Otto Pfleiderer

Otto Pfleiderer

Otto Pfleiderer(1 September 1839 – 18 July 1908) was a GermanProtestanttheologian.Through his writings and his lectures, he became known as one of the most influential representatives ofliberal theology.

Biography

Pfleiderer was born atStetten im Remstal(now a part ofKernen,Baden-Württemberg) inWürttemberg.From 1857 to 1861 he studied at theUniversity of TübingenunderFerdinand Christian Baur,and afterwards in England andScotland.He then entered the ministry, became tutor (German:Repetent) at Tübingen, and for a short time held a pastorate atHeilbronn(1868). In 1870 he became chief pastor and superintendent at theUniversity of Jenaand soon afterwards professor ordinarius of theology, but in 1875 he was called to the chair ofsystematic theologyatBerlin,having made his name by a series of articles onNew Testamentcriticism and Johannine and Pauline theology, which appeared inAdolf Hilgenfeld'sZeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Theologie,and by hisDer Paulinismus,published in 1873.Das Urchristentum, seine Schriften und Lehren, in geschichtlichen Zusammenhang beschriebenwas published in 1878 and considerably enlarged for a second edition in 1902.

In 1890 appearedThe Development of Theology since Kant, and its Progress in Great Britain since 1825,which was written for publication in England. A more elaborate work was hisReligionsphilosophie auf geschichtlichen Grundlage(1878). "The Influence of the Apostle Paul on the Development of Christianity" was the title of a course ofHibbert Lecturesgiven inLondonin 1885. In 1894 he delivered theGifford LecturesatEdinburgh,the subject being "The Philosophy and Development of Religion".His later publications included:

• The Early Christian Conception of Christ(1905)
• Die Entstehung des Christentums(1905)
• Religion und Religionen(1906)
• Die Entwicklung des Christentums(1907).

He died atGroß-Lichterfelde,near Berlin. In New Testament criticism, Pfleiderer belonged to the critical school, which grew out of the impulse given by F. C. Baur. However, like other modern German theologians, he showed a greater disposition to compromise. All his work shows a judicial tone of mind, and is remarkable for the charm of its style.

Pfleiderer's younger brotherEdmund Pfleidererdistinguished himself both in philosophy and theology.

Otto Pfleiderer in 1906, as published inLarousse Mensuel Illustré

Works

• The Development of Theology since Kant– online text at the Internet Archive.
• Lectures on the influence of the apostle Paul on the development of Christianity,delivered in London and Oxford in April and May, 1885 – online text at the Internet Archive.
• Paulinism; a contribution to the history of primitive Christian theology,1877,Vol. 1,Vol. 2– online text at the Internet Archive.
• The Philosophy of Religion: On the Basis of Its History,Vol. 1, 1886;Vol. 2, 1887;Vol. 4, 1888;Vol. 1, 1894;Vol. 2, 1894;Vol. 3, 1888;Vol. 4, 1894- online text at the Internet Archive.
• Religion and historic faiths,1907 – online text at the Internet Archive.
• Primitive Christianity: Its Writings and Teachings in Their Historical Connections,1906 – online text at the Internet Archive.
• Evolution and Theology and Other Essays,1900 – online text at the Internet Archive.
• The development of Christianity,1910 – online text at the Internet Archive.

References

• Gilman, D. C.;Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905)."Pfleiderer, Otto".New International Encyclopedia(1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. p. 677.

Attribution

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Pfleiderer, Otto".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 340.

External links

Media related toOtto Pfleidererat Wikimedia Commons

• "Pfleiderer, Otto".Encyclopedia Americana.1920.
• "Pffleiderer, Otto".The Nuttall Encyclopædia.1907.
• Works by or about Otto Pfleidererat theInternet Archive
• Works by Otto PfleidereratLibriVox(public domain audiobooks)