Wednesday, January 14, 2026

It is the 14th of January 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

I have long had, and thus by extension this show has, an obsession with the intersection between Christianity and TIME magazine in the 20th century. Long story short: Christians and clergy were not uncommon on the cover of TIME magazine, but just rare enough that when they get attention from that mainline secular outlet, it’s for a good reason.

Of all the clergy that have made the cover, I am willing to bet that the majority of you have never heard of one of them- the cover of the December 1944 TIME magazine, amidst what we know now was the end of World War II, featured the Bishop of Oslo and one-time Primate of the Church of Norway, Eivind Berggrav.

“Who”? You ask. A remarkable pastor and church administrator who made a name standing up to Hitler.

Berggrav was born in Norway in 1884, the son of a Lutheran Bishop. Young Eivind rebelled. He studied theology but went into journalism and was determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps. But the First World War dampened his worldly enthusiasm, and he went to serve a local parish. Along with work in a prison, he commenced doctoral studies in theology and by 1928 was a bishop in the Arctic. His writing on theology and his time with the Sami people from the north made him a popular author. His “Land of Suspense: Visitation Glimpses of North Norway” made him a popular name. He had also served as an editor of the magazine “Christ and Culture”.

In 1937, the young-ish Berggrav was named bishop of Oslo- the chief position in the Norwegian Lutheran church and came to prominence with his presiding over the funeral of Queen Maud in 1938.

When Hitler began his invasions and the outbreak of World War II, he cautioned against resistance. With the invasion of Norway by the Nazi’s in April of 1940, Berggrav took Hitler at his word and agreed to acquiesce to limit bloodshed. But by the Fall of that year, Berggrav had decided that the Nazi’s couldn’t be trusted and by 1941 was traveling with a speech “When the Driver is Out of His Mind,” a defense of resistance in light of Lutheran theology and Romans 13.

In 1942, the New York Times chose Berggrav as one of the six church leaders to be highlighted in a series called “Churchmen who Defy Hitler”.

Eivind Berggrav would resign his post with the ascension of the Nazi puppet Vidkun Quisling. Quisling, the de facto head of the Norwegian church, would have Berggrav and others arrested and sent to concentration camps. Because of Berggrav’s outspoken criticism of the Nazi’s he gained attention outside the camps. On account of this, he was removed from his camp and sent to house arrest in the north.

His time during the war and under confinement was not as grueling as it was for others, but he spent his time writing and carrying on as much correspondence as was possible. His 1951 book “Man and the State” was written while he was confined.

Time magazine would bring more attention to his resistance with its December 1944 cover of the one-time Norwegian prime minister. The Nazi’s would quietly release Berggrav in early 1944 before the end of the war. While Quisling had initially called for his death, Berggrav made a point to call for clemency for his enemy. Quisling was, however, put to death by firing squad, and his name became synonymous with a Nazi traitor.

Now, a hero Berggrav would help to lead the United Bible Societies as its first president. In the heady optimism of the post-war years, Berggrav worked with the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches.

Eivind Berggrav would outlive his wife, Katherine, by ten years, dying on the 14th of January in 1959. They were both survived by their one son, Dag. Born in 1884, the Norwegian Bishop and Nazi resistor Eivind Berggrav was 74 years old.

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary, and both Matthew and Isaiah:

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;


I will put my Spirit on him,

    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out;

    no one will hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,


till he has brought justice through to victory.

    In his name the nations will put their hope.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 14th of January 2026, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who thought a quisling was someone who liked trivia… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who can tell you that spellcheck does not like the Norwegian names… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.