Gottfried Thomasius
Encyclopedia
Gottfried Thomasius was a German Lutheran theologian born in Egenhausen
, Middle Franconia
.
He studied philosophy
and theology in Erlangen
, Halle and Berlin
, and as a student had renowned instructors that included Friedrich Schleiermacher, August Neander
, G. W. F. Hegel
, Philip Marheineke
and Friedrich Tholuck
. In 1829 he began serving as a pastor in Nuremberg
, and in 1842 was appointed professor of dogmatics at the University of Erlangen.
Thomasius was an important representative of the "Erlangen School" within the German Neo-Lutheranism
movement and a major influence on, for instance, the church historian Albert Hauck
. He is remembered for introducing the concept of Kenotic Christology
into German theology, of which his aim was to provide an understanding of the limited consciousness of Jesus Christ without denying the unity of deity and humanity in Christ. Among his more important publications are the following:
Obernzenn
Obernzenn is a municipality in the district of Neustadt -Bad Windsheim in Bavaria in Germany.-References:...
, Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia
Middle Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is in the west of Bavaria and adjoins the state of Baden-Württemberg...
.
He studied 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...
and theology in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, Halle and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and as a student had renowned instructors that included Friedrich Schleiermacher, 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...
, G. W. F. Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel was a German philosopher, one of the creators of German Idealism. His historicist and idealist account of reality as a whole revolutionized European philosophy and was an important precursor to Continental philosophy and Marxism.Hegel developed a comprehensive...
, Philip Marheineke
Philip Marheineke
Philipp Konrad Marheineke , was a German Protestant church leader within the Evangelical Church in Prussia.He was born at Hildesheim, Hanover, and studied at the University of Göttingen. In 1805 he was appointed professor extraordinarius of philosophy at Erlangen; in 1807 he moved to Heidelberg...
and Friedrich Tholuck
Friedrich Tholuck
Friedrich August Gottreu Tholuck , known as August Tholuck, was a German Protestant theologian and church leader.-Biography:...
. In 1829 he began serving as a pastor in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, and in 1842 was appointed professor of dogmatics at the University of Erlangen.
Thomasius was an important representative of the "Erlangen School" within the German Neo-Lutheranism
Neo-Lutheranism
Neo-Lutheranism was a 19th century revival movement within Lutheranism which began with the Pietist driven Erweckung, or Awakening, and developed in reaction against theological rationalism and pietism...
movement and a major influence on, for instance, the church historian Albert Hauck
Albert Hauck
Albert Heinrich Friedrich Stephan Ernst Louis Hauck was a German theologian and church historian....
. He is remembered for introducing the concept of Kenotic Christology
Kenosis
In Christian theology, Kenosis In Christian theology, Kenosis In Christian theology, Kenosis (from the Greek word for emptiness (kénōsis) is the 'self-emptying' of one's own will and becoming entirely receptive to God's divine will....
into German theology, of which his aim was to provide an understanding of the limited consciousness of Jesus Christ without denying the unity of deity and humanity in Christ. Among his more important publications are the following:
- Origen. Ein Beitrag zur Dogmengeschichte des dritten Jahrhunderts (OrigenOrigenOrigen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
, A Contribution to the History of Dogmas of the Third Century), (1837) - Beiträge zur kirchlichen Christologie, (Contributions to Church-based Christology), (1845)
- Christi Person und Werk, (Christ's Person and Work), (1852-1861)
- Das Bekenntnis der lutherischen Kirche von der Versöhnung, (1857)
- Die christliche Dogmengeschichte, (History of Christian Dogma), (1874-1876)