Helmut W. Ziefle

This is not exactly thrilling reading, but the dictionary in the back is extremely helpful, and as a graded reader it can be very helpful, though I did not go as far into it as I had hoped I would (it might have been better had I done so.) If I were going to revise this, what it would be wonderful to have had would have been a graded reader that split the difference between my first German graded reader and this. Something that started me on German hymns or very very short theological passages of surpassing easiness. Bible stories written for children or something of the sort. The other thing that I really needed (and did not know that I needed as I began reading theological German) was something that would have introduced me to Fraktur font. Instead, I encountered it first in the middle of an early Ph.D. course. It would have been very useful to me if someone had told me early on that this was something that I was going to need. And if you are reading theological German, you are eventually going to have to deal with something that is in Fraktur.… (más)

This is a true story about the Ziefle family and how they survived in Germany as Germans, in a war they were not in agreement with. Maria and George Ziefle lived in Germany during World War II and experienced the air attacks, hunger, and seeing their sons go off to fight for Hitler or be condemmed to die. They trusted in the Lord to see them through and He did. They were shunned and watched by their neighbors and it opened my eyes to realize that there were good Christian people in Germany who also feared for their lives and prayed for the war to end. It is amazing to see how God watched over them and all that their family went through.… (más)

Zwiefle selects texts from the Gospels and Epistles, followed by some of the writings of Luther and other theologians.

Copious notes on vocabulary are on each facing page, but little other explanation is given that might be helpful to the intermediate student wondering why the Apostles are always saying "Ihr".

My copy has pencil markings from a prior reader who was apparently struggling. The texts are unedited, so require a high-intermediate level of competence at German. If you have to gloss "werden" each time you see it, wait a year to attempt this and save yourself the pain.… (más)