Theophil Großgebauer

Theophil United Gebauer (* November 24, 1627 in Ilmenau, † July 8, 1661 in Rostock ) was a German Lutheran theologian.

Life

Great Gebauer, son of the mayor of Ilmenau, studied Protestant theology at Rostock, where he received his doctorate in 1650 for Master. His marriage to Margaret, daughter of the pastor of St. Nicholas Church, Johann Stein (1579-1663), opened him a future in Rostock, and in 1653 he was appointed deacon at the Church of St. James. Here he worked as a popular preacher and writer until his early death.

Work and significance

Great Gebauer is counted together with his colleagues Quistorp Johann the Younger, Joachim Schröder (1613-1677) and Heinrich Müller to Rostock "Reform Orthodoxy ". Characteristic feature was the sharp criticism of contemporary abuses in church and society for them. Great Gebauer she practiced exemplary and one of the first on the new atheism. Like his colleagues, he sat on the other hand the demand for intensification of church discipline. It was large Gebauer, Joseph Hall's book " The Olde Religion " (London 1628) had translated, clearly influenced by Puritanism. But his idea of ​​the rebirth also absorbs influences of the mystical spiritualism. With all that, he was the forerunner of pietism.

His most famous message, the " watchman 's voice from the devastated Zion ", sketches a radical reform program for the church, which bare Calvinist trains. So the priest should put more emphasis on the pastoral care than on the sermon and are supported by lay presbyters. However, he declined instrumental music in worship strictly. Philipp Jakob Spener took in composing his " Pia desideria " on some impetus from this work, honoring United Gebauer with a preface to the posthumous edition of his sermons, which was edited by his son Johann Valentin United Gebauer.

Writings

• Cheering cries The Children of God / Auffgesetzet After Thon Harpffen of David in the hundred and third Psalm / But first außgesprochen public to S. Nicolai in Rostock. Rostock 1654
• De rebus veterum Hebraeorum diatriba Prima. Rostock 1655
• Praeservatif against the plague of today's atheists. Frankfurt 1661
• Guardian voice AUß the devastated Zion: That's Treühertzige and necessary discovery. AUß Wass Vrsachen the land of bright sermon concerning the word of God bey Protestant congregations fruits little to conversion and godliness. Frankfurt 1661
• Drey witty Schrifften: 1 guard voice auss the devastated Zion. 2 condom against the plague of today's atheists. 3 Old Religion. Jetzo printed for andernmahl. Frankfurt 1667 ... ( 4 In. 1753)
• XXVI Witty and edifying sermons on the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, ed. v. John Val Great Gebauer. Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig 1689