Transition

In order to make sense of Bonhoeffer’s ethical development, including the emergence of his pacifism, it is vital to see the relationship between the Barcelona lecture on Christian ethics and Discipleship in terms of a transition from one theological whole to another. The endorsement of violence in the first thought structure is merely a part of the overall ethical and theological foundations that legitimate such an endorsement. So also, the peace ethic in Discipleship makes sense only within the framework of its own foundation theological commitments.—Bonhoeffer the Assassin?, page 127

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In other words, it wasn't just a minor adjustment that could easily be gone back on. It was a radical paradigm shift. In order to argue that Bonhoeffer later repented of his pacifism, we need to find a similar radical shift. The authors will argue we don't find that shift.

While I agree with them, I don't buy their argument that Bonhoeffer wasn't really actively involved in the resistance and the plot to kill Hitler. More on that later, when I write the review of the book as a whole.
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