Johann Tobias Beck

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Johann Tobias Beck on his 69th birthday on February 22, 1872
Johann Tobias Beck, lithograph by Friedrich Wilhelm Graupenstein , 1879
Grave in the Tübingen city cemetery

Johann Tobias Beck (born February 22, 1804 in Balingen , Württemberg ; † December 28, 1878 in Tübingen ) was a German Protestant theologian , preacher and writer .

Life

Johann Tobias Beck was the son of the soap boiler and city councilor in the Württemberg regional city of Balingen , Tobias Beck (1778-1849) and his wife Anna, née Roller (1776-1836). He was raised in a middle-class manner and was shaped by his pious mother, grandfather, a devout master baker, and his teachers, the Balingen provisional Huzel and the helper Gottlieb Osiander. One can see a strong influence of awakened pietism . His training took place from 1818 in the lower seminary in Urach , where Christian Friedrich Dettinger and the poet Eduard Mörike were also trained. Here Beck learned the ancient languages. Beck calls this time his happiest and most blessed years. From 1822 to 1826 he studied theology in Tübingen . He was shaped by Radical Pietism and Johann Albrecht Bengel . Johann Tobias Beck first became a pastor in Waldtann (today Kreßberg ) in the Crailsheim district in 1827 . Here he married Luise geb. Fischer, with whom he had eight children. From 1829 to 1836 he was pastor in Mergentheim .

During this time his active literary activity in theological field began. He is well known for his private feud with Duke Paul von Württemberg , whose relaxed lifestyle he indirectly but unabashedly referred to in the sermon. Duke Paul was still happy to hear Beck, but after the dispute he no longer did so in public, but mostly in secret. Beck was known for his powerful sermons, which did not correspond to the style of the theological world of the time. His sermon volumes "Christian Speeches" are best known. In 1836 he was called to Basel . Through the pietistic "Association for the Promotion of Christian Theological Science" Beck became an associate professor in Basel. Here he made friends with Nikolaus Bernoulli, the councilor Adolf Christ and Christian Heinrich Zeller in Beuggen. His wife died in 1838 and he married Mathilde Märklin in 1839, with whom he had two children. In 1843 he became a full professor for systematic theology at the University of Tübingen . In contrast to Ferdinand Christian Baur 's critical-speculative school , he established a biblically-based school there. Beck also had a decisive influence on the Evangelical Preacher School in Basel. Its director, Wilhelm Arnold-Rappard (1838–1918), a brother-in-law of Carl Heinrich Rappard , was a trusted student of Beck. Here also was Franz Eugen Schlachter trained and received so indirectly Beck's imprint. In 1848 he was a member of the preliminary parliament . Beck was ailing all his life. He died on December 28, 1878 after a brief illness.

Spiritual influence

During his time, Beck primarily shaped Bible-oriented theology, but also exerted a great influence on the Evangelical Preacher School in Basel, whose director Wilhelm Arnold-Rappard was a student of Beck. The Bible translator and writer Franz Eugen Schlachter was significantly influenced by this school . Influence on the sanctification movement is also evident. Amazingly, Evangelical theology in Finland was also heavily influenced by Beck. One of his best-known students is the Swabian theology professor Karl August Auberlen . After his death he was temporarily forgotten. In the meantime, however, a number of his works have been reissued, e. B. an interpretation of the letters of Peter . In memory of him, the Working Group for Evangelical Theology (AfeT) and the Theological Publishing Association (TVG) of the R. Brockhaus (Wuppertal / Zurich) and Brunnen (Gießen / Basel) publishers have awarded the Johann Tobias Beck Prize annually .

Fonts (selection)

  • Introduction to the system of Christian teaching. Stuttgart 1838; 2nd edition Stuttgart 1870.
  • Christian teaching science according to the biblical documents. 1841.
  • Outline of the Biblical Soul Doctrine. 1843; 3rd ed. 1871.
  • Christian speeches for edification on all Sundays and feast days throughout the year. Six collections, 1834–1870.
  • Guide to Christian doctrine for church, school and home. Steinkopf, Stuttgart 1862 ( digitized version ); 2nd ed. 1869.
  • The Christian doctrine of love. Continuation of the 'Guide to the Christian Doctrine of the Faith. Steinkopf, Stuttgart 1872/1874.
  • Explanation of Pauli's two letters to letters to Timothy. Gutersloh 1879.
  • Pastoral teachings according to Matthew and the Acts of the Apostles. Gutersloh 1880.
  • Lectures on Christian ethics. 3 vol. Gütersloh 1882–1883.
  • Explanation of Revelation John 1-12. Gütersloh 1883.
  • Explanation of the letter to the Romans. Gütersloh 1884.
  • Explanation of the letters of Peter. Gütersloh 1896. Reprinted with a foreword by Gerhard Maier , Brunnen, Gießen 1995 ISBN 3-7655-9226-9 .
  • Declaration by the prophets Micah and Joel. Gütersloh 1898.
  • True Christian life. Gotthelf, Zurich 1943; 2nd edition 1948.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : Johann Tobias Beck  - Collection of Images

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Helmut Burkhardt: Beck, Johann Tobias (1804-1878) . In: Helmut Burkhardt, Uwe Swarat (ed.): Evangelical Lexicon for Theology and Congregation . R. Brockhaus Verlag, Wuppertal 1992, ISBN 3-417-24641-5 , p. 193 .
  2. ↑ Federal Archives: Members of the Pre-Parliament and the Fifties Committee (PDF file; 79 kB)
personal data
SURNAME Beck, Johann Tobias
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Protestant theologian
DATE OF BIRTH February 22, 1804
PLACE OF BIRTH Balingen
DATE OF DEATH December 28, 1878
Place of death Tübingen