1906 – 9 April 1945

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "cheap grace" and martyrdom

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian. He spent a year at Union Seminary in New York and held a pastorate in London. Then, in 1935–1937, he led the underground Confessing Church seminary at Finkenwalde. There students combined theological training with shared Christian life.

In "The Cost of Discipleship" (1937) he contrasted "cheap grace" – forgiveness without repentance or the cross – with "costly grace," which demands following Christ. "Life Together" (1939) described the Finkenwalde community's experience.

From 1938 Bonhoeffer took part in the Resistance and the conspiracy against Hitler, serving as a courier for military intelligence. He was arrested in April 1943. In Tegel prison he wrote "Letters and Papers from Prison." In them he reflected on a world "come of age" and on "religionless Christianity."

On 9 April 1945 Bonhoeffer was executed at Flossenbürg, days before Allied liberation of the camp.