Eberhard Bethge facts for kids
Eberhard Bethge (born August 28, 1909 – died March 18, 2000) was a German pastor and a person who studied religion (a theologian). He is best known for being a close friend and the main writer of books about another famous theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was against the Nazis.
Early Life
Eberhard Bethge was born in Warchau, a town near Magdeburg in Germany, on August 29, 1909. Like many students studying religion in Germany, he went to several universities. Later, he attended a special, secret school for pastors called the Finkenwalde Seminary. This school was in Pomerania, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer taught there. It was part of Germany's Confessing Church, a group that stood up against the Nazi government.
At this seminary, Bethge became a very close friend and trusted helper to Bonhoeffer. The Nazi government tried to close this school many times. But with help from other churches, the seminary moved twice to keep teaching future pastors.
Standing Up to the Nazis
Even though Bethge was part of the group that resisted the Nazis, he had to join the German army during World War II. Later, he was arrested. This happened after a failed attempt to kill Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944. Many other people who resisted the Nazis were also arrested at that time.
Bethge was supposed to go to a special Nazi court called the People's Court. But luckily, Soviet soldiers rescued him just before his trial.
A Teacher and Writer
After the war ended, Bethge worked for several years as a pastor in London, England. He served the same German-speaking church where Bonhoeffer had been a pastor years before. From 1961 until he retired in 1975, Bethge was in charge of the 'Pastoral College' for one of the Protestant churches in Germany. This college helped pastors continue their education. This work was similar to what he and Bonhoeffer did at the seminary in the 1930s.
Even though Bethge was never a full-time university professor, he taught and gave lectures at many famous universities. These included Harvard Divinity School and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1969, he was given the special title of 'Honorary Professor' at the University of Bonn. He kept giving lectures until just a year before he passed away in 2000.
Bethge is most famous for writing an important book about his friend, called Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Man of Vision, Man of Courage. He also collected and put together Bonhoeffer's Letters and Papers from Prison. Most of these letters were written to Bethge himself. He also helped publish Bonhoeffer's unfinished main work, Ethics. In 1995, Bethge also edited a book called Friendship and Resistance: Essays on Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was very young when the Nazis executed him at age 39. Also, much of Bonhoeffer's important work was done quietly, behind the scenes. Because of this, many people in Germany and around the world did not know much about him. It was thanks to Bethge's hard work that Bonhoeffer's ideas and influence were saved for future generations. Bethge helped Bonhoeffer become known as one of the most important religious thinkers of the 20th century.
In 1991, Bethge wrote an article called "My Friend Dietrich." In it, he thought about Bonhoeffer's work. He said that even though Bonhoeffer's ideas were from half a century ago, they still help us think about how we are responsible citizens today. He believed Bonhoeffer's questions about our role in society are still important, even in our modern world.
Eberhard Bethge died in Wachtberg, a town in Germany. His wife, Renate (who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer's niece), and their son and two daughters survived him. He is buried in Bad Godesberg, a part of Bonn, Germany.
Awards
- Dr.-Leopold-Lucas-Preis 1979
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Cross with Star 1999
Works
- Eberhard Bethge (ed.), Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Letters and Papers From Prison, New greatly enlarged edition. (New York: Touchstone (Simon & Schuster), 1997).
- Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Theologian, Christian, Man for His Times: A Biography. Rev. ed. (Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2000).
See also
In Spanish: Eberhard Bethge para niños
