Philipp Spener

Lore & Background

Spener was born on 23 January 1635 in Rappoltsweiler, Upper Alsace, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. After a brief time at the grammar school of Colmar, he went to Strasbourg in 1651, studying philology, history and philosophy. He won his degree of master in 1653 with a disputation against the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. He then became private tutor to princes Christian and Charles of the Electorate of the Palatinate, and lectured in the university on philology and history. From 1659 to 1662, he visited the universities of Basel, Tübingen and Geneva, and commenced the study of heraldry, which he pursued throughout his life. In Geneva especially, his religious views turned in the direction of mysticism. He returned to Strasbourg in 1663, where he was appointed preacher without pastoral duties, with the right of holding lectures. Three years afterwards, he was invited to become the chief pastor in the Lutheran Church at Frankfurt. Here he published his two chief works, *Pia desideria* (1675) and *Allgemeine Gottesgelehrtheit* (1680), and began that form of pastoral work which resulted in the movement called Pietism. In 1686, he accepted the invitation to the first court chaplaincy at Dresden. The Elector John George III, at whose personal desire the post had been offered, was soon offended when Spener condemned the morals of his court. Spener refused to resign, and the Saxon government hesitated to dismiss him. In 1691, the Saxon representative at Berlin induced the court of the March of Brandenburg to offer him the rectorship of St Nicholas in Berlin, with the title of counsellor of the Marcher Consistory. In Berlin, Spener was held in high honor, though the tendencies of the court and government officials were rather rationalistic than pietistic. The University of Halle was founded under his influence in 1694. All his life, Spener had been exposed to the attacks and abuse of orthodox Lutheran theologians. In 1695, the theological faculty of Wittenberg formally accused him of 264 errors. Only his death released him from these fierce conflicts. His last important work was *Theologische Bedenken* (1700–1702), to which was added after his death *Letzte theologische Bedenken*, with a biography by CH von Canstein (1711). Spener died in Berlin on 5 February 1705, aged 70.

Reader's Guide

Philipp Jakob Spener's significance lies in his founding of Pietism, a movement emphasizing personal transformation through spiritual rebirth and renewal. Highly influenced by Johann Arndt, Lewis Bayly, Jean de Labadie, and Theophil Großgebauer, Spener wanted to strengthen and renew the church through more knowledgeable and devoted members. In his *Pia Desideria*, he gave six proposals: (1) more thoroughly acquaint believers with Scripture through private readings and study groups; (2) increase lay involvement in all church functions; (3) emphasize that believers put their faith into practice; (4) approach religious discussions with humility and love, avoiding controversy; (5) ensure pastors are both well-educated and pious; and (6) focus preaching on developing faith in ordinary believers. Though called the 'father of Pietism,' theologian Albrecht Ritschl maintained that 'he was himself not a Pietist,' as he did not advocate quietistic, legalistic or semi-separatist practices. The only two points on which he departed from orthodox Lutheran faith were the requirement of regeneration as the *sine qua non* of the true theologian, and the expectation of the conversion of the Jews and the fall of the Papacy as the prelude of the triumph of the Church. He did not insist on a conscious crisis of conversion nor encourage a complete breach between Christian and secular life. Spener was sometimes believed to be one of the godfathers of Count von Zinzendorf, but although Zinzendorf met Spener as a child at his grandmother's home in Hennersdorf, Spener was not his godfather. Spener was a prolific writer: his published works comprise 7 vols. folio, 63 quarto, 7 octavo, 46 duodecimo. An edition of his chief writings was published by P. Grunberg in 1889, and TVG Brunnen Verlag in Gießen, Germany began a new edition in 1996.

Did You Know?

• Spener won his master's degree in 1653 with a disputation against the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes.
• He studied heraldry throughout his life, beginning during his travels from 1659 to 1662.
• The theological faculty of Wittenberg formally accused him of 264 errors in 1695.
• Spener was not the godfather of Count von Zinzendorf, though he met him as a child at his grandmother's home in Hennersdorf.
• His published works total 7 volumes folio, 63 quarto, 7 octavo, and 46 duodecimo.