Johann Otto Thieß

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Johann Otto Thieß, copper engraving by Johann Heinrich Lips

Johann Otto Thieß (born August 15, 1762 in Hamburg , † January 7, 1810 in Bordesholm ) was a German Lutheran theologian and writer.

Life

The son of the doctor Johann Peter Thieß (1728-1787) and his wife Katharina Margaretha Wiebeking attended the Johanneum's school for scholars and studied the history of the church and theological literature as well as the ancient languages ​​of Latin, ancient Greek and Hebrew. He published his first works during his school days (see below).

In 1780 he moved to the University of Helmstedt to study theology . With Heinrich Philipp Konrad Henke he heard lectures on church history, with Johann Benedikt Carpzov IV (1720–1803) theological literary history, hermeneutics and some Pauline letters , with Johann Kaspar Velthusen about Jeremia , with Johann Karl Christoph Ferber (1739–1786) and Friedrich August Wiedeburg (1751–1815) logic and metaphysics , with Lorenz von Crell anthropology, with Paul Jakob Bruns literary history and with Johann Christian Wernsdorf I. some profane writers. He also attended legal and medical lectures. In addition, through private studies he had acquired an extensive collection for further future literary works. In 1782 he returned to Hamburg, became a candidate for the Hamburg Ministry of Spiritual Affairs on May 16, 1783, and in the same year afternoon preacher at St. Paul's Church on the Hamburgerberge , but without ordination. This not very labor intensive office allowed him to continue his studies in theological sciences. In 1785 he received his doctorate in philosophy in Helmstedt . In Hamburg he got involved in many literary feuds due to his numerous literary works. Regardless of his writing and his abilities in the pulpit, he did not find the necessary recognition in the Hamburg consistory to be appointed to more lucrative positions. Here it was above all Johann Melchior Goeze and Christian Ludwig Gerling who rejected him because of his heterodox statements. After all, he became vicar at Hamburg Cathedral in 1787 . In 1790 Thieß resigned from his office and went to the University of Giessen , where he received his doctorate in theology that same year. But his hope, as a doctor of theology, to receive the post vacated after the death of Johann Heinrich Daniel Moldenhawer as chief preacher at Hamburg Cathedral, was not fulfilled. The position was not filled at all.

After the hope of a pastor's position was dashed, Thieß turned to the Danish King Christian VII with a request for a professorship in Kiel . Because he promised to forego a fixed salary at the beginning, he received permission in 1791 to work as a private lecturer at the University of Kiel to hold philosophical and theological lectures, although Samuel Gottfried Geyser , the dean of the theological faculty, was skeptical about his theology and his personality. In 1793, he had meanwhile insisted on the king's alleged promise of a professorship being kept, he became an adjunct of the theological faculty. In the same year his Compendium Theses theologiae dogmaticae ad disceptandum propositae , published in Leipzig, caused a nuisance. The Electorate of Saxony banned the book and filed a complaint against it in Kiel. Thieß defended himself that he had put up the controversial theses only for training purposes for his students. The fact that Thiess did not receive the theological professorship he wanted, but was appointed associate professor of philosophy in 1795, but with the prohibition to give lectures on theological topics, was possibly related to this. After all, this position was a little better paid. Nevertheless, Thiess was mainly dependent on the income from his numerous publications.

In 1797 he published a devotional book for enlightened Christians in which he denied the most important dogmas of Lutheran Christianity such as the divine nature of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of justification . With this book he drew general rejection. In 1799 he was officially dismissed with a waiting allowance of 300 thalers because he had given theological lectures without permission and had to leave Kiel, with a special order not to give any more lectures, as well as all offensive statements about the Christian religion in his pamphlets to avoid. He lived as a private scholar in Itzehoe from 1800 and in Bordesholm from 1805, where he established an educational institute with his second wife. He died before the hopes he had for a new job could be fulfilled.

family

Thieß was married twice. His first marriage was on October 3, 1792 with Dorothea Katharina Hübbe (* 1771), daughter of Commissioner Hermann Hübbe (1733-1786) in Ottendorf . She died in Kiel in 1798 shortly after the birth of her third child. The son of this marriage, Hermann Wilhelm Marcus Thieß (1793-1867), became pastor in Arnis in 1821 and in Tolk in 1843 , where he was dismissed during the Schleswig-Holstein uprising because of his pro-Danish attitude. Soon after the reinstatement in 1850, he was appointed provost in Kappeln. He was a follower of Claus Harms and a popular revival preacher himself , who published several collections of sermons.

His second marriage was Johann Otto Thieß with Charlotte, the daughter of his Itzehoer friend, the poet Johann Gottwerth Müller , widow of the pastor Erhardi in Bordesholm, who died in 1804.

Act

Thieß was an extremely prolific writer who wrote over 100 works. In addition to numerous sermons and sermon drafts, his writings included devotional books and scientific works from almost all areas of theology. He also devoted himself to history. As a schoolboy he had published a two-volume scholarly history of Hamburg in 1780 , which was not very well received at the time, but is important as a historical source today, as is his two-volume scholarly history from Kiel University and other similar works. In several, mostly very short-lived magazines such as the Hamburger Litteraturzeitung from 1785 and the Neue Kielische Gelehrten Zeitung , with which he tried to revive an earlier paper of the same name in 1797, he reviewed the literature of his time.

Theologically it can be classified in the Enlightenment theology , the so-called neology . He saw Christianity purely rationalistically as pure morality, whereby he saw the dogmas and rituals of the church as obstacles to a truly moral life and also scoffed at them in his writings. As early as 1783, his convictions had involved him in some disputes, when he defended the overthrow of Christianity Johann Christoph Döderlein , who had been attacked by Lessing's opponent Goeze in Hamburg, in his work The overthrow of the reputation of Moses draws not necessarily .

His writings related to several branches of the theological disciplines. Thiess provided preliminary work on the criticism of New Testament dogmatics in 1792 in the Fundamentis theologiae christianae critico-dogmaticae , to which his work on the study of dogmatics, which was published at the same time, can be seen as an introduction , especially at universities . He wrote both works for the purpose of his academic lectures. For this purpose he designated his reference library for budding theologians in 1793 . Nevertheless, both this work and the introduction to the modern history of religion, the church and the theological sciences, written in 1797, testify to his precise knowledge of church history and literature.

He enriched the subject of biblical exegesis with a translation of the New Testament accompanied by explanations. In 1804 he added a New Critical Commentary on the New Testament to the four volumes of this work , after having published a manual on the correct understanding and fruitful use of the Sunday and holiday gospels in 1796 . As a homiletician, he showed himself from a not disadvantageous side through several homilies and draft sermons, but especially through the instructions on the eloquence of public religion teachers published in 1801 , for whose training he had instructions printed in 1802 . As an aesthetic writer he had made a name for himself in 1784 through “Christian songs and chants”, in 1796 through a Christian communion book and in 1797 through a devotional book for enlightened Christians . In 1801 he determined the two parts of his lectures on morality to promote morality for educated readers from all classes . In his understanding of the Enlightenment Socratics , he reflected the ethical intellectualism of Socrates and found it again in the moral religion of Jesus. This is reflected in his Theses theologiae dogmaticae ad desceptandum propositae , published in 1792 , which is to be seen as an outline of Enlightenment theology and was banned in Saxony at the time.

Thieß also wrote poems, mostly of a religious nature, partly in special collections, partly in the contributions to the poetry of Lower Saxony (1782), in the muse almanac Flora (1784) and other anthologies. Among his sacred songs, one, Religion, given by God , which he composed in Helmstedt as early as 1782, with the modified beginning O Heavenly Word, given by God, found its way into community hymns and was still in the Hamburg hymn book from 1842. His so-called is also known Tolerance song with the linguistically unsuccessful passage: Even those who are still torn from each other by the sect spirit are members of one body, are, whose faith is one, he is Turk, pagan, Jew, Christian, as people all brothers .

In the overview of his writings attached to his biography he himself put in the first section those which the author now denies of any value , then follows a second section which the author leaves to rest on their worth ; then come those to whom he gives some value, and finally those to whom he places real value . In the last class he only placed eight, among others his declaration of the New Testament , his devotional book for enlightened Christians and his communion book .

Works

  • JC Friederici theological treatise on the true and proper Christian virtue; translated from Latin. Hamburg 1779
  • An attempt at a scholarly history of Hamburg, in alphabetical order, with critical and Pragmatic remarks. Hamburg 1780, 2 parts
  • First and last words in defense of this attempt. Hamburg 1780
  • Of the spirit of love for the country; a speech. Hamburg 1781, 2nd edition. Helmstedt 1781
  • On the influence of patriotism on the culture of the sciences; a speech. Helmstedt 1781
  • Commentariorum de rebus litterariis Helmstadiensibus Particula I. Helmstedt 1782
  • On the biography of Hamburg doctors. 1. u. 2 pieces. Helmstedt 1782
  • Diss. De Evangelii Matthaei integritate interpolando non cocrupta. Helmstedt 1782
  • Poems for my friends. Hamburg 1783, 2nd edition. Hamburg 1783 ( online )
  • Assertion of the sentence: The overthrow of Moses' reputation does not necessarily lead to the overthrow of Christianity; Defense of Mr. D. Döderlein against an attack by Mr. Pastor Gotze. Frankfurt u. Leipzig (Nuremberg) 1783
  • Two sermons, issued on request and with a reminder. Hamburg 1784
  • The learned Hamburg, or directory of all Hamburg writers living now. 1 booklet, (containing the theological writers) Hamburg 1784
  • Chants and songs on the holy days of Christians, at Christmas, on New Year's and Good Friday, at Easter, Pentecost and on days of penance; issued for trial. Hamburg 1784
  • Christian songs and chants. Hamburg 1785, 2nd edition. Leipzig 1794 ( online )
  • Three homilies. Hamburg 1785
  • Disposition of some of his sermons given in 1784 and 1785 in the Paulskirche on the Hamburger Berge. Hamburg 1785
  • According to the principles of reason and Christianity, what is to be thought of the game, especially of the addition to number lotteries? a causal sermon given on the 17th Sunday after Trinit, published with frank comments, and dedicated to the fathers of the city by a deeply rooted Hamburg clergyman. Hamburg 1785
  • Main content of his sermons, which he gave from Michaelis until Christmas 1785, together with closing verses and chants. Hamburg 1785
  • Lamentation at the grave of our storm, August 31, 1786, with a short message about his life and all his writings. Hamburg 1786
  • What does the Bible teach about the deity of Jesus? Or the confession of Christians that Jesus Christ is Lord, a sermon. Hamburg 1786
  • Rescue of the honor and innocence of oneself against certain, in one of these days published script (GF Goetzen's) directed unreasonable attacks. Hamburg 1786
  • Required declaration about an unnamed diatribe. Hamburg 1787
  • Homily on Ps. 37: 3-5, given on New Year's Day. Hamburg 1787
  • Try our young Lans people, especially Lower Saxony, to get used to the meanest and most significant speech defects. Lübeck 1788
  • Christian sermons. Hamburg 1788
  • Hamburg literary newspaper. 1-23. Piece Hamburg 1788
  • Is it advisable to introduce general confession or to keep the confessional? A Hamburg clergyman examined the local circumstances in particular. Hamburg and Lübeck 1788
  • More details of the new translation and the applicable declaration of the New Testament. Hamburg 1788
  • Variarum de capite III Genesos recte explicando sententiarum specimen I. Lübeck 1788
  • Drafts of sermons on the usual passages from the letters of the apostles on Sundays and feast days and some other texts. 1st year Hamburg 1788, 2nd edition 1789, 3rd edition 1792, 4th edition Leipzig 1795; 2nd year Hamburg 1789, 4th edition Leipzig 1795 ,; 3rd year Hamburg 1790, 4th edition Leipzig 1795; 4th year Leipzig 1794, 5th year Leipzig 1795
  • About the value of money. Preached on the third day of Pentecost and published for the best of two people in need of money, a poor Zurich citizen and a poor preacher's wife near Hanau. Hamburg 1789
  • The truest and most Christian praise of God is always also the praise of Jesus Christ. A sermon was held in the large Michaeliskirche in Hamburg. Hamburg 1789
  • General preacher newspaper. 1st year Hamburg 1790, 2nd year Leipzig 1791
  • Sermons according to the special needs of the time. Hamburg 1790
  • About the magicians and their star; for the justification of Matthew, for the judgment of his interpreters and for reassurance for thinking Bible readers. Hamburg 1790, 2nd edition Hamburg 1794
  • Our Lord! in the last days of his first, and in the first days of his other human life; a Christian devotional book for the Passion and Easter celebrations, as well as on Confession and Communion days. Hamburg 1790
  • The New Testament, newly translated, with a perfectly applicable explanation. 1st vol. Matthew. Hamburg 1790, 2nd edition. Leipzig and Gera 1794 ( online ); 2nd volume 1st department: Marcus. Hamburg 1791, 2nd edition and 2nd volume, 2nd section: Lucas. Leipzig u. Gera 1795; 3. Vol. Johannes history book. Leipzig u. Gera 1794, 4th vol. Acts of the Apostles. Leipzig u. Gera 1800
  • Small Christian language catechism. Stade 1790. 8.
  • From the real Christian trust in God, about 2 Corinth. 3-4; A sermon on the 12th Sunday after Trinit. held in the Wilhadikirche in Stade. Stade 1790
  • D. Semler's last and some earlier remarks on religious subjects, and the last days of his life, compared with some of the remarks made by v. Martin Luther's. Stade 1791
  • About the biblical and ecclesiastical doctrine of eternity about the punishments of hell. Stade 1791
  • About the purpose and the establishment of theological studies at universities, together with announcement of his theological public and private lectures from Michaelis 1791 to Easter 1732; fraternally dedicated to all theology students at Kiel. Kiel 1791
  • Sermon on 1 Corinth. 8, 12, on the 3rd Sunday after Trinit. held in the castle church in Kiel. Kiel 1791
  • Advertisement and draft of his public lectures on Kantian philosophy. Kiel 1792
  • D. Martin Luther's Teachings, Warnings, and Advice for the Last Decade of the Eighteenth Century. Hamburg and Kiel 1792
  • Fundamenta theologiae christianae critico-dogmaticae. Leipzig 1792
  • About the study of dogmatics, especially at universities. Leipzig 1792
  • Draft of a reference library for budding theologians; to use his lectures. Altona 1793
  • Theses theologiae dogmaticae ad disceptandum propositae. Leipzig 1793
  • Sermon about the deepest decline of religion and morality among the people, about the Gospel on the second day of Christmas. Kiel. 1794. 8.
  • Jesus and reason. Leipzig 1794
  • Christian book of communion for the enlightened. Leipzig 1794, 2nd edition Leipzig 1796, 3rd edition Leipzig 1798, 4th edition Leipzig 1810
  • Ephemeris of the latest theological literature and church history. Schleswig 1795, 2 pieces
  • Answer to the characteristic of the Hamburg clergy set out in the tenth of the letters about Hamburg (Leipzig 1794): Gerling. Rambach, Brake. Berkhan, Wielerding and Thieß. Schleswig 1795
  • Handbook of the modern, especially German and Protestant literature of theology. Liegnitz 1795-1796. 2 vol.
  • Where do so many bad preachers still come from? a program. Kiel 1795
  • Guide to the Correct Understanding and Fruitful Use of the Year-Round Sundays and Holiday Gospels for Preachers; In addition to a collection and appropriate processing of new evangelical texts on all Sundays and holidays. Leipzig and Gera 1796, 2 parts. (The first part also under the title: The Sunday and Feast Day Gospels of the whole year, newly translated; in addition to a collection and translation of new Evangelical Terte on all Sundays and feast days. Leipzig and Gera 1796, second part also under the title: Winke For preachers, to use the Sunday and feast day gospels, according to the needs of the current time, and to find new or insufficiently processed material from them for pulpit lectures; at the same time a book of edification for thoughtful readers of these Bible texts. ) Leipzig and Gera 1796
  • Introduction to the modern history of religion, the church and the theological sciences, on the use of academic lectures. Schleswig 1797
  • Neue Kielische learned newspaper, or annals of the newest Schleswig-Holstein literature and the new literary history of the University of Kiel. 1 year Kiel 1797
  • Devotional book for enlightened Christians. Gera 1797. 2 vol.
  • Sunday conversations for educated religious friends. 1st issue. Leipzig 1798
  • About death and life . Leipzig and Gera 1799 (dedicated to the memory of his first wife) ( digitized version )
  • Scholarly history of the University of Kiel. l. Vol. 1st part. Kiel 1800 (Also under the title: Biographical and bibliographical news from all previous teachers of theology in Kiel; a contribution to the literary history of theology. 1st part.) 1. Volume. Part 2. Kiel 1802, (Also under the title: Biographical and bibliographical news from the newer theology teachers in Kiel: JA Cramer to JF Kleuker; a contribution to, literary history of theology. 2nd part)
  • Monument to German literature of the 18th century. Altona 1800 (excerpt from it in the Allgemeine Literar. Anzeiger 1800. No. 137 and in the Intell. Blatte zur Allgemeine Literaturzeitung. 1800. No. 50.)
  • The celebration of the new century; a church devotion. Kiel 1801
  • Instructions for the eloquence of public religion teachers of the 19th century. Kiel 1801 ( digitized version )
  • History of his life and his writings, from and with documents; a fragment from the moral and scholarly history of the 18th century. Hamburg 1801-1802, 2 parts ( digitized ) with some biographical information
  • About love and marriage. Leipzig 1801, Gera 1804
  • Lectures on morality to promote morality for educated readers of all classes. Leipzig and Gera 1801-1803, 2 parts, 2nd edition. Leipzig and Gera 1810, 2 parts
  • Paperback for theologians and preachers, as friends of speculation and literature, on d. J. 1802. Hamburg 1802
  • Instructions for the formation of public religion teachers of the 19th century. Altona 1802 ( online )
  • Library for public religion teachers of the 19th century. 1st volume, 1-10 items Altona 1802-1803, 2nd volume 1–5 items. Altona 1803-1804
  • New Critical Commentary on the New Testament. Volume 1: The Gospel of Jesus and the Apostles. Hall 1804, 1st volume, 2nd department, Hall 1806
  • Klopstock, how he had influenced the nation as a poet and as a writer on literature for half a century. Altona 1805 ( online )
  • Two sermons. Altona 1805
  • Account for his academic and literary endeavors, with documents; a necessary addition to the story of his life. Hamburg 1806. 8.
  • Pass yourselves in time, for it is bad time; a sermon. Kiel 1807
  • Sung songs, the fatherland and religion. Kiel 1807
  • New sermons. Glückstadt 1808
  • Luck and misfortune. Glückstadt 1808
  • The moral life according to the Scriptures, with regard to the signs of our time. Kiel 1809
  • On the incompatibility of spiritual and secular power and the compatibility of Catholicism and Protestantism; a practical commentary on 2 Thessal. 2, 1-12. and Joh. 10, 12-16. Kiel 1809

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Thiess, Johann Otto
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Thiess, Johann Otto
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Lutheran theologian
DATE OF BIRTH August 15, 1762
PLACE OF BIRTH Hamburg
DATE OF DEATH January 7, 1810
Place of death Bordesholm