Gottfried Arnold

Gottfried Arnold (1666 - 1714) was a German Protestant theologian.

Related Topics:
1666 - 1714 - Protestant

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Arnold was born at Annaberg, in Saxony (Germany), where his father was schoolmaster. In 1682 he went to the Gymnasium at Gera, and three years later to the University of Wittenberg. Here made a special study of theology and history, and afterwards, rough the influence of P. J. Spener, the father of pietism, became tutor in Quedlinburg. His first work, Die Erste Liebe Christo, appeared in 1696. It went through five editions before 1728, and gained the author much reputation.

Related Topics:
Saxony - Germany - Gera - University of Wittenberg - Theology - Quedlinburg

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In the year after its publication he was invited to Giessen as professor of church history. He disliked it so much that he resigned in 1698, and returned to Wittenburg. In 1699 he began to publish his largest work, described by Leo Tolstoy (The Kingdom of God is within You, ap. iii.) as remarkable, although little known, Unparteiische Kirchen- und Ketzerhistorie, in which he has been thought to show more impartiality towards heresy than towards the Church (cf. Otto Pfleiderer, Development of Theology, p. 277). His next work, Geheimniss der gottlichen Sophia, seemed to indicate that he had developed a form of mysticism. Soon afterwards, however, his acceptance of a pastorate marked a change of view, and he produced a number of noteworthy works on practical theology. He was also known as the author of the pietistic section of Protestant historians (1850).

Related Topics:
Giessen - Wittenburg - Leo Tolstoy - Heresy - Mysticism - Protestant

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