His closest companion reflects on the meaning of Bonhoeffer's life for us today.

A photo album

Born into privilege, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was headed toward a brilliant career as a theologian. Then he came to see life "from the perspective of those who suffer." In Nazi Germany, that cost him his life.

Significant people in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life

Beginning as a despised, illicit religious sect, Christianity endured 300 years of hostility to emerge as the dominant force in the Roman Empire.

Encouragement for believers sentenced to the Roman mines.

Christians held a theology of martyrdom that gave them courage to endure.