Theodor Kliefoth

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Theodor Kliefoth

Theodor Friedrich Dethlof Kliefoth (born January 18, 1810 in Körchow , † January 26, 1895 in Schwerin ) was a German Protestant theologian and church reformer. He is considered the most important representative of Neo-Lutheranism in Northern Germany and the most important theologian in Mecklenburg church history. Kliefoth represented a comprehensive repositioning of Lutheranism, which was to be based on a renewal of worship, theology and church order from the spirit of the Reformation .

Life

Youth and studies

Theodor Kliefoth was born as the eldest son and first of twelve children of the Mecklenburg pastor (later superintendent) Johann Kliefoth (1772-1869). He had his first school lessons with his younger brother from his father. This was a sober and strict teacher. The grandmother exerted a great influence: she came from a French family and probably took over the first lessons, so that Kliefoth spoke French very well. It was from her that the Kliefoth children were encouraged to work physically. The boy, who stayed in his father's house until he was 17, had to look after the parish garden, cultivate the fields and keep beekeeping. He himself later described his childhood as happy and harmonious. From 1826 he attended the Gymnasium Fridericianum in Schwerin and passed the Abitur here at Easter 1829 together with a younger brother.

From 1829 Kliefoth studied in Berlin and from 1830 at the University of Rostock Protestant theology. During his time in Rostock he joined the Corps Vandalia Rostock , which was strongly influenced by the ideas of early idealism . In Berlin he was fascinated by the ideas of Friedrich Schleiermacher , whose lectures he attended, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel . He had personal contact with August Neander , whom he held in high esteem . Even during his studies, he was a disciplined, serious and hard-working student, to whom the easy-going student life meant nothing. During his time in Rostock, for example, he put together collections on the history of dogma and sought scientific stimulation in a like-minded group of friends.

Professional beginnings

Kliefoth's aspirations for an academic career were not supported by his father. Therefore, at Easter 1832 he had to accept a position as private tutor in a noble house in Mecklenburg. But already in January 1833 he was appointed instructor of Prince Wilhelm zu Mecklenburg at the court of Ludwigslust . He took up the position on May 1, 1833. Before that he attended Adolph Diesterweg's seminar in Berlin.

It was here that Kliefoth wrote his first published work “What benefit can pastors expect from studying the history of dogma?” It was published in 1833 in the “Church and School Gazette for Mecklenburg”. An extensive treatise on the standpoint of Lutheran dogmatics followed shortly thereafter. His work of 1834 “On Presbyteries in the Mecklenburg Regional Church” had a practical ecclesiastical effect. Kliefoth continued to deal with the writings of Schleiermacher, August Twesten and Karl Ludwig Nitzsch , and he also continued his dogma-historical studies.

Stay in Dresden

When Friedrich Franz (II.) , At that time still Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin , went to study at Karl Justus Blochmann's institute in Dresden in 1837 , Kliefoth accompanied him as an educator until 1839. This was seminal for him from several points of view: He came close to the future prince on friendly terms, and the prerequisites for further studies in Dresden were excellent. Here he was able to complete the “Introduction to the History of Dogma”, which was published in 1839 by Hinstorff Verlag . In October 1839 he obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Rostock.

Although Kliefoth did not yet hold an ecclesiastical office, he was commissioned by the state government of Mecklenburg as early as 1835 with the preparation of an expert report to redesign and tighten the theological examinations. The results were only implemented in a corresponding ordinance in 1844. In this work he pointed out the shortcomings in the constitution of the regional church. The synodal order passed on December 29, 1841 also bore Kliefoth's handwriting.

Preacher in Ludwigslust

He left Dresden at Easter 1840 and was ordained on May 3, 1840 by his father as the second clergyman at the city church in Ludwigslust . Here he married Agnes Walter, a daughter of the court preacher Carl Walter . Kliefoth's sermons were vivid, concrete, and effective; they regularly kept the church full. Several sermon books were published from this period.

Appointment to Schwerin

Theodor Kliefoth in a gown

In autumn 1844 he was appointed superintendent of the diocese of Schwerin and thus the first clergyman of the state of Mecklenburg by the now reigning Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II, against the objection of the government . He moved from Ludwigslust to Schwerin, where he took the position of first cathedral preacher. In 1848 the church government and the state government were separated, in 1850 the upper church council began work. In this, Kliefoth was the source of the ideas, although he did not take over the external leadership until 1886 as head of the church council. Kliefoth vigorously stood up for the rights of the church against interference by the state.

A monument to his thoughts on worship, church building and even his view of church history (represented in the church windows) is the neo-Gothic Paulskirche in Schwerin, built between 1863 and 1869. When it was built, Kliefoth was one of the three members of the church building commission with the architect and the Ministerialrat von Wickede. He was instrumental in establishing the principles according to which churches were built in Germany and probably beyond. These principles were formulated like theses in the Lutheran Conferences in 1856 and 1861 as the Eisenacher Regulative .

Together with August Wilhelm Dieckhoff , Kliefoth published the "Theologische Zeitschrift" in Schwerin from 1860 to 1864. In his own scientific work, a multi-volume history of the worship service, historical studies of official acts and a “theory of cult” have special weight. Kliefoth's liturgical research reached its climax in the four-volume Cantionale for the Evangelical Lutheran churches in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1868–1887). This was the first significant order of worship according to the church order of 1602 in Mecklenburg. Among the new creations of medieval hymns there is also Kliefoth's translation of the passion hymn Rex Christe, factor omnium , which is included in today's hymn books: "Christe, you creator of the world" ( EG 92). Overall, Kliefoth's draft turned out to be far too demanding for the Mecklenburg village churches.

He retired on October 1, 1894, after celebrating the rare 60th anniversary of service on May 1, 1893.

Works

  • What benefit can the pastor expect from studying the history of dogma? In: Church and School Library for Mecklenburg 2 (1833), Issue 2, 33–120
  • About the current standpoint of Lutheran dogmatics. An overview of the history of dogma. In: Church and School Library for Mecklenburg 2 (1833) Issue 3, 1-74
  • About the presbyteries in the Mecklenburg regional church. In: Church and school library for Mecklenburg 3 (1834) issue 3
  • Introduction to the history of dogma. Parchim / Ludwigslust 1839
  • Sermons. Collection 1 + 2 (2 volumes). Parchim / Ludwigslust 1841–1843
  • Theory of the cult of the evangelical church. Parchim / Ludwigslust 1844
  • The original order of worship in the German churches of the Lutheran creed. Rostock 1847
  • Eight books from the church. Schwerin / Rostock 1854
  • Church order. Schwerin 1855
  • The written evidence of J. Chr. K. v. Hofmann. Schwerin 1860
  • The Prophet Zechariah, translated and interpreted. Schwerin 1862
  • What does Article 7 of the Augsburg Confession require with regard to church regiment in the Lutheran Church? In: The general Lutheran conference in Hanover on July 1st and 2nd, 1868
  • The Book of Daniel, translated and explained. Schwerin 1868
  • The Revelation of John. 3 volumes. Leipzig 1874
  • Christian eschatology. Leipzig 1886

Letters

  • Theodor Kliefoth to Dethloff Carl Hinstorff January 17, 1839
  • Theodor Kliefoth to Dethloff Carl Hinstorff February 27, 1839
  • Theodor Kliefoth to “Dear Friend” in Ludwigslust January 30, 1845
  • Theodor Kliefoth to Dethloff Carl Hinstorff January 8, 1847
  • Exploitation contract between Theodor Kliefoth and Dethloff Carl Hinstorff 5./9. February 1853

literature

  • Martin Grahl: Transfiguration: the conception of salvation history with Theodor Kliefoth . Rostock, Univ., Diss., 2002 ( digitized version )
  • Martin Ohst: Theodor Kliefoth's "Introduction to the History of Dogmas" - a contribution to the genesis of "Neuluthertum". In: Kerygma and Dogma, 38 (1992), pp. 47-70.
  • Ernst Haack :  Kliefoth, Theodor . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 51, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1906, pp. 218-228.
  • Ernst Haack: Theodor Kliefoth. A character image from the time of the renewal of the Christian life of faith and the Lutheran Church in the 19th century; Dedicated to theologians and educated Protestant Christians on his 100th birthday. Railway, Schwerin 1910
  • Friedrich Wilhelm Kantzenbach:  Kliefoth, Theodor. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 12, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1980, ISBN 3-428-00193-1 , p. 65 f. ( Digitized version ).
  • Günther Kehnscherper: The essence of the church according to Theodor Kliefoth. Diss. Leipzig 1954
  • Heinrich Stoll: Theodor Kliefoth as a church leader. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 1936
  • Bernhard Uhlmann: Approaches to the treatment of the ecumenical question in the teaching of the church with Theodor Kliefoth and August Vilmar. Diss. Leipzig 1958
  • Heiko Wulfert:  Kliefoth, Theodor. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 4, Bautz, Herzberg 1992, ISBN 3-88309-038-7 , Sp. 58-60.  ( Article / beginning of article in Internet archive )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Entry in the Rostock matriculation portal
  2. ↑ Kösener Corpslisten 1910, 185 , 282
  3. ↑ Kliefoth was married twice: (1) May 15, 1840 with Agnes Walter (* March 21, 1821 in Ludwigslust, † January 13, 1866 in Schwerin), (2) May 29, 1868 with Gertrud Walter (* September 12, 1928 in Ludwigslust). Both wives were sisters of Hermine Schmidt, née Walter (1821-1913), married to the Evangelical Lutheran pastor (Friedrich) Gustav (Wilhelm) Schmidt (1812-1863) and mother of the painter Luise Schmidt (1855-1924), who in 1880 the " Oberkirchenrat President Dr. Kliefoth in Mecklenburg in his study ”.
  4. ^ Fritz Reuter Literature Archive Berlin
  5. ^ Fritz Reuter Literature Archive Berlin
  6. ^ Fritz Reuter Literature Archive Berlin
  7. ^ Fritz Reuter Literature Archive Berlin
  8. ^ Fritz Reuter Literature Archive Berlin
personal data
SURNAME Kliefoth, Theodor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kliefoth, Theodor Friedrich Dethlof (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian and church reformer
DATE OF BIRTH January 18, 1810
PLACE OF BIRTH Koechow
DATE OF DEATH January 26, 1895
Place of death Schwerin