Adolf Schlatter
Encyclopedia
Adolf Schlatter was an Evangelical
theologian
and professor
specialising in the New Testament
and systematics
at Greifswald
, Berlin
and Tübingen
.
to a pietistic
preacher, studied philosophy
and theology in Basel
and Tübingen between 1871 and 1875, gaining his post-doctoral teaching qualification (Habilitation) in 1880. In 1888, he became a lecturer
at the University of Berne
. Between 1893 and 1930, he held professorships in Greifswald, Berlin, and Tübingen, where he eventually died. In Berlin, he was the intellectual antithesis to Adolf von Harnack
.
From 1897, he was co-editor, alongside Hermann Cremer
, of a magazine called Beiträge zur Förderung christlicher Theologie (Articles for the Promotion of Christian Theology).
Schlatter became particularly well-known for his analysis of the New Testament, which was accessible to a broad audience. He was adamant about the manifestation of God
in nature
and in Jesus Christ, and this conviction led him to a criticism of the theophilosophical ideas of German idealism
. His down-to-earth interpretation of the Bible
also brought Schlatter into in conflict with the contemporary school of thought in the Evangelical Church in Germany
. In addition, Schlatter worked towards the development of a theory of knowledge with which he could reconcile his religious convictions.
Schlatters role in the time of the Third Reich is subject of a scientific debate. According to the Pulitzer Prize winning historian Saul Friedländer in his Nazi Germany and the Jews 1939-1945, Schlatter belonged to a "hard core of Jew haters" who considered the Nazi anti-Semitic laws too mild. Friedländer cites from a popular 1935 pamphlet by Schlatter, Wird der Jude über uns siegen? Ein Wort für die Weihnacht [Will the Jew be Victorious Over Us?: A Word for Christmas] that regrets the "favorable situation" of the Jews in contemporary Germany. Werner Neuer on the other hand reads the same scripture as a word against racism and as a warning against the Nazi regime, pointing out that the booklet was forbidden and confiscated by the Gestapo and set on the list of damaging and undesirable writing. Anders Gerdmar exposes the complexity of Schlatters attitude: Although he was undoubtly anti-National Socialist (he strongly criticised Nazi neo-paganism, racial myth, the cult of the Fuehrer and he never supported the National Socialist party) and despite his positive view of the salvation-historical Judaism (which makes ist impossible to describe him as an anti-Semite), he "indirectly and directly" legitimized "the oppression of Jews. It is beyound our power to judge whether he understood it or not". The debate is still ongoing.
Archives of Schlatter's work, as well as a foundation dedicated to him, are situated in Stuttgart
. In Tübingen, the "Adolf Schlatter House" in Österbergstrasse is named after him, as is the "Adolf Schlatter Home" in Recke
.
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...
and 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...
specialising in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
at Greifswald
Greifswald
Greifswald , officially, the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald is a town in northeastern Germany. It is situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at an equal distance of about from Germany's two largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg. The town borders the Baltic Sea, and is crossed...
, 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 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:...
.
Biography
Schlatter, born in St. GallenSt. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
to a pietistic
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
preacher, 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 Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and Tübingen between 1871 and 1875, gaining his post-doctoral teaching qualification (Habilitation) in 1880. In 1888, he became a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the University of Berne
University of Berne
The University of Bern is a university in the Swiss capital of Bern and was founded in 1834. It is regulated and financed by the Canton of Bern. It is a comprehensive university offering a broad choice of courses and programmes in eight faculties and some 160 institutes. The university is an...
. Between 1893 and 1930, he held professorships in Greifswald, Berlin, and Tübingen, where he eventually died. In Berlin, he was the intellectual antithesis to Adolf von Harnack
Adolf von Harnack
Adolf von Harnack , was a German theologian and prominent church historian.He produced many religious publications from 1873-1912....
.
From 1897, he was co-editor, alongside Hermann Cremer
Hermann Cremer
August Hermann Cremer was a German Protestant theologian. He was considered head of the so-called Greifswalder Schule at the University of Greifswald....
, of a magazine called Beiträge zur Förderung christlicher Theologie (Articles for the Promotion of Christian Theology).
Schlatter became particularly well-known for his analysis of the New Testament, which was accessible to a broad audience. He was adamant about the manifestation of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
and in Jesus Christ, and this conviction led him to a criticism of the theophilosophical ideas of German idealism
German idealism
German idealism was a philosophical movement that emerged in Germany in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It developed out of the work of Immanuel Kant in the 1780s and 1790s, and was closely linked both with romanticism and the revolutionary politics of the Enlightenment...
. His down-to-earth interpretation of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
also brought Schlatter into in conflict with the contemporary school of thought in the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
. In addition, Schlatter worked towards the development of a theory of knowledge with which he could reconcile his religious convictions.
Schlatters role in the time of the Third Reich is subject of a scientific debate. According to the Pulitzer Prize winning historian Saul Friedländer in his Nazi Germany and the Jews 1939-1945, Schlatter belonged to a "hard core of Jew haters" who considered the Nazi anti-Semitic laws too mild. Friedländer cites from a popular 1935 pamphlet by Schlatter, Wird der Jude über uns siegen? Ein Wort für die Weihnacht [Will the Jew be Victorious Over Us?: A Word for Christmas] that regrets the "favorable situation" of the Jews in contemporary Germany. Werner Neuer on the other hand reads the same scripture as a word against racism and as a warning against the Nazi regime, pointing out that the booklet was forbidden and confiscated by the Gestapo and set on the list of damaging and undesirable writing. Anders Gerdmar exposes the complexity of Schlatters attitude: Although he was undoubtly anti-National Socialist (he strongly criticised Nazi neo-paganism, racial myth, the cult of the Fuehrer and he never supported the National Socialist party) and despite his positive view of the salvation-historical Judaism (which makes ist impossible to describe him as an anti-Semite), he "indirectly and directly" legitimized "the oppression of Jews. It is beyound our power to judge whether he understood it or not". The debate is still ongoing.
Archives of Schlatter's work, as well as a foundation dedicated to him, are situated in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. In Tübingen, the "Adolf Schlatter House" in Österbergstrasse is named after him, as is the "Adolf Schlatter Home" in Recke
Recke
Recke is a municipality in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Recke is situated approx. 20 km north-east of Rheine and 25 km north-west of Osnabrück.-Neighbouring municipalities:* Ibbenbüren* Hopsten...
.
Works
- Vom Dienst an Theologie und Kirche, Berlin, Furche Publishing
- Der Dienst der Christen in der älteren Dogmatik, 1897 (republished as Der Dienst des Christen in 1999)
- Evangelium und Dienst am Volk, Gotha, 1932
- Drei Predigten aus ernster Zeit
- Haering, Theodor von, Stuttgart (Steinkopf), 1918
- Die Geschichte des Christus, Stuttgart, 1921
- Die Gründe der christlicher Gewißheit, Calwer Vereinsbuchhandlung, 1917
- Am Leiden teilnehmen, Berlin, 1934
- Die Apostelgeschichte, Berlin, 1961
- Der Brief des Jakobus, Calwer Vereinsbuchhandlung, 1932
- Die Briefe an die Galater, Epheser, Kolosser und Philemon, Berlin, 1962
- Die Briefe des Petrus, Judas, Jakobus, der Brief an die Hebräer, Berlin, 1965