--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bonhoeffer himself knew that in all of…" description: "\"“Bonhoeffer himself knew that in all of it, he was being utterly obedient to God. For him, that was the cantus firmus that made the dizzying complexiti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-himself-knew-that-in-all-of-i_1950019.png" --- # Bonhoeffer himself knew that in all of it, he was being… ![“Bonhoeffer himself knew that in all of it, he was being utterly obedient to God. For him, that was the cantus firmus that made the dizzying complexities of it all perfectly coherent.” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-himself-knew-that-in-all-of-i_1950019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-himself-knew-that-in-all-of-i_1950019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c23/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-himself-knew-that-in-all-of-i_1950019.png) > ““Bonhoeffer himself knew that in all of it, he was being utterly obedient to God. For him, that was the cantus firmus that made the dizzying complexities of it all perfectly coherent.”” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bonhoeffer’s obedience to God gave him a unifying purpose amid complex challenges. **In simple terms:** Obedience to God gave him coherence. Key Takeaway Seek a higher purpose for clarity. Themes faith purpose coherence Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - leadership - ethical decision making - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - How does divine obedience shape moral choices? - What can give you a unifying purpose? A Different Perspective Obedience may conflict with personal autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a brother in his absence. Bonhoeffer knew that living according to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-rule-never-to-speak-about-a-brother-in-his-absence/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Bonhoeffer knew that twisting the Truth to sell it more effectively was inexcusable. For Bonhoeffer the challenge was to present the Truth as purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-knew-that-twisting-the-truth-to-sell-it-more-effectively/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [How unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us; no enemy can make an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/how-unutterably-sweet-is-the-knowledge-that-our-heavenly-father-knows/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Bonhoeffer thought of death as the last station on the road to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-thought-of-death-as-the-last-station-on-the-road-to-freedom/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Death reveals that the world is not as it should be but that it stands in need of redemption. Christ alone is the conquering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/death-reveals-that-the-world-is-not-as-it-should-be-but-that-it-2/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“We will have to move through a very deep valley, I believe much deeper than we can sense now, before we will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/we-will-have-to-move-through-a-very-deep-valley-i-believe-much-deeper/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God's word, but testify to it. Trust to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/do-not-try-to-make-the-bible-relevant-its-relevance-is-axiomatic-do/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“In his Bible that day or the next, Bonhoeffer was reading Psalm 74. This was the text he happened to be meditating upon. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/in-his-bible-that-day-or-the-next-bonhoeffer-was-reading-psalm-74/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Wilberforce, because of his faith, stood up for African slaves. Bonhoeffer, because of his faith, stood up for Jews. That's Christianity to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/wilberforce-because-of-his-faith-stood-up-for-african-slaves/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Describing Bonhoeffer's demeanor on returning to danger in Germany rather than safety in America, with "with a strong and joyful firmness such as only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/describing-bonhoeffer-s-demeanor-on-returning-to-danger-in-germany/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [The family trees of Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer are everywhere so laden with figures of accomplishment that one might expect future generations to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-family-trees-of-karl-and-paula-bonhoeffer-are-everywhere-so-laden/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Bonhoeffer's experiences with African American community underscored an idea that was developing in his mind: the only real piety and power that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-experiences-with-african-american-community-underscored/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The rich world of his ancestors set the standards for Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own life. It gave him a certainty of judgment and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-rich-world-of-his-ancestors-set-the-standards-for-dietrich/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## More by Eric Metaxas > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Religious liberty is the salt and light that has made us the great nation we are in a whole number of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/religious-liberty-is-the-salt-and-light-that-has-made-us-the-great/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“But we know that true grace comes to us by costly sacrifice. And if God was willing to go to the cross and endure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/but-we-know-that-true-grace-comes-to-us-by-costly-sacrifice-and-if/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Created in the awesome image of God, men and women know that life has a meaning beyond 'eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/created-in-the-awesome-image-of-god-men-and-women-know-that-life-has/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [I have no doubt, if people are really seeking the big questions, it will lead them to the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/i-have-no-doubt-if-people-are-really-seeking-the-big-questions-it/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“human beings were taken from the earth and don’t just consist of thin air and thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/human-beings-were-taken-from-the-earth-and-don-t-just-consist-of-thin/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Some illustrations of the fine-tuning of our universe deal with the so-called four fundamental forces physicists talk about, and with which most laymen are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/some-illustrations-of-the-fine-tuning-of-our-universe-deal-with-the/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Many years later, after Niemöller had been imprisoned for eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler, he penned these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/many-years-later-after-niem-ller-had-been-imprisoned-for-eight-years/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Today, Wilberforce University welcomes many of America's poorest and most underserved populations and transforms their educational dreams into realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/today-wilberforce-university-welcomes-many-of-america-s-poorest-and/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Although I know full well and hear every day that many people think little of me and say that I only write little pamphlets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/although-i-know-full-well-and-hear-every-day-that-many-people-think/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The line between courageous faith and foolish idealism is, almost by definition, one angstrom wide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-line-between-courageous-faith-and-foolish-idealism-is-almost-by/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Part of my life's thesis is that we live in a culture that has bought into the patently silly idea that there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/part-of-my-life-s-thesis-is-that-we-live-in-a-culture-that-has-bought/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [God designed humans to live in community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/god-designed-humans-to-live-in-community/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) [Explore all 219 Eric Metaxas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## More Bonhoeffer quotes > [“We are also brought into the church-community as a result of Christ’s death on the cross—a community of the forgiven, who should be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/we-are-also-brought-into-the-church-community-as-a-result-of-christ-s/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the first chapter of his wonderful book Life Together, has a discussion of how Christians never meet one-on-one; they always meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/dietrich-bonhoeffer-in-the-first-chapter-of-his-wonderful-book-life/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi and nonviolence. But if your enemy has no conscience like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-your-opponent-has-a-conscience-then-follow-gandhi-and-nonviolence/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Bonhoeffer and Luther draw on Christ’s paradox of gaining one’s life by losing it. So we come to the ultimate paradox: by service—and ultimately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/bonhoeffer-and-luther-draw-on-christ-s-paradox-of-gaining-one-s-life/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Bonhoeffer categorically refuses to demythologize the resurrection ... he finally walked to his execution, saying that for him it was the beginning of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonhoeffer-categorically-refuses-to-demythologize-the-resurrection-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The rich world of his ancestors set the standards for Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own life. It gave him a certainty of judgment and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-rich-world-of-his-ancestors-set-the-standards-for-dietrich/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Jeremiah was not eager to become a prophet of God. When the call came to him all of a sudden, he shrank back, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxes/jeremiah-was-not-eager-to-become-a-prophet-of-god-when-the-call-came/) Eric Metaxes > [. A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol. Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraha-lincon/a-god-who-let-us-prove-his-existence-would-be-an-idol-dietrich/) Abraha Lincon > [“Bonhoeffer's experiences with African American community underscored an idea that was developing in his mind: the only real piety and power that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-experiences-with-african-american-community-underscored/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [ “His soul really shone in the dark desperation of our prison . . . \[Bonhoeffer\] had always been afraid that he would not be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payne-best/his-soul-really-shone-in-the-dark-desperation-of-our-prison/) Payne Best > [“Grace is costly because it calls us through our person to the person of Jesus Christ. And when we follow the person of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-root/grace-is-costly-because-it-calls-us-through-our-person-to-the-person/) [Andrew Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-root/) > [The family trees of Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer are everywhere so laden with figures of accomplishment that one might expect future generations to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-family-trees-of-karl-and-paula-bonhoeffer-are-everywhere-so-laden/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) Browse all 54 Bonhoeffer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Bonhoeffer himself knew that in all of it, he was being utterly obedient to God. 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