Jonathan Paul

Jonathan Alexander Benjamin Paul ( born May 12, 1853 in Gartz (Oder), † April 25, 1931 in Lauter / Saxony) was a Protestant pastor, missionary tent, publicist and songwriter.

Life and achievements

Paul comes from a conservative family home and was the son of a pastor. Already in his parents' home, Paul made ​​acquaintance with the revivalist Gustav Knak, who also influenced him. Paul visited the Marie Stiftsgymnasium in Szczecin, after which he studied theology at the University of Greifswald and the University of Leipzig.

After his studies, Paul was first rector and assistant pastor in the diocese Nörenberg in Pomerania. In 1889 he was transferred as Pastor by Ravenstein in Pomerania. There he made the acquaintance of John Knak, the son of Gustav Knak. On June 17, 1890 Paul experienced his " awakening ". This Heiligungserlebnis he called Spirit baptism, a term that was already familiar in the Anglo-Saxon Holiness. Theologically, however, seems to have been more of Gerhard Tersteegen and thus influenced by pietism Paul. In his major work, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit" he has systematically set out his understanding of Spirit baptism. In it, he describes in three stages, as the believer appropriates the accomplished salvation in Christ. Awareness, Paul stood with his experience in the tradition of Dwight Lyman Moody and Charles Grandison Finney. In contrast to these, however, he did not understand it as the rebirth distinctive experience, but as a generic term in which all experience of the Spirit is summarized in the life of the believer. As a pastor of Ravenstein Paul at that time also founded the magazine The sanctification and published it until 1919.

1899 Paul began his evangelistic travel services and emigrated to the connection to Berlin -Steglitz. As an evangelist, he was sought after speaker in Mission tents or large faith conferences. Through his frequent stays in Mülheim an der Ruhr Paul was involved in a significant spiritual revival movement. With Jacob 's cousin, another evangelist of the German tent mission, did the cooperation and friendly relationship. Paul Vetter supported in its work and was likewise a pioneer of the German tent mission.

Through his service created some Christian organizations, the profession of Christian missions conference railroaders and association devout merchants and manufacturers. For several years he was chairman of the EC Association and a board member of the Community Association Gnadauer. This responsibility has resigned after the publication of the Berlin Declaration of 1909 Pastor Paul.

In the private initiative made ​​Berlin Declaration, Paul was attacked for its doctrine of pure heart by numerous representatives of Gnadauer Community Association. They interpreted Paul's statements to the effect as if it had the " in the spirit born again " in this life possible to attain sinlessness. Paul felt himself misunderstood. Therefore, he noted in his journal The sanctification of September 1919: "I would still say please, do not take what is said as a doctrine but as what it is, a testimony of what brought me Jesus dying and rising has. "

Nevertheless, the effect of this very personal statement was problematic. Had Paul meant it as a report of his individual experience, so it was just perceived by the written publication and wide dissemination associated as a dogma, which you could not follow.

Over the years, Paul has himself experienced this problem and corrected misleading statements. The so-called " Paulsche doctrine " was, however, made ​​by the Berlin Declaration on a term. This doctrine, it was thrown in front of Paul, had helped " a deplorable plan is developed within the community of God." This accusation injured Paul deeply. Throughout his life he has tried to overcome the resulting trench and leaned for constituting itself after the Berlin declaration " German Pentecostal movement " from institutionalisierende processes.

But only in 1996 were built in Kassel's declaration first bridges between the community movement ( Gnadauer Association ) and of the Pentecostal movement. Since the Joint Declaration of the Evangelical Gnadauer Community Association and the Mülheim Association of Evangelical Free church - communities for the "Berlin Declaration" of 1909, in January 2009, the conflict is considered to be overcome.

The 1913 founded by Paul Christian Community Association Mülheim / Ruhr suffered for decades under the rejection Pauls. He could emerge only in the last years of the twentieth century from the felt by him "conviction". In 1998, the association has its new self- formulated as evangelical charismatic Free Church and this underpinned with a new name. Now the name of this Association Mülheim Association of Evangelical Free church - communities.

In 1919, Paul a the appearance of the journal Sanctification and founded as a successor to the song of the Lamb. This appeared ten years, and in 1929 replaced by the periodical healing testimonies. Paul oversaw this journal until his death.

At the age of 78 years Jonathan Paul died on 25 April 1931 in Lauter, Saxony.

Works

• In Jesus' hands. Contributions to second Moses 15.26. Mission Bookstore, Niedenstein 1990, ISBN 3-923649-19-3.
• Here already blessed. A guide to true happiness. Mission Bookstore, Niedenstein 1991, ISBN 3-923649-17-7.
• How do you get to rest? A sign of justification to sanctification. Mission Bookstore, Niedenstein 1990, ISBN 3-923649-18-5.
• A full Pentecost. Publisher of decisive Christianity, Basel 1904 (1933 in the 9th edition )
• You will receive power when the Holy Spirit. A witness of the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. Publishing House of the Tent Mission Berlin -Steglitz, 1923, edited by Heinrich Vietheer.
• Baptism in its full sense. A witness to the unity of the children of God for the edification of the Body of Christ. Missionary Society, Mülheim an der Ruhr 1930.