The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

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22. I Thess. 5:23.
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1. Matt. 6:13.
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2. Job. 23:3, 4; Jer. 14:20, 21.
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3. Dan. 9:4, 7-9, 16, 19.
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4. Phil. 4:6.
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5. I Chron. 29:10-13.
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6. Eph. 3:20, 21; Luke 11:13; Ps. 84:11.
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7. Eph. 3:12; Heb. 10:19-22.
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8. I John 5:14; Rom. 8:32.
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9. I Cor. 14:16; Rev. 22:20, 21.
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1 Reprinted from The Church's Confessions Under Hitler by Arthur C. Cochrane. Phila.:
Westminster Press, 1962, pp. 237-242. Used by permission.
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The Theological Declaration of Barmen: Historical Note
The Theological Declaration of Barmen was written by a group of church leaders in
Germany to help Christians withstand the challenges of the Nazi party and of the so-called
"German Christians," a popular movement that saw no conflict between Christianity and the ideals
of Hitler's National Socialism.
In January 1933, after frustrating years in which no government in Germany was able to
solve problems of economic depression and mass unemployment, Adolph Hitler was named
chancellor. By playing on people's fear of communism and Bolshevism, he was able to persuade
the Parliament to allow him to rule by edict. As he consolidated his power, Hitler abolished all
political rights and democratic processes: police could detain persons in prison without a trial,
search private dwellings without a warrant, seize property, censor publications, tap telephones,
and forbid meetings. He soon outlawed all political parties except his own, smashed labor unions,
purged universities, replaced the judicial system with his own "People's Courts," initiated a
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)