Johann Karl Ludwig Gieseler
Encyclopedia
Johann Karl Ludwig Gieseler, KH
(March 3, 1792 – July 8, 1854) was a Protestant German
church historian.
, near Minden
, where his father, Georg Christof Friedrich, was preacher. In his tenth year he entered the orphanage at Halle
, from which he duly passed to the university, his studies being interrupted in October 1813 by a period of military service, during which he was enrolled as a volunteer in a regiment of chasseurs. On the conclusion of peace (1815) he returned to Halle, and, having in 1817 taken his degree in philosophy
, he became assistant head (Conrector) of the Minden gymnasium, and in 1818 was appointed director of the gymnasium at Cleves.
Here he published his earliest work (Historisch-kritischer Versuch über die Entstehung u. die frühesten Schicksale der schriftlichen Evangelien), a treatise which had considerable influence on subsequent investigations as to the origin of the gospels. In 1819 Gieseler was appointed a professor ordinarius in theology
in the newly-founded University of Bonn
, where, besides lecturing on church history, he made important contributions to the literature of that subject in Ernst Friedrich Karl Rosenmüller
's Repertorium, KF Stäudlin
and HG Tschirner
's Archiv, and in various university "programs."
The first part of the first volume of his well-known Church History appeared in 1824. In 1831 he accepted a call to Göttingen as successor to GJ Planck
. He lectured on church history, the history of dogma
, and dogmatic theology. In 1837 he was appointed a Consistorialrath, and shortly afterwards was created a knight of the Royal Guelphic Order
. The fourth and fifth volumes of the Kirchengeschichte, embracing the period subsequent to 1814, were published posthumously in 1855 by ER Redepenning (1810–1883); and they were followed in 1856 by a Dogmengeschichte, sometimes regarded as the sixth volume of the Church History. Less vivid and picturesque in style than Karl Hase
, lacking August Neander
's deep and sympathetic insight into the more spiritual forces by which church life is pervaded, he excels these and all other contemporaries in the fulness and accuracy of his information. His Lehrbuch der Kirchengeschichte, with its copious references to original authorities, is of great value to the student: "Gieseler wished that each age should speak for itself, since only by this means can the peculiarity of its ideas be fully appreciated
" (Otto Pfleiderer
, Development of Theology, p. 284).
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
(March 3, 1792 – July 8, 1854) was a Protestant German
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...
church historian.
Biography
He was born at PetershagenPetershagen
Petershagen is a town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Petershagen is situated on the river Weser, approx...
, near Minden
Minden
Minden is a town of about 83,000 inhabitants in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town extends along both sides of the river Weser. It is the capital of the Kreis of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Detmold. Minden is the historic political centre of the...
, where his father, Georg Christof Friedrich, was preacher. In his tenth year he entered the orphanage at Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
, from which he duly passed to the university, his studies being interrupted in October 1813 by a period of military service, during which he was enrolled as a volunteer in a regiment of chasseurs. On the conclusion of peace (1815) he returned to Halle, and, having in 1817 taken his degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, he became assistant head (Conrector) of the Minden gymnasium, and in 1818 was appointed director of the gymnasium at Cleves.
Here he published his earliest work (Historisch-kritischer Versuch über die Entstehung u. die frühesten Schicksale der schriftlichen Evangelien), a treatise which had considerable influence on subsequent investigations as to the origin of the gospels. In 1819 Gieseler was appointed a professor ordinarius in 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...
in the newly-founded University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, where, besides lecturing on church history, he made important contributions to the literature of that subject in Ernst Friedrich Karl Rosenmüller
Ernst Friedrich Karl Rosenmüller
Ernst Friedrich Karl Rosenmüller was a German Orientalist and theologian born in Heßberg, now a part of Veilsdorf in the District of Hildburghausen, Thuringia....
's Repertorium, KF Stäudlin
Karl Friedrich Stäudlin
Karl Friedrich Stäudlin was a German Protestant theologian born in Stuttgart.He studied theology in Tübingen, and from 1790 was a professor of theology at the University of Göttingen, where in 1803 he was appointed Consistorialrath.Stäudlin was a prominent supporter of Kantianism, and as his...
and HG Tschirner
Heinrich Gottlieb Tzschirner
Heinrich Gottlieb Tzschirner was a German Protestant theologian born in Mittweida, Saxony.He studied theology at the University of Leipzig, receiving his habilitation in 1800 with assistance from Dresden examinator Franz Volkmar Reinhard...
's Archiv, and in various university "programs."
The first part of the first volume of his well-known Church History appeared in 1824. In 1831 he accepted a call to Göttingen as successor to GJ Planck
Gottlieb Jakob Planck
Gottlieb Jakob Planck was a German Protestant divine and historian.-Biography:Planck was born at Nürtingen in Württemberg, where his father was a notary...
. He lectured on church history, the history of dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
, and dogmatic theology. In 1837 he was appointed a Consistorialrath, and shortly afterwards was created a knight of the Royal Guelphic Order
Royal Guelphic Order
The Royal Guelphic Order, sometimes also referred to as the Hanoverian Guelphic Order, is a Hanoverian order of chivalry instituted on 28 April 1815 by the Prince Regent . It has not been conferred by the British Crown since the death of King William IV in 1837, when the personal union of the...
. The fourth and fifth volumes of the Kirchengeschichte, embracing the period subsequent to 1814, were published posthumously in 1855 by ER Redepenning (1810–1883); and they were followed in 1856 by a Dogmengeschichte, sometimes regarded as the sixth volume of the Church History. Less vivid and picturesque in style than Karl Hase
Karl Hase
Karl August von Hase , German Protestant theologian and Church historian, was born at Steinbach in Saxony. He studied at Leipzig and Erlangen, and in 1829 was called to Jena as professor of theology. He retired in 1883 and was made a baron...
, lacking August Neander
August Neander
Johann August Wilhelm Neander , was a German theologian and church historian.-Biography:Neander was born at Göttingen as David Mendel. His father, Emmanuel Mendel, is said to have been a Jewish pedlar, but August adopted the name of Neander on his baptism as a Protestant Christian...
's deep and sympathetic insight into the more spiritual forces by which church life is pervaded, he excels these and all other contemporaries in the fulness and accuracy of his information. His Lehrbuch der Kirchengeschichte, with its copious references to original authorities, is of great value to the student: "Gieseler wished that each age should speak for itself, since only by this means can the peculiarity of its ideas be fully appreciated
" (Otto Pfleiderer
Otto Pfleiderer
Otto Pfleiderer was a German Protestant theologian.-Biography:He was born at Stetten in Württemberg. From 1857 to 1861 he studied at the University of Tübingen under FC Baur, and afterwards in England and Scotland...
, Development of Theology, p. 284).
Works
- Nazaräer und Ebioniten, 1819
- Historisch-kritischer Versuch über die Entstehung und die frühesten Schicksale der schriftlichen Evangelien, 1818
- Über den Reichstag zu Augsburg, 1821
- Lehrbuch der Kirchengeschichte vol. I-III, 1824–1835