Gerhard Tersteegen

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Gerhard Tersteegen (modern representation; a contemporary portrait does not exist)
Remaining part of the old town of Mülheim an der Ruhr with the Tersteegenhaus (left in the picture)
Gravestone for Gerhard Tersteegen at the Petrikirche in Mülheim, erected in 1838 near the presumed burial site
Tersteegendenkmal in Witthausbusch

Gerhard Tersteegen [ tɛrˈsteːgn̩ ] ( Low German Gerrit ter Steegen , High German Gerhard zum Stegen ; born November 25, 1697 in Moers , †  April 3, 1769 in Mülheim an der Ruhr ) was a German lay preacher and writer . He worked in the Lower Rhine region as an important hymn poet and mystic of Reformed Pietism .

Life

Tersteegen came from a pious family. He had five older brothers and two sisters. One of his brothers was a preacher, the other a merchant. His father, the merchant Heinrich Tersteegen, died in 1703. In the same year, at the age of six, Tersteegen began attending the Adolfinum Latin School , where he also learned Greek and Hebrew. And his mother, Maria Cornelia Triboler, lacked the means for a desired him to study theology, Tersteegen went in 1713 to a brother of Mülheim to a merchant to become. After completing his apprenticeship in 1717, he founded his own business. In 1719 he retired from the profession, because after his awakening at the age of 16 it distracted him too much and prevented him from growing grace . He looked for a quieter trade first as a linen weaver , since this work was not beneficial to his health, then as a silk ribbon weaver in meager poverty and solitude. At the same time he took part in the exercises , the weekly edification hours, of the candidate Wilhelm Hoffmann and spoke here himself. In 1728 he gave up weaving entirely and lived on gifts for his livelihood and charity. He became a lay preacher and the only mystic of Reformed Pietism , translating the writings of Catholic mystics such as Teresa of Ávila . He also preached all over the Lower Rhine and in Holland. In 1756 he had to restrict this due to poor health and in March 1769 he fell ill with dropsy ( heart failure ). He died peacefully on April 3rd.

Influence and work

Gerhard Tersteegen significantly influenced the young Protestant revival movement . His book Spiritual Flower Gärtlein witted souls of 1729 contains hymns , some of which are still sung today: "For had you all my heart and life" (verse 4: "I pray to the power of love"), " God is present "( Evangelical hymn book No. 165, Praise to God No. 387)," Shout out for heaven, rejoice in angels in choirs ". Tersteegen "is still regarded today as 'the' songwriter of reformed-pietistic mysticism."

Old postcard from the former restaurant "Tersteegensruh"

“I pray to the power of love”: aftermath in the great tattoo of the German armed forces

The melody of the chorale I pray to the power of love, which is regularly played today during the Great Zapfenstreich of the German Armed Forces except in Bavaria, after the 4th stanza of Tersteegen's song is originally a composition by the Ukrainian composer Dmitri Stepanowitsch Bortnjanski (1751–1825), who worked in Saint Petersburg. to the text Kol 'slaven naš Gospod' v Sione ("How praised is our Lord in Zion") , written by Mikhail Matwejewitsch Cheraskow (1733–1807) and later known as the Freemason 's song . This verse was introduced at the court of Alexander I of Russia . The assignment of the melody to the song verse of Gerhard Tersteegen can be found for the first time in a pietistic pastor from the former Catholic priest Johannes Evangelista Goßner (1773-1858), from Bavarian Swabia , who worked at the Maltese Church in St. Petersburg from 1820-1824, and by the Russian organist Iwan Karlowitsch Tscherlizki (1799–1865), who worked there at the Lutheran St. Katharinen Church . Contains the melodies for the collection of exquisite songs from redeeming love and the songs in Johannes Gossner's treasure chest. Printed with stereotypes. Leipzig bei Karl Tauchnitz, 1825, p. 82, [No.] 86: I pray to the power of love [...]. Through his work in Berlin (1826–1858), Gossner conveyed the melody that he had got to know in Saint Petersburg, including the pietistic text, to the court of King Friedrich Wilhelm III. of Prussia and its successors.

The interaction between Pietism and patriotism loyal to the state corresponded to the religious background of the Holy Alliance concluded in 1815 between Prussia, Austria and Russia, which in part goes back to Johann Albrecht Bengel , mediated by the Pietist and temporary Freemason Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling to Juliane Freifrau von Krüdener . He was of the opinion that before the beginning of the first happy millennium (1836) the devil would strike again; on the other hand, it is important to arm yourself.

Effect on Radical Pietism

Gerhard Tersteegen exerted a significant influence on radical pietism . His works, especially the sermon book Spiritual Crumbs, Fallen From the Lord's Table, picked up by good friends and shared with hungry hearts , were widely read in these circles. Since Tersteegen remained unmarried, his ideal of sexual asceticism coincided with that of the radical pietists. But he turned against the turning away from the state church , despite all attempts by the Moravian Brethren to win him over.

Practice of the healing art

Part of his charity consisted in the practice of healing . Tersteegen mixed up home remedies and distributed them free of charge to those in need. Then, in 1723, a law stipulated that only specialists were allowed to manufacture medicines . Tersteegen managed to provide evidence of his knowledge. However, he referred more serious cases to the doctors at the University of Duisburg .

In many cities, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia , social institutions such as nursing homes and hospitals, as well as old people's homes and community centers bear the name of Gerhard Tersteegen. The most famous Tersteegen house is his house in Mülheim an der Ruhr (Teinerstraße 1), which he bought in 1746 and where he lived until his death. Today the Mülheim Local History Museum is located there. In addition to his works, it shows exhibits by well-known Mülheim artists.

Songs in church hymn books

  • Tersteegen-Kirchengemeinde Düsseldorf, relief by the sculptor Herbert Kühn with the song text "Come on, children, let's go"

In Protestant hymnal (EC) ten songs Tersteegen are printed. In the Free Church Hymns celebrate and praise (F & L) eight songs were admitted. In the Mennonite hymn book (MG) there are three songs by Tersteegen. Some can also be found in the Roman Catholic Praise to God (GL) or belong to the list of the Working Group for Ecumenical Songs (Austria) or Children's Harp 1908 (KH):

  • Shout out heavens, rejoice, angels, in choirs. (EG 41; F&L 211; GL 251; Ö)
  • Well of all salvation, we honor you. (EG 140; F&L 112; MG 64; Ö)
  • One day tells the other. (KH 171)
  • God is present . Let us worship (EG 165; F&L 1; GL 387; MG 1; Ö)
  • Jesus, who you alone are Head and King of the community. (EG 252)
  • God is still calling. Shouldn't I finally hear. (EG 392)
  • Come on children let's go (EG 393)
  • Now one sleeps. (EG 480)
  • Now the day has ended. (EG 481; F&L 475; Ö)
  • I pray to the power of love. (in several EG regional parts; F&L 358, MG 41)
  • The evening comes, the sun hides. (EC regional parts Hessen-Nassau and Kurhessen-Waldeck 645)
  • God, you are light and you live in the light. (F&L 359)
  • Well, that's how I want my life. (F&L 360)
  • I close again. (F&L 397)
  • Victory Prince and King of Honor ( EKG 95)

Recordings

Music producers such as Margret Birkenfeld and Gerhard Schnitter have already dedicated concept productions with well-known choirs such as the Wetzlar Youth Choir or the soloist ensemble to Tersteegen's poetic work :

  • Margret Birkenfeld: God is present. Gerth Media, 1981.
  • Gerhard Schnitter: God is present. Hänssler Verlag, 2002.

Works

Tersteegen's birthplace in Moers on the Altmarkt
  • (As editor and publisher): Extra-read descriptions of the lives of holy souls (in which, in addition to the same life history / mainly the inner guides of God over you / and the manifold distributions of his graces in you / with many important messages in all levels of Christian life occurrence / To confirm the truth and possibility of the inner life / From various credible documents / compiled in the shortest possible time.) 3 volumes, approx. 1500 p. 1785 Essen; Volume 2: digital at archive.org
  • Gerhard Terstegen's spiritual flower garden of intimate souls. Frankfurt 1729. ( digitized in the digital library Mecklenburg-Vorpommern)
  • Spiritual speeches. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1979.
  • Gerhard Tersteegen: Spiritual crumbs. A collection of various revival speeches given in Mülheim an der Ruhr. 3 volumes. Bad Liebenzell 1988.
  • We are foreign guests here. A selection from his writings. Edited by Walter Nigg . 2nd edition Wuppertal 1980.
  • Letters in Dutch. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1982.
  • Letters. 2 volumes; ed. by Gustav Adolf Benrath. Texts on the History of Pietism , Section V, Volume 7; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2008.
  • Impartial outline of basic Christian truths. 1724; posthumously 1801 Spelldorf / Mülheim, digital at archive.org
  • Gerhard Tersteegen : Postponed essays and treatises. Issued on the occasion of the inauguration of the monument erected on April 6, 1838 in Mülheim ad Ruhr. Essen 1842.
  • The way into the distance. From the life and writings of Gerhard Tersteegen. Edgar Schacht. Hamburg 1938.
  • Gerhard Tersteegen: God is present. A selection from his writings. 2nd edition Stuttgart 1963.
  • Gerhard Tersteegen: Treatises on piety and theology. Edited by Johannes Burkardt. Edition Pietism Texts , Vol. 12; Leipzig: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2018.

Translations

  • Thomae a Kempis books about the discipleship of Jesus Christ  : on the new, according to one of the very oldest manuscripts, faithfully translated, and instead of the fourth book augmented with the Divine Hertzens-Talks of the godly Gerlachs, generally referred to as the other Thomas a Kempis, now first Germanized ... van der Smissen, Düsseldorf 1730. ( digitized version )
  • Madame Guyon : The Holy Love of God, And the Unholy Love of Nature. Schmitz, Solingen 1751 ( L'Ame amante de son Dieu ) ( digitized version )

Remembrance day

April 3rd in the Evangelical Name Calendar .

literature

  • lu:  Tersteegen, Gerhard . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 37, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1894, pp. 576-579.
  • “A friend”: Gerhard Tersteegen's biography. Solingen 1775, digitized version (112 pages)
  • Historically significant personalities in the city of Mülheim ad Ruhr. Edited by the working group of local history associations in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Mülheim an der Ruhr 1983, pp. 75-78.
  • Friedhelm Ackva among other things: History of Pietism. Volume 2, pp. 390-410: online at google-books
  • Karl Barthel: Life of Gerhard Tersteegen. Bielefeld 1852. Digitized
  • Thomas Baumann (Ed.): In God's Presence. Thoughts on Spiritual Life. Neufeld Verlag, Schwarzenfeld 2011, ISBN 978-3-86256-012-7 . (Selection of writings with an introduction to life and work)
  • Johannes Burkardt: "Instructions" - "Aanwyzing" - "Lessons". Three previously unknown early forms of Gerhard Tersteegen's "Instructions for the right understanding and use of the Holy Scriptures" from the years 1731 to 1734. In: Yearbook for Westfälische Kirchengeschichte 111 (2015), pp. 57–77. Extended: "Instruction" - "Aanwyzing" - "Teaching". Three previously unknown early forms of Gerhard Tersteegen's A guide to the right understanding and profitable use of Holy Scripture , in: Journal for the History of reformed Pietism (JHRP), ISSN  2405-755X , Vol. 2 (2016), Issue 1, pp. 1–22 ( online ).
  • Wolfram Janzen:  Gerhard Tersteegen. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 11, Bautz, Herzberg 1996, ISBN 3-88309-064-6 , Sp. 674-695.  ( Article / beginning of article in Internet archive )
  • Manfred Kock, Jürgen Thiesbonenkamp (ed.): Gerhard Tersteegen - Protestant mysticism in the midst of the Enlightenment. Series of publications by the Association for Rhenish Church History, 126. Habelt, Cologne / Bonn 1997, ISBN 3-7927-1680-1 .
  • Albert Löschhorn: God is Present - A Guide to Spiritual Exercises for Evangelical Christians. Verlag Linea, Bad Wildbad 2009, ISBN 978-3-939075-35-6 .
  • Albert Löschhorn: Gerhard Tersteegen's school of prayer. Verlag Linea, Bad Wildbad 2009, ISBN 978-3-939075-34-9 . Tersteegen publisher's website
  • Hansgünter Ludewig: Prayer and God Experience with Gerhard Tersteegen. Diss. Göttingen 1986. Digitized version of the Bavarian State Library
  • Hansgünter Ludewig: Experience God's presence. Practice the prayer of the heart with Gerhard Tersteegen. ( Spiritual Life Series ). Giessen 2005.
  • Dietrich Meyer : Pietism research in the Rhineland 1965–1985. In: Martin Brecht (Ed.): Research reports on Pietism in German territories (= Pietism and modern times. A yearbook on the history of modern Protestantism , vol. 13). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1988, ISBN 3-525-55885-6 , pp. 163-172. (good literature review)
  • Dietrich Meyer: The spirituality of Reformed Pietism using the example of Gerhard Tersteegen (1697–1769). In: Peter Zimmerling (Hrsg.): Handbook Evangelical Spirituality , Vol. 1: History. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2017, ISBN 978-3-525-56719-7 , pp. 419–437.
  • Jost Müller-Bohn: Gerhard Tersteegen - life and message: a challenge for our time. Telos Documentation, 2360; St. Johannis, Lahr 1993 ISBN 3-501-01202-0 .
  • Arno Pagel : Gerhard Tersteegen. "My fatherland is called eternity". 5th edition, Giessen 1986, ISBN 3-7655-3803-5 .
  • Kurt Pfeifle: God witnesses / Gerhard Tersteegen. A series of publications from Verlag Junge Gemeinde, issue 16. Verlag Junge Gemeinde, Stuttgart 1955.
  • Werner Raupp : Gerhard Tersteegen. In: Werner Raupp: Werkbuch Kirchengeschichte. 52 people from church history. Giessen / Basel 1987, pp. 284–288 (introduction) and Pp. 40–41 ( quiz: profile ).
  • Richard Reschika: I want to immerse myself in the sea of ​​love. Gerhard Tersteegen's mysticism for today. Claudius Verlag, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-532-62448-7 .
  • Peter Zimmerling : Evangelical mysticism . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2015, ISBN 978-3-525-57041-8 ; therein pp. 112–131: Gerhard Tersteegen (1697–1769): Pietist und Mystiker .
  • Gustav Koepper (Ed.): Tersteegen Breviary. Berlin no year 200 pp.

Other sources

  • City archive Mülheim an der Ruhr, inventory 881 (Tersteegensammlung)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ tersteegenjahr2019.de
  2. ^ Fraternal teaching, consolation and admonition letters. Muelheim 1734.
  3. ↑ On the historical model of the title Spiritual Flower Garden, cf. a compilation of five treatises by the Baptist Hans Denck, influenced by Andreas Karlstadt and Thomas Müntzer , and one of his followers Jörg Haugk von Juchsen: (H [ans] D [enck] :) Geistliches Blumengaertlein / consisting of six edifying old theological tracts [... ]. Amsterdam / Printed in 1680. - The title may represent an homage to the “ baptismal ”, that is, to Anabaptists who emphasized the need for a conscious decision to believe. Cf. Reinhard Breymayer : "Yes, all science / it also uses here and there." Pietism and the treasuries of knowledge. In: Baroque and Pietism. Paths to modernity. (Catalog: Werner Unseld and Renate Föll), (Ludwigsburg 2004) ( Catalogs and writings of the Landeskirchlichen Museum [Ludwigsburg], vol. 12, <edited by Werner Unseld |), p. 57–65, here p. 60 f. with note 16 on p. 65. - The title is already encountered by the Reform Calvinist court preacher Johannes Neomenius (Johann Neumond) in Brieg (Silesia): Geistliches Blumengärtlein [funeral sermon for Prince August Duke of Brieg (1618–1619). Brieg 1620] and fits into a long series of similar floral Baroque titles.
  4. ↑ Martin Evang: The loving heart of the father. The pietistic song writer Gerhard Tersteegen died 250 years ago. In: Zeitzeichen. Evangelical Commentaries on Religion and Society, issue April 2019, pp. 46–48, here p. 48.
  5. ↑ Cf. Reinhard Breymayer: Freemasons at the gates of the Tübingen monastery: Masonic influence on Hölderlin? In: Tubingensia. Impulses for the city and university history. Edited by Sönke Lorenz and Volker [Karl] Schäfer. Thorbecke, Sigmaringen 2008, pp. 355–395, here p. 360.

See also

Web links

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personal data
SURNAME Tersteegen, Gerhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian, Lower Rhine preacher, pastor and writer of Reformed Pietism
DATE OF BIRTH November 25, 1697
PLACE OF BIRTH Moers
DATE OF DEATH April 3, 1769
Place of death Mülheim an der Ruhr