Beyers Naudé

South Africa's Bonhoeffer? Celebrating the centenary of the birth of Beyers Naudé: 915-2015

Authors

  • John De Gruchy University of Cape Town

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17570/stj.2015.v1n1.a4

Keywords:

Beyers Naudé, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Eberhard Bethge, Church struggle, Being Christian

Abstract

When Dietrich Bonhoeffer's friend and biographer Eberhard Bethge visited South Africa in 1973, he commented that Beyers Naudé was South Africa's Bonhoeffer. In this essay I explore what Bethge meant and whether it is a description that helps us understand Naudé's legacy better. I do this in three parts. Firstly I offer a biographical comparison Bonhoeffer and Naudé. Secondly I suggest why Bethge's comment was a carefully considered opinion formed over at least ten years. Thirdly I show that Bethge's interest in Naudé and the church struggle in South Africa continued long after his visit to South Africa. I conclude that whatever their similarities and differences they became models of a new style of being Christian in the world. What unites them as human beings and Christians is their integrity in word and action, confession and resistance.

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Published

2015-07-31

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2015)

Section

General Articles (articles from all theological disciplines)

License

Copyright (c) 2015 John De Gruchy

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