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Johann Arndt: A Prophet of Lutheran Pietism
This is the story of the most significant devotional author of the seventeenth century in his first full English-language biography. Using previously unknown letters as a few of the resources, this story aims to recreate the theological, sometimes magical, and social worlds of Johann Arndt .
Arndt was regarded by his peers and successive generations as either the most significant Reformer since Luther, or an uneducated and dangerous element within the Lutheran church. Later commentators have given Arndt the credit, or blame, for the founding of the Pietist movement.
Arndt was a central figure in the forging of various Lutheran “orthodoxies” of the early seventeenth century and thus the first generation to attempt an interpretation of the Lutheran Confessions of Faith. He is challenged by some on the conservative right for his mystical influences, but was a hero to orthodox Lutheran Johann Gerhard.
He did more than found the pietist tradition (which he actually may or may not have); he also became the father of a Lutheran spiritual, maybe mystical tradition. While this movement would only last in more extreme forms of the Lutheran church, the argument from Arndt, Gerhard, and others was that this tradition was not in conflict with the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions.
It’s a movement that almost was, and lives on in whispers in the church today.
Arndt was regarded by his peers and successive generations as either the most significant Reformer since Luther, or an uneducated and dangerous element within the Lutheran church. Later commentators have given Arndt the credit, or blame, for the founding of the Pietist movement.
Arndt was a central figure in the forging of various Lutheran “orthodoxies” of the early seventeenth century and thus the first generation to attempt an interpretation of the Lutheran Confessions of Faith. He is challenged by some on the conservative right for his mystical influences, but was a hero to orthodox Lutheran Johann Gerhard.
He did more than found the pietist tradition (which he actually may or may not have); he also became the father of a Lutheran spiritual, maybe mystical tradition. While this movement would only last in more extreme forms of the Lutheran church, the argument from Arndt, Gerhard, and others was that this tradition was not in conflict with the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions.
It’s a movement that almost was, and lives on in whispers in the church today.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 30, 2022
A well written and balanced biography of an often misunderstood figure.
April 26, 2021
Thorough yet readable
So many perspectives brought to light to help us hundreds of years later to help us form our opinion on the man, his writings & his significance. This book motivated me to finish reading True Christianity which is itself thorough (& a bit verbose) while being a good guide on the walk of faith.
I would recommend this to students of theology, history and those who would like a clearer picture of a man who influenced many on The Way.
So many perspectives brought to light to help us hundreds of years later to help us form our opinion on the man, his writings & his significance. This book motivated me to finish reading True Christianity which is itself thorough (& a bit verbose) while being a good guide on the walk of faith.
I would recommend this to students of theology, history and those who would like a clearer picture of a man who influenced many on The Way.
December 27, 2022
It's okay. But pietism is not okay
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews