August Friedrich Gfrörer
Encyclopedia
August Friedrich Gfrörer (1803-1861), German
historian, was born at Calw, in Württemberg
, 5 March 1803. Obedient to the wishes of his parents, but against his own inclinations, he devoted himself to the study of theology
; was a student at the "Little Evangelical Seminary" of Tübingen
from 1817-21, and from 1821-25 continued his studies at the higher seminary
of the same place. He completed his education by a series of scientific travels through Switzerland
and Italy
, after which he returned to his alma mater.
In 1829, he was appointed vicar
in the city of Stuttgart
. Having by this time lost all belief in revealed religion, he became convinced that to continue his pastoral duties would involve him in serious conflict; he therefore resigned his vicarage. At the recommendation of Victor von Bonstetten, a friend of his father, he was appointed third librarian of the public library of Stuttgart (1830) with the title of professor. During his numerous hours of leisure he applied himself with vigour and enthusiasm to the study of literature and history. As the fruit of these labours he published in the following year (1831) his work on Philo und die judisch-alexandrinische Theosophie (2 vols., Stuttgart, 1831). This work was preparatory to his larger work entitled Kritische Geschichte des Urchristenthums (Stuttgart, 1838, in 5 vols.). In it Gfrörer, probably impelled by David Strauss
's Leben Jesu, sought to conceive historically the life and teaching of Christ
, and, although writing as a rationalist throughout, he strongly disclaims being "an adherent of the modern champion of negative truths", (i.e. of Strauss).
In the first part, with the sub-title Das Jahr des Heils, he investigates the time in which Christ lived; in the second, entitled Heilige Sage, he treats of the authenticity and literary character of the first three Gospels, and in the third, Das Heiligthum and die Wahrheit, he discusses the Gospel of John
. The work, therefore, is a detailed investigation of the character and significance of the New Testament
from an historical point of view, and is based on a wealth of materials. At the same time he studied the history of the Thirty Years' War
, and in 1835 (in Stuttgart) published Gustav Adolf, König der Schweden und seine Zeit (4th ed., 1863), in which by emphasizing the political role of the Swedish
king he took a position diametrically opposed to the views previously held by Protestants.
An equally profound impression, especially in Catholic
circles, was produced by his Allgemeine Kirchengeschichte (4 vols., Stuttgart, 1841-46). Closing with the year 1305, it emphasises the part played by the Catholic Church in the development of the German Empire
, and extols the policy of the pope
s. Shortly afterwards he was appointed professor of history at the Catholic University of Freiburg
(Breisgau) -- an appointment which at first sight appears surprising, inasmuch as he was a rationalist, the results of those investigations were not at all times in harmony with Christian
doctrine. His call, however, is quite intelligible in view of the tendencies of his recent writings, and of his fair treatment of religious questions, which seemed to indicate a gradual return to more conservative religious opinions. In 1848, he was elected to the German Parliament
at Frankfurt
as representative of a district of Württemberg; he belonged to the greater German party, and was a fanatical opponent of Prussia
. It is a notable fact that, while in Parliament, he proposed a motion for the reunion of Catholics and Protestants, but only on condition that the Holy See
would promise never to permit the Jesuits or Redemptorists to settle on German soil.
In 1853 he entered the Catholic Church, after all the other members of his family had taken the same step. His later publications are: Geschichte der ost- und westfränkischen Karolinger (Freiburg, 1848, 2 vols.); Die Urgeschichte des menschlichen Geschlechts (Schaffhausen, 1855, 2 vols., incomplete), a demonstration that neither critical history nor the natural sciences, in treating of the origin and earliest history of the human race, can lay claim to certainty, when opposed to the earliest traditions of mankind and especially to Holy Writ; Papst Gregorius VIII and sein Zeitalter (Schaffhausen, 1859-61, in 7 vols.), a part of his Church History, notable for its brilliant scholarship and conscientious research. Many volumes of lectures were published posthumously: Geschichte des 18. Jahrhunderts (Schaffhausen, 1862-73; Vols. I-IV by Johann Baptist Weiss
; second part of the fourth vol. by Tiedemann, Basle, 1884); Zur Geschichte deutscher Volksrechte im Mittelalter (Schaffhausen, 1865, 2 vols.); Byzantinische Geschichten (Graz, 1872-74, 2 vols.). His Prophetae veteres pseudepigraphi latine versi (Stuttgart, 1840), with translation, is critically unsatisfactory.
Gfrörer was a man of unusual ability; he possessed great acumen and great powers of bold and correct combination. He was a prolific author, although his literary researches were sometimes lacking in method. He died at Karlsbad
on 6 July 1861.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
historian, was born at Calw, in Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
, 5 March 1803. Obedient to the wishes of his parents, but against his own inclinations, he devoted himself to the study of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
; was a student at the "Little Evangelical Seminary" of Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
from 1817-21, and from 1821-25 continued his studies at the higher seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of the same place. He completed his education by a series of scientific travels through Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, after which he returned to his alma mater.
In 1829, he was appointed vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in the city of Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. Having by this time lost all belief in revealed religion, he became convinced that to continue his pastoral duties would involve him in serious conflict; he therefore resigned his vicarage. At the recommendation of Victor von Bonstetten, a friend of his father, he was appointed third librarian of the public library of Stuttgart (1830) with the title of professor. During his numerous hours of leisure he applied himself with vigour and enthusiasm to the study of literature and history. As the fruit of these labours he published in the following year (1831) his work on Philo und die judisch-alexandrinische Theosophie (2 vols., Stuttgart, 1831). This work was preparatory to his larger work entitled Kritische Geschichte des Urchristenthums (Stuttgart, 1838, in 5 vols.). In it Gfrörer, probably impelled by David Strauss
David Strauss
David Friedrich Strauss was a German theologian and writer. He scandalized Christian Europe with his portrayal of the "historical Jesus," whose divine nature he denied...
's Leben Jesu, sought to conceive historically the life and teaching of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, and, although writing as a rationalist throughout, he strongly disclaims being "an adherent of the modern champion of negative truths", (i.e. of Strauss).
In the first part, with the sub-title Das Jahr des Heils, he investigates the time in which Christ lived; in the second, entitled Heilige Sage, he treats of the authenticity and literary character of the first three Gospels, and in the third, Das Heiligthum and die Wahrheit, he discusses the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
. The work, therefore, is a detailed investigation of the character and significance of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
from an historical point of view, and is based on a wealth of materials. At the same time he studied the history of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, and in 1835 (in Stuttgart) published Gustav Adolf, König der Schweden und seine Zeit (4th ed., 1863), in which by emphasizing the political role of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
king he took a position diametrically opposed to the views previously held by Protestants.
An equally profound impression, especially in Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
circles, was produced by his Allgemeine Kirchengeschichte (4 vols., Stuttgart, 1841-46). Closing with the year 1305, it emphasises the part played by the Catholic Church in the development of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, and extols the policy of the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
s. Shortly afterwards he was appointed professor of history at the Catholic University of Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
(Breisgau) -- an appointment which at first sight appears surprising, inasmuch as he was a rationalist, the results of those investigations were not at all times in harmony with Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
doctrine. His call, however, is quite intelligible in view of the tendencies of his recent writings, and of his fair treatment of religious questions, which seemed to indicate a gradual return to more conservative religious opinions. In 1848, he was elected to the German Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
at Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
as representative of a district of Württemberg; he belonged to the greater German party, and was a fanatical opponent of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. It is a notable fact that, while in Parliament, he proposed a motion for the reunion of Catholics and Protestants, but only on condition that the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
would promise never to permit the Jesuits or Redemptorists to settle on German soil.
In 1853 he entered the Catholic Church, after all the other members of his family had taken the same step. His later publications are: Geschichte der ost- und westfränkischen Karolinger (Freiburg, 1848, 2 vols.); Die Urgeschichte des menschlichen Geschlechts (Schaffhausen, 1855, 2 vols., incomplete), a demonstration that neither critical history nor the natural sciences, in treating of the origin and earliest history of the human race, can lay claim to certainty, when opposed to the earliest traditions of mankind and especially to Holy Writ; Papst Gregorius VIII and sein Zeitalter (Schaffhausen, 1859-61, in 7 vols.), a part of his Church History, notable for its brilliant scholarship and conscientious research. Many volumes of lectures were published posthumously: Geschichte des 18. Jahrhunderts (Schaffhausen, 1862-73; Vols. I-IV by Johann Baptist Weiss
Johann Baptist Weiss
Johann Baptist Weiss Johann Baptist Weiss Johann Baptist Weiss (born at Ettenheim, Baden, 17 July 1820; died at Graz, 8 March 1899 was a German historian.-Life:After completing his high-school studies he attended the universities of Freiburg, Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Munich, where he devoted...
; second part of the fourth vol. by Tiedemann, Basle, 1884); Zur Geschichte deutscher Volksrechte im Mittelalter (Schaffhausen, 1865, 2 vols.); Byzantinische Geschichten (Graz, 1872-74, 2 vols.). His Prophetae veteres pseudepigraphi latine versi (Stuttgart, 1840), with translation, is critically unsatisfactory.
Gfrörer was a man of unusual ability; he possessed great acumen and great powers of bold and correct combination. He was a prolific author, although his literary researches were sometimes lacking in method. He died at Karlsbad
Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a spa city situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately west of Prague . It is named after King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370...
on 6 July 1861.