Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

Eric Metaxas provides an in depth view of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life from childhood through to his death in Nazi Germany's Flossenberg concentration camp. The author includes lengthy quotes from primary sources which, although sometimes tiring, serves to round out Bonhoeffer's complex life. I enjoyed seeing how his life developed and how the various influences in his life informed his later thoughts. With the text coming in at 542 pages, this is a serious read, but the style of the book is inviting. Although I anticipated reading this book before it arrived, as I read through the book, I constantly looked forward to the next chapter.

I was pleased to come to understand more of the rise of Naziism and the role of those combatting this grave evil. I was intrigued by how a man, arising from a fairly liberal family could rise to become a prominent orthodox Christian scholar, living out his life consistently with the way he wrote and talked about it. Throughout his life he surrounded himself with those with whom he could work out his Christianity and those who wanted to learn more about an authentic encounter with Christ. But the greatest test of his life came when he realized that God wanted him in Germany to combat the evil of Naziism. He did not shrink from this duty, but wholeheartedly embraced his calling, going beyond contemporary Christian wisdom of the day to follow what he knew to be God's calling on his life. His life challenged me to look into where I am in my faith journey and how I can live a life more consistent with God's call on my life. My one complaint is that the author is highly positive of Bonhoeffer. I couldn't find anything in Bonhoeffer's life that Eric Metaxas doesn't approve of, and sometimes he makes great pains to show why Bonhoeffer's actions were good.

All in all, this is one of the best biographies I have read. It's a long read, but it's worth it.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.