Karl Ullmann
Encyclopedia
Karl Christian Ullmann (March 3, 1796, Epfenbach
, Electoral Palatinate – January 12, 1865) was a German Calvinist theologian.
and Tübingen
, and in 1820 delivered exegetical and historical lectures at Heidelberg. He received a professorship at Heidelberg from 1821 to 1829. In 1829 he went to Halle upon Saale
as professor to teach church history, dogmatics and symbolics
, but in 1836 he returned to a chair at Heidelberg, where he taught until 1856. Between 1853 and 1861 he officiated as prelate
, i.e. spiritual leader, of the United Evangelical Protestant State Church of Baden .
A lifelong exponent of the "meditation school" of theology (Vermittelungs-Theologie), in 1828, with the help of Umbreit (1795–1860), he founded and edited the Theologische Studien and Kritiken in its interests. When Wegscheider
and Gesenius were denounced by Hengstenberg as rationalists, he pleaded for freedom in theological teaching (cf. his Theol. Bedenken, 1830). On the other hand, he vigorously attacked David Strauss
. His Historisch oder mythisch? Beiträge zur Beantwortung der gegenwärtigen Lebensfrage der Theologie (1838; 2nd ed., 1866) was a reply to Strauss's Life of Jesus
, and his criticism resulted in Strauss making numerous concessions in later works.
is independent of the orthodox formulas, and contends that a distinction should be made between faith
and dogmatics.
His principal historical works are Gregor von Nazianz (1825; 3rd ed., 1867) and Die Reformatoren vor der Reformation (The Reformers before the Reformation, 2 vols., 1841; 2nd ed., 1866; Eng. trans., 1854). Another well-known work is Die Sundlösigkeit Jesu (The Sinlessness of Jesus, 1854; English translation 1858 and 1870).
Epfenbach
Epfenbach is a municipality in south western Germany. It is located between Heidelberg and Sinsheim in the Rhein-Neckar district in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The municipality belongs to the municipal association of Waibstadt and the tourist region Brunnenregion .The meaning of the name...
, Electoral Palatinate – January 12, 1865) was a German Calvinist theologian.
Biography
He studied at HeidelbergHeidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
and 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:...
, and in 1820 delivered exegetical and historical lectures at Heidelberg. He received a professorship at Heidelberg from 1821 to 1829. In 1829 he went to Halle upon Saale
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...
as professor to teach church history, dogmatics and symbolics
Symbolics
Symbolics refers to two companies: now-defunct computer manufacturer Symbolics, Inc., and a privately held company that acquired the assets of the former company and continues to sell and maintain the Open Genera Lisp system and the Macsyma computer algebra system.The symbolics.com domain was...
, but in 1836 he returned to a chair at Heidelberg, where he taught until 1856. Between 1853 and 1861 he officiated as prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
, i.e. spiritual leader, of the United Evangelical Protestant State Church of Baden .
A lifelong exponent of the "meditation school" of theology (Vermittelungs-Theologie), in 1828, with the help of Umbreit (1795–1860), he founded and edited the Theologische Studien and Kritiken in its interests. When Wegscheider
Wegscheider
Wegscheider is a surname and may refer to:* Julius Wegscheider, a German theologian* Rudolf Wegscheider, an Austrian chemist...
and Gesenius were denounced by Hengstenberg as rationalists, he pleaded for freedom in theological teaching (cf. his Theol. Bedenken, 1830). On the other hand, he vigorously attacked 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...
. His Historisch oder mythisch? Beiträge zur Beantwortung der gegenwärtigen Lebensfrage der Theologie (1838; 2nd ed., 1866) was a reply to Strauss's Life of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, and his criticism resulted in Strauss making numerous concessions in later works.
Works
In Das Wesen des Christenthums (1845; 5th ed., 1865; English translation, 1860), Ullmann explains that ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
is independent of the orthodox formulas, and contends that a distinction should be made between faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
and dogmatics.
His principal historical works are Gregor von Nazianz (1825; 3rd ed., 1867) and Die Reformatoren vor der Reformation (The Reformers before the Reformation, 2 vols., 1841; 2nd ed., 1866; Eng. trans., 1854). Another well-known work is Die Sundlösigkeit Jesu (The Sinlessness of Jesus, 1854; English translation 1858 and 1870).
External links
- Ullmann, Karl article in Christian CyclopediaChristian CyclopediaChristian Cyclopedia is a one-volume compendium of theological data, ranging from ancient figures to contemporary events. It is published by Concordia Publishing House. It should not be confused with The Lutheran Cyclopedia , edited by Henry Eyster Jacobs and Charles A.W...