Henry Eyster Jacobs
Encyclopedia
Henry Eyster Jacobs was an American
educator and Lutheran
theologian
.
, the son of professor Michael and Juliana M (Eyster) Jacobs. He graduated from Pennsylvania College
in 1862 and from the Lutheran Theological Seminary
at Gettysburg in 1865. Between 1870 and 1883, he was professor
at Pennsylvania College. He was then appointed professor of systematic theology
in The Lutheran Theological Seminary
in Mount Airy, where he also assumed the office of dean
in 1894. In 1920, he became President of the Seminary when the office of dean
was abolished.
He served as president of his church's board of foreign missions (1902–07), of the General Conference of Lutherans
(1899, 1902, 1904), of the American Society of Church History
(1907–08), and of the Pennsylvania German Society (1910–11). He also translated various German theological works and editing the Lutheran Church Review (1882-96), and Lutheran Commentary (1895-98). Henry Eyster Jacobs, working with John A.W. Haas, published The Lutheran Cyclopedia in 1899.
Lutheran Archives Center in Philadelph holds a large collections of materials relating to Lutheran clergy, theologians and church workers including personal papers of Henry Eyster Jacobs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
theologian
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...
.
Biography
Jacobs was born in Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
, the son of professor Michael and Juliana M (Eyster) Jacobs. He graduated from Pennsylvania College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
in 1862 and from the Lutheran Theological Seminary
Lutheran Theological Seminary
There are multiple institutions known as Lutheran Theological Seminaries in the world.* Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary* Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St...
at Gettysburg in 1865. Between 1870 and 1883, he was professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Pennsylvania College. He was then appointed professor of systematic theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
in The Lutheran Theological Seminary
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia is one of eight seminaries associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , located in Philadelphia . It was founded in 1864 but traces its roots further back to the first Lutheran establishment in Philadelphia founded by Henry Melchior...
in Mount Airy, where he also assumed the office of dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
in 1894. In 1920, he became President of the Seminary when the office of dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
was abolished.
He served as president of his church's board of foreign missions (1902–07), of the General Conference of Lutherans
General Council (Lutheran)
The General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America was a conservative Lutheran church body, formed as a reaction against the new "Americanized Lutheranism" of Samuel Simon Schmucker and the General Synod....
(1899, 1902, 1904), of the American Society of Church History
American Society of Church History
The American Society of Church History was founded in 1888 with the disciplines of Christian denominational and ecclesiastical history as its focus. Today the society's interests include the broad range of the critical scholarly perspectives, as applied to the history of Christianity and its...
(1907–08), and of the Pennsylvania German Society (1910–11). He also translated various German theological works and editing the Lutheran Church Review (1882-96), and Lutheran Commentary (1895-98). Henry Eyster Jacobs, working with John A.W. Haas, published The Lutheran Cyclopedia in 1899.
Lutheran Archives Center in Philadelph holds a large collections of materials relating to Lutheran clergy, theologians and church workers including personal papers of Henry Eyster Jacobs.
Selected works
- First Free Lutheran Diet in America, Philadelphia, December 27-28, 1877 (1878)
- The Lutheran movement in England during the reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI, and its literary monuments (1890)
- The Lutheran Movement in England (1891)
- History of the Lutheran Church in America (1893)
- Elements of Religion (1894)
- Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to the Romans and I. Corinthians (1896)
- Annotations on the Epistles of Paul to I. Cortinthians VII-XVI, II. Corinthians and Galatians (1897)
- Martin Luther, the hero of the reformation (1898)
- The German Emigration to America, 1709- 40 (1899)
- Summary of the Christian Faith (1905)
Other sources
- Wolf, Edmund Jacob. The Lutherans in America; a story of struggle, progress, influence and marvelous growth (J. A. Hill & Company, New York: 1890)