Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
Review by Jon Ruybalid
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born February 4, 1906 to Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer. The rest of his life is not that simple. Thankfully, the author Eric Metaxas provides a readable biography of the rest. It recognizes the complexity of Bonhoeffer’s life while allowing me as I read it to appreciate his struggles and gain respect for him. You may recognize Eric Metaxas from his best seller turned film Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery.
Bonhoeffer was the 6th of 8 children. Born minutes before his twin sister in Breslau, Germany. Karl Bonhoeffer was chair of the department of psychiatry and neurology at the University of Breslau. He was also director for nervous diseases at the Wroclaw Mental Hospital. Paula Bonhoeffer had taken her teacher’s examination and received a diploma from the Royal Provincial School College in Breslau. She was the sole educator of the children during their early years.
Together, the parents created a home where the children dug caves, climbed trees, put up tents as well as memorized poems, sung folk songs, and put on plays. Their home on 7 Birkenwaldchen is described as a lively place where everyone wanted to gather.
As I read Metaxas’ book, I understood that the confidence, integrity, and grounding of Dietrich Bonhoeffer was based in this home experience.
I read Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship 30 years ago during college. Reading Metaxas’ book gave me a context for understanding the author and the times in which he spoke. He lived through the devastation of Germany from World War I and the rise of Hitler to power. His commitment to God was the basis for objecting to any wrong treatment of others, including Hitler’s treatment of the Jews.
Understanding Bonhoeffer is not easy. Metaxas’ subtitle is “Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.†How can one person be all of those things and more? How does a person want to obey God, love their neighbor and love their enemies but come to the conclusion that their next step is to participate in the Valkyrie plot against Hitler?
There is some criticism of Metaxas’ treatment of Bonhoeffer’s theology. Based on my reading, I think Bonhoeffer is more Barthian than Metaxas presents. But, what I appreciated about the book is that it is not meant to be a treatment of German theologians. You will not get bogged down in that. The book is a treatment of Bonhoeffer’s story and how his youth, family, education, mentors, experiences, and those around him shaped his life and thought.
You will find Bonhoeffer to be a compelling read. You will gain insight that answers the question “Why didn’t the church stand up against Hitler in Germany.†And, if you are like me, you will be enriched from reading how God worked in Bonhoeffer’s life, his commitment to following what he saw God calling him to do, the challenge of making difficult decisions, the courage of following a path of faith, and the peace which he had in the midst of it all.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: so much out of a short life.
