Eberhard Ludwig Gruber

Eberhard Ludwig Gruber (born June 12, 1665 in Stuttgart , † December 11, 1728 in Schwarzenau ) was a radical Pietist and one of the first leaders of the German inspiration movement .

Gruber studied theology in Tübingen from 1683 to 1687 . He was then a repetiteur at the local theological monastery and from 1692 a deacon of the parish Großbottwar near Marbach am Neckar . As he leaned more and more towards the church-critical direction of Pietism ( Radical Pietism ), he turned in 1703 in a sermon against the pastor of Grossbottwar. As a result of a riot in the city, the church administration transferred him to the parish of Hofen near Lauffen am Neckar . He was finally removed from office in 1706.

Gruber then sought refuge in the first German inspiration communities that formed at that time in the Wetterau , around Hanau and in the county of Isenburg-Büdingen . Here he first organized the communities of Himbach , Ronneburg and Büdingen until he was expelled in 1715. He then moved with his followers to Schwarzenau in the county of Sayn-Wittgenstein , which has now developed into a new center for the inspired. There he called other churches into being, and served as their leader until the end of his life.

In addition, Gruber was active as a poet of religious songs. So he published three collections with a total of 500 "Jesus songs".

literature

• Heinrich Fausel:  Gruber, Eberhard Ludwig. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 7, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1966, ISBN 3-428-00188-5 , p. 179 f. ( Digitized version ).
• Eberhard Fritz: Radical Pietism in Württemberg. Religious ideals in conflict with social realities . (Sources and research on the church history of Württemberg; 18). Epfendorf 2003.