Pia Desideria

by Philip Jacob Spener, Theodore G. Tappert (Translator)

This classic work, first published in 1675, inaugurated the movement in Germany called Pietism. In it a young pastor, born and raised during the devastating Thirty Years War, voiced a plea for reform of the church which made the author and his proposals famous. A lifelong friend of the philosopher Leibnitz, Spener was an important influence in the life of the next leader of German Pietism, August Herman Francke. He was also a sponsor at the baptism of Nicholas Zinzendorf, founder of the Moravian Church, whose members played a crucial role in the life of John Wesley.

Genres: Religion, Theology

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 1963

Reviews

[Joseph Christian George · Rating 4 out of 5]

The forward/introduction by Theodore G. Tappert is fantastic. Also, Ryan Reeve's video on Lutheran Pietism covers the subject matter well. I read half of the actual book and the remaining half doesn't add much to your knowledge if you have a firm grasp of the subject matter.

Philip Jacob Spener was a catalyst for recovering the need of the transformed life, largely forgotten in an age hellbent on attacking the views of one's opposition. Small groups, Bible studies, individual reading of the Scriptures & a renewal of the heart to Christ are all the result of how God used this man.

All quotes below are from Tappert's forward:

Ministers whose training centered so largely in disputations and polemics must have encountered trouble in edifying their parishioners, and contemporary criticisms seem to support this. Ministers who lived in a time when society was sharply divided into classes must have run into many serious obstacles, and contemporary complaints that they were too servile and fawning before princes and noblemen and that they lorded it over the common people are not surprising in the circumstances.

The tribe of Ephraim, in the days of Gideon and Jephthah, grew bitter when God raised up these judges. Once the preeminent tribe, faithfully following Joshua in service, Ephraim had since become entitled—clinging to past glory and resenting God’s present work. In like manner, the religious authorities of Spener’s day committed the same sin: not serving as God desired, but resting on past laurels and hating those who followed God’s command:

Until his [Spener's] death fourteen years later he remained in Berlin and was increasingly involved in the controversies which attended the spread of the pietistic movement. The existence of over five hundred controversial pamphlets dating from the last decade of the seventeenth century testifies to the extent of the strife. The charge of the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg that pietists were guilty of at least 284 heresies suggests something of its bitterness.

However, Spener was not without flaw. Most critiques of pietism today don't actually attack classical pietism (Spener's work); rather they attack radical pietism. In brief summary, before Spener, the prevailing mind of thought was a focus of the mind and an abandonment of the heart. From Spener, the heart and mind were (mostly) established in their rightful places. Radical pietism removed the mind from the equation in the generations that followed. The mind in this case held the Scriptures in high regard. Cracks of this can be seen in the last quote of this review:

In his treatment of particular doctrines Spener for the most part allowed the objective statements of the scholastic theologians to stand and he put these into a more subjective orientation. His tendency was to esteem as really important only those doctrines which played a direct part in personal religious experience. This had the effect of relegating other doctrines to the realm of unnecessary ballast, and in the long run the position was theologically more revolutionary than either Spener or his opponents seemed to realize.

Unsurprisingly, and with some irony, Spener ultimately became like the polemicists he strove against; simply by talking past them. In that day straw man construction was the business to be in. Ideologues launching catapults at their homemade straw men in the place of their enemy's position. The consequences thereof remain a heavy embarrassment on Protestantism to this day.

By Spener ignoring this field, granting subjective assent to the ideas and focusing on "his truth"; it gave way to what came next: the polemicists remained and turned the Scriptures sour to the pietists. And so radical pietism became a transformation only movement that had no requirement of Christ.

[D. M. Coons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relevant for today

I found this work to be well written and particularly relevant to the Church today. In particular, any church that seeks direction from the Holy Spirit, desires relevant and applicable sermons/messages of love, desires effective evangelical relationships, promotes small groups, and recognizes the importance of Christian accountability, this book will admonish you to continue the good fight. Note: I am not Lutheran but a nondenominational spirit-filled evangelical.

[Kara Koester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly applicable to the current state of the church despite a publication date of the late 17th C. (the more things change, the more they stay them same?). Spener's suggestions, if implemented, could lead to a church that more accurately represents the Body of Christ.

[Samuel Corson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First Wesley

Spener gives some heart to the Wesleyan movement. I will take his words into my ministry. There is something to be said about ministers who care about the content of the heart.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super relevant

Amazing how something written in 1675 could be so relevant to the church today! I was encouraged by this little book.

[Tim Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical for today

I found this to be an easy to read book that is fresh for today’s church. It is well organized which makes it a quick read.

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pietism is just unbelief in the efficacy and sufficiency of the means of grace

[J]

The Tappert Ed. That I am reading states that Pia Desideria was originally published as a lengthy forward to a new edition of Johann Arndt's sermons. (15)