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, and won his master's degree 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 at the university on philology and history. From 1659 to 1662, he visited the universities of Basel, Tübingen, and Geneva, where his religious views turned toward mysticism. He returned to Strasbourg in 1663, appointed preacher without pastoral duties, with the right of holding lectures. Three years later, he was invited to become the chief pastor in the Lutheran Church at Frankfurt, where he published his two chief works, Pia desideria (1675) and Allgemeine Gottesgelehrtheit (1680), and began the movement called Pietism. In 1686, Spener accepted the invitation to the first court chaplaincy at Dresden. 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 court's tendencies were rationalistic rather than pietistic. The University of Halle was founded under his influence in 1694. All his life, Spener was exposed to attacks from 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). 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. His writing Pia desideria gave six proposals for reform: (1) acquaint believers with Scripture through private readings and study groups; (2) increase lay involvement in all church functions; (3) emphasize putting faith and knowledge of God into practice; (4) approach religious discussions with humility and love, avoiding controversy; (5) ensure pastors are 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 Spener was not himself a Pietist, as he did not advocate quietistic, legalistic, or semi-separatist practices. Spener departed from orthodox Lutheran faith on only two points: requiring regeneration as essential for a true theologian, and expecting the conversion of the Jews and the fall of the Papacy as prelude to the church's triumph. 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 a godfather 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 volumes folio, 63 quarto, 7 octavo, and 46 duodecimo.

Did You Know?

• Spener won his master's degree in 1653 with a disputation against the philosophy of Thomas Hobbes.
• In 1695, the theological faculty of Wittenberg formally accused him of 264 errors.
• Spener's published works comprise 7 volumes folio, 63 quarto, 7 octavo, and 46 duodecimo.
• Though often believed to be Count von Zinzendorf's godfather, Spener was not his godfather.
• Spener began the study of heraldry in 1659 and pursued it throughout his life.