1939

Summary

1 BISHOP BELL TO PROFESSOR KARL BARTH, 15 NOVEMBER 1939

My dear Professor Barth,

I owe you apologies for not having written before. There is first, your book 'The Church and the Political Problem'. There is next the two articles in the Christian Century which you kindly sent me. I have read both the book and the articles with great pleasure. The book I have read twice. I read it first very soon after I received it, at the beginning of, or just before the war. I read it again on Armistice Day. I feel myself more and more in agreement with you. I do not say that I am carried all the way, as I ought to be. But what you say about the Church and the political problem does strike me as fundamental truth. I had your book, I remember now, when Markus was here. It came just before his weekend with us. And my first glance at the book, and perhaps assisted by Forelľs enquiry of me as to whether you should write a book, i f war broke out, on the theological justification of the allies’ cause (or some such title) made me think there was too much about war and fighting and bearing arms against the aggressor. But reading it now, I find that the argument is an argument which enjoins the Church to take its side indeed in this great conflict, and not to be silent, but to speak while it does not insist, so to speak, on it being the necessary sequel that Churchmen should enter into the fray as bellatores. And I do thank you very much for your book.

I am also very much interested, as you will not doubt, in your more autographical [sic] papers in the Christian Century. They were most stimulating and refreshing. It does make a tremendous difference to me in reading whatever you write now that I know you, and have had you in my house and can call you a friend.

Some English newspapers, following a statement in the Christian Century, I suppose, have put it about that Niemöller has offered his services to the German military command. Ehrhardt wrote to the Daily Telegraph quoting a letter from you to him, denying this.