A few months ago I posted a few selections from the baptismal letter Bonhoeffer wrote to his great-nephew. Those selections dealt mainly with reflections on how life in the country would change in the future. The letter also included some significant theological thoughts, a few selections of which will be posted now. The prior posts included the following brief introduction:
May, 1944 to Eberhard Bethge on the baptism of Dietrich W.R. Bethge
Eberhard Bethge had married Bonhoeffer’s niece Renate, and their first child was born while the father was stationed in Italy and the great-uncle was in prison. Dietrich was deeply moved that Eberhard and Renate had chosen to name the boy after his great-uncle, who had greatly wished and hoped to be released and be able to baptize the child. The two men exchanged a few letters on the topic; Bonhoeffer did not wish the event to be delayed on his account. This letter is addressed to the infant Bethge.
This selection introduces the concept of Verantwortung, a very important theme in Bonhoeffer’s Ethics.
Wir haben zu stark in Gedanken gelebt und gemeint, es sei möglich, jede Tat vorher durch das Bedenken der Möglichkeiten so zu sichern, daß sie dann ganz von selbst geschieht. Etwas zu spät haben wir gelernt, daß nicht der Gedanke, sondern die Verantwortungsbereitschaft der Ursprung der Tat sei. . . .
Hauptwörter das Bedenken (infinitive as noun) consideration, weighing Zeitwörter geschehen happen |
Andere Wörter jeder/e/es every Grammatik sei subjunctive of sein in indirect discourse. Translate ‘is’ or ‘was’ as appropriate according to context. “. . . we thought it was possible . . . we learned that . . . readiness for responsibility is“ |
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