Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich
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Overview
What did German preachers opposed to Hitler say in their Sunday sermons? When proclaiming Christ could cost a pastor his life, what words encouraged and challenged him and his congregation?
Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow begins with an extended exploration of preaching inside the Third Reich that enables readers to better understand the danger each pastor confronted every time he went into the pulpit. Dean Stroud pays special attention to the role language played in the battle over the German soul, pointing out the use of Christian rhetoric in opposition to Nazi language.
The second part of the book presents 13 translated full-length sermons by a variety of preachers, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Barth, Rudolf Bultmann, and others. A running commentary on each text offers cultural and historical insights. Each sermon is also preceded by a short biography of the preacher.
In the Logos edition, Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Powerful searches help you find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Key Features
- Sermons reflecting various oppositional responses to Nazism
- Commentary on Nazi Christian attitudes
- A sermon about the loyalty oath to Adolf Hitler
Contents
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Gideon
- Karl Barth: A Sermon about Jesus as a Jew
- Paul Schneider: Christ Crossing the Stormy Lake and Jesus’ Glory
- Martin Niemöller: A Sermon about the Relevance of Christianity in Nazi Germany
- Paul Schneider: A Sermon about Giving Thanks in the Third Reich
- Julius von Jan: O Land, Land, Land: Hear the Word of the Lord
- Helmut Gollwitzer: A Sermon about Kristallnacht
- Helmut Gollwitzer: A Sermon about Faith as War Begins
- Gerhard Freling: A Sermon for a Victim of Aktion T4
- Rudolf Bultmann: A Sermon about the Parable of the Great Banquet
- Clemens August von Galen: A Sermon about Aktion T4
- Wlhelm Busch: The Way of True Faith
Top Highlights
“When the eighty-five-year-old president of the German Reich, Paul von Hindenburg, handed the German government over to Adolf Hitler on January 30, 1933, he presented Germans with more than a new political leader; he gave Germans a new religious leader as well.” (Page 4)
“Lackmann was firm in his conviction that Christian theologians were not to join in political battles but were instead called to proclaim the gospel and to entrust the rest to God.” (Page 35)
“According to Barth’s interpretation, no longer is the reader in charge of the biblical text but the text judges the reader.” (Page 31)
“‘The third possibility is not just to bandage the victims under the wheel, but to jam a spoke into the wheel itself.’” (Page 37)
“This statement strongly suggested that Hitler and the Germans would save the world from the Jews and thereby redeem humanity, something that Christ on the cross had been unable to do. For Nazis, the cross was truly a symbol of shame, weakness, and humility. It was the sign of signs that the Jews had won. Now with Hitler, the time had come for Germans to do what Christ himself had failed to do.” (Page 21)
Praise for the Print Edition
After his thorough and superb presentation of the historical context, Dean Stroud provides captivating examples of biblical preaching and prophetic witness by pastors of the Confessing Church in Nazi Germany. He leaves no doubt about the life–threatening crisis the Nazis presented to Germany and the church. Neither is there any doubt about the response of the prophets here brought to life. One is simply stunned by the courage of prophetic faithfulness and by the sheer power of the Word preached in persistent obedience and at enormous risk. Here are voices that cannot be stilled. . . . Preaching in Hitler's Shadow is simply a towering book. It will inform, provoke, unsettle, move, and inspire.
—Allan Boesak, cleric, politician, and anti-apartheid activist
In these sermons we see (and hear) pastors staying true to their calling, despite the pressures to remain silent or—far worse—to praise evil. Dean Stroud, who has gathered these sermons and who situates them for us, is attentive to moral complexity, as is clear in the range of responses represented in the sermons and the diverse fates of the pastors who preached them. At once sobering and inspiring, this book is a treasure.
—John Wilson, editor, Books&Culture
In this book we see what it is like to proclaim the Gospel courageously in the midst of dire political circumstances. The idea that preaching must always avoid being political is exposed for the falsehood that it is. This is a sobering and a heartening book.
—George Hunsinger, editor, Torture Is a Moral Issue
Stroud’s book is a reminder that historians attempting to understand the legacy of Protestantism under the Third Reich would do well to seriously examine the theological underpinnings of these sermons of resistance.
—Gregory Paul Wegner, professor in the department of educational studies, University of Wisconsin
Product Details
- Title: Preaching in Hitler’s Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich
- Author: Dean G. Stroud
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Publication Date: 2013
- Pages: 215
Sample Pages from the Print Edition
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
2/27/2018
I very much enjoyed this book of collected Sermons that were preached during the reign of the Nazi Party in Germany. That the Author spends time explaining the situation that these Pastors find themselves in, adds greatly to the depth and the courage involved in the Sermons. Whilst World War II and the horrors of Nazi Germany is almost beyond our lifetime (it was over 16 years before I was born) - there are still many lessons to be learnt. We still see horrors being committed throughout our planet, and it often seems that we easily forget how easily a once noble state can turn into an evil one. Whilst I pray that my nation never puts me or my fellow pastors into a situation even remotely like the ones that these pastors faced, I do also pray that I would have at least some of the courage that they show. The Author has also included a brief biographical background for each preacher - which I also appreciated. As a Lutheran Pastor (though not from Lutheran nor German stock), I have many questions on how my brothers fared during the 1930's and 1940's. This book helps in answering some of those questions. Plus the Author has included Reformed and Catholic preachers - not just Lutherans. Whilst I am quite familiar with Bonhoeffer and Barth, I appreciated learning about other preachers whom I had not heard of. One big surprise was Bultmann's sermon - I've never been a big fan of Rudolf Bultmann and his de-mything of the Gospel / Scripture - but this book gave me an opportunity to see him as a Pastor. I must admit, in my ignorance, I had assumed he was only an Academic. This is an easy book to read, and I do recommend it, especially to my fellow pastors :)