History

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Recommended Resources

For information about Bonhoeffer’s own writings, see Exploring Bonhoeffer’s Writings in this issue. Here Dr. Clifford Green, professor of theology and ethics at Hartford Seminary, recommends books about Bonhoeffer. For a comprehensive bibliography, see Bonhoeffer Bibliography: Primary Sources and Secondary Literature in English by Wayne W. Floyd and Clifford J. Green (Evanston: American Theological Library Association, 1991). For information about scholarly publications and conferences, write: The Bonhoeffer Society, English Language Section, c/o Dr. Geffrey B. Kelly, Secretary, La Salle University, 1950 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141.

• Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Man of Vision, Man of Courage (New York: Harper & Row, 1970). The standard biography, by Bonhoeffer’s closest friend and editor; unrivaled.

• Eberhard Bethge, Costly Grace: An Illustrated Introduction to Dietrich Bonhoeffer (New York: Harper & Row, 1979). A short biography, written about a decade after the previous one.

• Eberhard Bethge, et al., eds., Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Life in Pictures (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986). An informative historical presentation through photographs—a great gift.

• Keith Clements, A Patriotism for Today: Love of Country in Dialogue with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (London: Collins, 1986). Written by a British scholar in the wake of the Falklands War, it addresses a perennially vexing question.

• Geffrey B. Kelly, Liberating Faith: Bonhoeffer’s Message for Today (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984). A fine introduction to Bonhoeffer’s thought.

• Larry Rasmussen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reality and Resistance (Nashville: Abingdon, 1972). A scholarly examination of the theology and ethics informing Bonhoeffer’s role in the anti-Hitler plot.

• Larry Rasmussen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: His Significance for North Americans (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1990). A collection of recent essays relating Bonhoeffer to contemporary issues; contains an essay on Bonhoeffer’s family by his niece, Renate Bethge.

• Benjamin Reist, The Promise of Bonhoeffer (Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1969). An early but useful study.

• Wolf-Dieter Zimmermann and Ronald Gregor Smith, eds., I Knew Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Reminiscences by His Friends (New York: Harper & Row, 1966). Brief, interesting portraits by friends remembering different stages of his life.

Copyright © 1991 by the author or Christianity Today/Christian History magazine. Click here for reprint information on Christian History.

Our Latest

Being Human

 Dr. Lee Warren on Using Neuroscience and Scripture to Rewire Your Brain

Can changing your thoughts literally reshape your brain and your life?

Analysis

Supreme Court Rules on Gerrymandering

The Bulletin with Warren Cole Smith

Q&A with Warren Cole Smith about how Christians should think the decision that struck down part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Russell Moore Show

What Does Revival Actually Look Like?

 Russell answers a listener question about how to identify spiritual revival.

News

The Megachurch Caught in Brazil’s Largest Bank Fraud

Lagoinha Global is the fourth-largest megachurch in the country. One of its pastors is involved in a multibillion-dollar scheme.

News

Christian Colleges Call New Federal Regulation an ‘Existential Threat’

A proposed policy would label college programs “failing”—and block federal student loans—if graduates don’t out-earn peers without the degree. Religion majors would be hit hardest.

At 90, My Grandma Is Leading Worship at Her Retirement Home

Kelsey Kramer McGinnis

Her decades of service to her community inspire me to be like her.

The Bulletin

Midwest Primaries, Taiwan’s Ukraine Lessons, and Abortion Pill Case

Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Indiana and Ohio hold primaries, Trump travels to Beijing, and the Supreme Court considers the abortion pill.

Review

The Lies—and Truths—That Keep Some Black People Out of Church

A California pastor’s book confronts the painful parts of Christian history but points to the healing power of the gospel.

addApple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseellipseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squarefolderGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastprintremoveRSSRSSSaveSavesaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube