German Pietism

Abstract

Abstract This chapter begins by examining some general features that mark German Pietism as a theology, including its modernity, eclecticism, and innovations in promoting chiliasm, conventicles and new Bible translations. The rest of the chapter considers some leading Pietist theologians, notably Philipp Jakob Spener, August Hermann Francke, Joachim Justus Breithaupt, Joachim Lange, Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, Johanna Eleonora Petersen, Johann Albrecht Bengel and Friedrich Christoph Oetinger. The chapter argues that, within Pietism, theology was oriented towards experience, individualism, and the modern world. Pietism passed on notions of Christian perfection and social progress to the Enlightenment era. Pietism nurtured a democratization of theology, encouraging a self-confident laity, including women, to study the Bible and express themselves on theological matters.

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