Johann Bolten (theologian)

Johann Bolten (born April 13, 1678 in Wilster , † March 29, 1758 in Altona ) was a German Lutheran theologian and the first provost in Altona.

Live and act

Bolten was the son of a cantor in Wilster. He attended schools in Wislter and Stade and studied theology first at the University of Rostock , then at the University of Copenhagen , where he lived in the house of Franz Julius Lütkens . For a time he worked as a tutor for various noble families in Copenhagen and was appointed second preacher in Horst (Holstein) in 1707 by King Friedrich IV . From 1723 he was the main pastor and at the same time assessor at the senior consistory in Glückstadt .

After he had rejected appointments as provost to Tondern and Aabenraa in 1736 , he was appointed chief pastor to St. Trinity and first provost of the city of Altona and the dominion of Pinneberg on January 7, 1737 . He remained a member of the senior consistory in Glückstadt and was promoted to consistorial council in 1738 .

He did not interfere in the pietistic disputes of his time. In 1737, however, a sermon in which he criticized the exorcism ritual at baptism as "papist" led to a series of pamphlets. During his time, new churches were built in his supervisory area in Altona, Ottensen , Uetersen , Nienstedten and Rellingen . Since founding the academic high school in Altona, today Christianeum , 1744, he took over as gymnasiarch true school inspection. A seminary for candidates of theology was also set up and Bolten was appointed its inspector. In 1746 a chapel was set up in the penitentiary “for the training of seminarians and the edification of the prisoners”. He had a close friendship with the Altona President Bernhard Leopold Volkmar von Schomburg . When, on the occasion of the illness and death (1747) of the general superintendent Georg Johannes Conradi, a visit to the churches of the royal portion in Holstein became necessary, Bolten took over this task. He would probably have been Conradi's successor too, but wanted to stay in Altona.

In 1751 he suffered a stroke during the sermon , but initially remained in office and had his sermons read by representatives. In 1757 he finally asked for his retirement. Adam Struensee was his successor .

From 1711 he was with Anna Gertrud (1686–1764), b. Biester, married, a daughter of the Archdeacon of St. Katharinen in Hamburg, Matthias Biester. Of the couple's sons, Matthias Hermann (1712–1772) became pastor in Süderstapel and father of Johann Adrian Bolten , Joachim Friedrich Stadtphysikus in Hamburg and Johann Christian Arzt in Altona.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ See the entry of Johann Bolten's matriculation in the Rostock matriculation portal

literature

• Johann Adrian Bolten : Historical church news from the city of Altona and its various religious parties, from the rule of Pinneberg and from the county of Ranzau. Volume 1, Altona: Hammerich 1790, pp. 70–81 ( digitized version )