning of life,” reflect the profound faith that sustained him until his last breath.
Lessons from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life serves as a powerful example of what it means to live with unwavering commitment to the truth of the Gospel, even when it demands great personal sacrifice. His refusal to remain silent in the face of evil, his dedication to standing up for what was right in God’s eyes, and his willingness to pay the ultimate price for his convictions make him a modern-day martyr, whose legacy continues to challenge and inspire Christians today. Bonhoeffer’s courage reminds us that true faith is not passive, but active and willing to stand against injustice—even at great cost. In his life and death, Bonhoeffer exemplified the highest ideals of Christian discipleship: the courage to follow Christ no matter the personal cost, and the moral clarity to do what is right in God’s eyes, no matter the consequences. Six practical application points for modern believers stand out in Bonhoeffer’s story:
- Faith Must Be Lived Out Boldly and Actively. — Faith that never leaves one’s prayer closet is no faith at all. It is meant to be lived out in the public square. Bonhoeffer believed that discipleship required Christians to engage the world, not retreat from it, especially in the face of suffering and injustice. Today, Christians are called to speak out against injustice, stand with the marginalized, and live out their faith authentically in all spheres of life—whether at home, work, or in the public square. (James 2:26)
- Costly Grace Demands Costly Discipleship. — Bonhoeffer’s concept of costly grace challenges Christians to reflect on what it means to truly follow Christ. This kind of discipleship is not comfortable or convenient. It requires self-denial, sacrifice, and sometimes requires confronting evil, as Bonhoeffer did. For modern Christians, this means embracing the truth of the gospel even when it’s difficult, counter-cultural, or unpopular. True discipleship is about being willing to pay a price for following Christ, whether in small acts of kindness or in standing up against unadulterated evil in earthly positions of power. (Acts 5:29)
- Strong Christian Community is Essential. — Bonhoeffer’s Life Together emphasizes the vital role of Christian community in spiritual growth and ethical living. Modern Christians can learn from his example by prioritizing relationships that challenge and support them in their faith journey. The church is called to be a place of mutual care, accountability, and shared mission, especially in times of hardship or uncertainty (1 John 1:7, James 5:16, Galatians 6:2).
- The Church Must Reclaim its Moral Authority. — Bonhoeffer’s ethical writings, especially in Ethics, encourage Christians to wrestle with difficult moral decisions in a broken world. Christians today must engage in deep ethical reflection, especially when faced with complex dilemmas in a complex world. The principles of God’s Word still apply (2nd Timothy 3:16-17). Bonhoeffer’s example urges believers to consider the broader implications of their actions and to remain faithful to God’s moral will, even when doing so is costly.
- The Church Must Stand Against Injustice. — Bonhoeffer’s involvement in the Confessing Church and his resistance to the Nazi regime show that the church must not be complicit in systems of evil or remain silent when people are suffering (Michah 6:8). Today, Christians are called to reflect on their role in society and to act when they see injustice—and engage with the heart of Christ. Bonhoeffer’s legacy reminds Christians to align their actions with the Word of God, ensuring that the church remains a voice for the most vulnerable and a witness to God’s Truth.
- Prayer and Spiritual Discipline Must Not be Neglected. — Throughout his life, Bonhoeffer maintained a deep and robust spiritual life, marked by prayer, meditation on God’s Word, and theological reflection. His writings while imprisoned show that even in the most trying circumstances, he found strength through his connection with the Living God. Modern Christians can learn from Bonhoeffer the importance of spiritual disciplines—prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and solitude—as essential practices for sustaining faith, especially in times of persecution or personal struggle (1 Thessalonians 5:14, Ephesians 6).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in His Own Words:
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
“Your life as a Christian should make non believers question their disbelief in God.”
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”
“Seek God, not happiness” – this is the fundamental rule of all meditation. If you seek God alone you will gain happiness: that is its promise.
“If I sit next to a madman as he drives a car into a group of innocent bystanders, I can’t, as a Christian, simply wait for the catastrophe, then comfort the wounded and bury the dead. I must try to wrestle the steering wheel out of the hands of the driver.”
“There is no way to peace along the way to safety.”
“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.”
“Discipleship means adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship.”
“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”
“Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.”
“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies.”
“The world is overcome not through destruction, but through reconciliation.”
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”
“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”
“One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.”
“God is weak and powerless in the world, and that is exactly the way, the only way, in which God can be with us and help us.”
“Prayer does not mean simply to pour out one’s heart. It means rather to find the way to God and to speak with him, whether the heart is full or empty.”
“Self-justification and judging others go together, as justification by grace and serving others go together.”
‘Holy Scripture is more than a watchword… more than “light for today.” It is God’s revealed word for all men, for all times.’
‘Once a man has experienced the mercy of God in his life he will henceforth aspire only to serve. The proud throne of the judge no longer lures him; he wants to be down below with the lowly and the needy, because that is where God found him. “Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate” (Rom. 11:16).’
“Pastoral authority can be attained only by the servant of Jesus who seeks no power of his own, who himself is a brother among brothers submitted to the authority of the Word.”
“Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation. Sin wants to remain unknown. It shuns the light. In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person. This can happen even in the midst of a pious community. In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart. The sin must be brought into the light. The unexpressed must be openly spoken and acknowledged. All that is secret and hidden is made manifest. It is a hard struggle until the sin is openly admitted. But God breaks gates of brass and bars of iron (Ps. 107:16).”
“Christianity preaches the infinite worth of that which is seemingly worthless and the infinite worthlessness of that which is seemingly so valued.”
“Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue. The simple fact is that God certainly intended to create a human being and that this nascent human being has been deliberately deprived of his life. And that is nothing but murder.”
“In a word, live together in the forgiveness of your sins, for without it no human fellowship, least of all a marriage, can survive. Don’t insist on your rights, don’t blame each other, don’t judge or condemn each other, don’t find fault with each other, but accept each other as you are, and forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”
“Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable.”
“The Church is the Church only when it exists for others…not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.”
“In me there is darkness, But with You there is light; I am lonely, but You do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help; I am restless, but with You there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience; I do not understand Your ways, But You know the way for me.” “Lord Jesus Christ, You were poor And in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am. You know all man’s troubles; You abide with me When all men fail me; You remember and seek me; It is Your will that I should know You And turn to You. Lord, I hear Your call and follow; Help me.”
The Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer & Sources for Further Study:
The Cost of Discipleship (1937) Bonhoeffer’s most famous work (popular even during his lifetime), where he explores the concept of Christian discipleship, the difference between “cheap grace” and “costly grace,” and the radical nature of following Christ, even when it requires great sacrifice.
Letters and Papers from Prison (1951, posthumously) A collection of Bonhoeffer’s letters, reflections, and theological musings written while he was imprisoned by the Gestapo. This work offers profound insights into his thoughts on faith, ethics, and the meaning of human life in a world ravaged by war and oppression.
Life Together (1939) Bonhoeffer’s reflections on the Christian community and the importance of living in fellowship with others. He emphasizes the centrality of Christ in community life and explores themes like prayer, worship, and shared service.
Discipleship and the Cross (1949, posthumously) A reflection on the role of suffering in the life of the Christian, and the centrality of the cross in Bonhoeffer’s theology.
Ethics (1949, posthumously) This is Bonhoeffer’s comprehensive ethical treatise, in which he grapples with the nature of moral decision-making, the role of the church in the world, and the application of Christian ethics in times of crisis, such as under the Nazi regime.
The Church and the Jewish Question (1933) A lecture and essay in which Bonhoeffer discusses the church’s responsibility to respond to the rise of anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany and the treatment of Jews under the regime.
Sanctorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church (1930) Bonhoeffer’s doctoral dissertation in theology, in which he explores the nature of the church and Christian community, using sociological and theological concepts.
Creation and Fall: A Theological Exposition of Genesis 1-3 (1933) A theological commentary on the first chapters of Genesis, exploring creation, the fall of humanity, and the nature of sin, with a focus on the existential implications for human life.
Christ the Center (1943, posthumously) In this work, Bonhoeffer articulates his Christocentric theology, emphasizing that Jesus Christ must be the center of Christian life and faith.
The Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible (1944, posthumously) A theological and devotional commentary on the Psalms, exploring their role as prayers for Christians and their deep spiritual significance.
The Way to Freedom: An Examination of the Heidelberg Catechism (1932) A study on the Heidelberg Catechism, one of the most important Reformation-era confessions, offering Bonhoeffer’s theological perspective on freedom in the Christian faith.
Theological Education at Finkenwalde (1941, posthumously) A series of reflections on the role of theological education, especially as practiced in the underground seminary at Finkenwalde, which Bonhoeffer helped to establish to train pastors for the Confessing Church.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. This biography is one of the most well-known and comprehensive works on Bonhoeffer’s life, providing a deep look into his personal and professional journey, as well as his moral and theological stance against the Nazi regime.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy, Assassin. (Film-2024, Angel Studios) Available for streaming on Angel Studios Guild, Apple TV, and Prime Video.
About the Author
