Frederick Edward Raven

Frederick Edward Raven (born September 9, 1837 in Saffron Walden , Essex , England , † August 16, 1903 in Greenwich ) was an English preacher and Bible interpreter of the Brethren movement .

Life

Raven was the son of a lawyer. During his childhood, the family moved to London, where Raven joined the Admiralty Office . In 1865 he left the Church of England and joined the "closed" Brethren Congregation Priory in north London (the then home ward of John Nelson Darby , which later moved to Islington at 57 Park Street). His parents remained connected to the Church of England throughout their lives.

In 1873 Raven became secretary at the Royal Naval College , Greenwich. On April 15 of the same year he married Kate Wallis Glenny (born January 20, 1851), the daughter of a gardener from Barking . The marriage resulted in nine children, most of whom died before the age of 50. Raven gave them a comprehensive education, including their daughters; three of his daughters became teachers, one lawyer. His youngest daughter Jessie (married Crosland, † 1973), mother of Labor politician Anthony Crosland , published several books on French literature of the Middle Ages . In other ways, too, Raven was distinguished by views that were unusual for his circles; With regard to social injustices, he once remarked that if he were not a Christian he would be a staunch communist .

As early as 1880, but especially from 1888, Raven caused disputes among the "closed brothers" that resulted in a split in 1890. Raven taught that 2 Cor 5,21b  ELB ( "so that we would God's justice in him") is the future and that the eternal life must be for the Christian not present possession. He also denied that Jesus Christ personally was eternal life or that eternal life was represented in him as a human being. Some of his fellow believers saw these views - often presented in difficult to understand formulations - as false doctrines, so that in 1890 a part of the "closed brothers" under the leadership of William Joseph Lowe separated from him and his followers - only a minority in Great Britain however, the overwhelming majority in continental Europe and North America.

After the split, Raven was increasingly viewed as the spiritual leader of his affiliated part of the "closed brothers". In 1897 he retired early and made several lecture tours at home and abroad, for example to the USA in 1898 and 1902 . From 1893 he denied the traditional Christian teaching that Jesus Christ was God and man in one person; rather he was God in person and man in the state. In 1902, Raven expressed doubts about the eternal sonship of Christ, a view adopted by his successor James Taylor Sr. in 1929 . to the official teaching of the " Raven Brothers " was developed.

In contrast to the original Bible-centered approach of the Brethren movement, Raven introduced a strong mystical and subjective element into the part of the Brethren movement that followed; so he found prayer and meditation and the direct speaking of the Holy Spirit more important than studying the Bible. Since the Holy Spirit speaks primarily in the meetings, Raven's lectures were regularly recorded and then published in book form ( Ministry by FE Raven , 20 volumes). A volume of Letters of FE Raven was also published . As the writings of his successors James Taylor Sr., James Taylor Jr. , James Harvey Symington , John Stephen Hales, and Bruce David Hales , Raven's publications are authoritative among the Raven brothers, with newer discoveries taking precedence over older ones.

Web links

• FE Raven (1837-1903). Biography of Raven (from his followers)
• Bibliography of Raven's writings in the catalog of the Christian Brethren Archives , Manchester University Library