Anders Nygren

Anders Theodor Samuel Nygren (* November 15, 1890 in Gothenburg, † October 20, 1978 in Lund ) was a Swedish Lutheran theologian and bishop. Nygren was a contemporary of Nathan Soderblom.

Life

After studying theology at the University of Lund Nygren in 1912 was ordained as pastor of the Church of Sweden. A study trip to Germany 1919/29, on which he had contact with Carl rod and Ernst Troeltsch, an in-depth study of Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schleiermacher served. 1921 followed in the Lund PhD on Religiöst priori. After several years as a lecturer Anders Nygren in 1924 as Professor of Systematic Theology ( emphasis on ethics ) has been appointed. During the years together with his faculty colleagues Gustaf Aulén Nygren founded the direction of a school of Lund, which was characterized by a history of ideas, philosophically trained access to dogmatics.

His major work, Eros and Agape - appeared simultaneously in Sweden and Germany in two volumes in 1930 and 1937 - established the method of motivation research: Central Christian teachings, first love should be evident in comparison with designs from ancient philosophy and other religions. Characteristic of the Swedish Luther Renaissance is Nygren assertion Martin Luther doctrine of justification have restored those significance of early Christian basic motif of a selfless love agape.

Nygren supported the struggle of the Confessing Church against Nazism in Germany and has been for 1955 honored with the Federal Cross of Merit. At the foundation of the Lutheran World Federation in 1947 he was elected chairman ( until 1952 ). Also in other ecumenical organizations Nygren was active, particularly in the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches ( WCC). 1949 Nygren bishop in the diocese of Lund.

After his retirement in 1958 Nygren continued to work scientifically; he taught, among others, in the United States. In his later works, Meaning and Method ( 1972) Nygren takes pulses on the philosophy of language Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Publications

  • The validity of religious experience. Bertelsmann, Gütersloh 1922
  • Dogmatikens vetenskapliga grundläggning. Med Särskild hänsyn till problemställningen the Kant - Schleiermacherska. Svenska Kyrkans Diakonistyrelses Bokförlag, Stockholm 1935
  • The kristna kärlekstanken genome tiderna: Eros och Agape. Svenska Kyrkans Diakonistyrelses Bokforlag, Stockholm 1930 and 1936 German edition: Eros and Agape. Shapeshift forms of Christian love. 2 vols. The caller Protestant Verlag, Gütersloh 1930 and 1937
  • German edition: The book of Romans. Translation from Swedish by Irmgard Nygren. Cambridge University Press, Göttingen 1951
  • German edition: meaning and method. Prolegomena to a Scientific Philosophy of Religion and a scientific theology. Cambridge University Press, Göttingen 1979, ISBN 3525561512
Dogmatic theology Neo-Lutheranism Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Integrated Authority File
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