Wilhelm Andersen

Wilhelm Andersen (born February 5, 1911 in Schrepperie ; † September 8, 1980 in Neuendettelsau ) was a Lutheran theologian and from 1956 to 1976 professor of systematic theology at the Augustana University in Neuendettelsau. At the same time he was the second rector of the Augustana University from 1956 to 1971 after Georg Merz .

Life

After graduating from high school in Flensburg in 1930, Andersen studied theology in Rostock , Göttingen , Tübingen , Bonn and Kiel until 1934 . He heard u. a. with Ernst Wolf , Emanuel Hirsch , Karl Heim , Ernst Haenchen , Hans Engelland , Karl Fezer , Karl Barth and Hanns Rückert . He later expanded his thesis into a dissertation, which was accepted at the University of Tübingen in 1939. During his studies he was involved in the German Christian Student Association . After graduating, he became vicar in Breklum , where he made close contacts with the Breklum Mission . In the fall of 1935, Andersen took the second exam before an examination board of the Confessing Church . On October 26, 1935, he was ordained by August Marahrens in Harburg . For medical reasons he could not pursue his wish to become a missionary in India and instead became an assistant preacher in the travel service of the Breklum Mission. At Pentecost 1936, Andersen became pastor in Tetenbüll . In 1940 he was drafted as a soldier, spent most of the war in Norway and then initially returned to his old pastor. In 1946 he became a teacher at the seminary for missionary and church service in Breklum. In 1956 he was appointed to the chair for systematic theology in Neuendettelsau, where he stayed until 1976. On a part-time basis, Andersen taught the doctrine of the faith at the catechetical seminar of the Neuendettelsau Deaconess House for over ten years .

Wilhelm Andersen, he represented a Trinitarian theology that focused on the action of the triune God in creation, redemption and promised perfection. Three sentences from his dissertation The Concept of Existence and Existential Thinking in Modern Philosophy and Theology express Andersen's theological thinking in nuce :

"Theological thinking must always be based on Scripture and a formal interpretation of Scripture." - "In today's church the theologian has to speak to today's church without asking about the voice of time, but rather about the voice of God for time." - "The attitude of prayer is the only appropriate attitude of man in which such thinking can take place."

Andersen was married to Ilse, b. Langlo and had nine children with her.

On May 21, 1974 he was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit .

Fonts

• The concept of existence and existential thinking in modern philosophy and theology (Contributions to the Promotion of Christian Theology, 42, 1), Gütersloh 1940, 217 pp.
• Possibilities and limits of a communion in communion today (Theological Existence, NF, 7), Munich 1947, 47 pp.
• On the praise of baptism. A contribution to the current theological conversation about a right biblical doctrine of baptism and a new church baptismal ordinance (Kirchlich-theologische Hefte, 11), Munich 1950, 93 pp.
• The Bible as the Word of God (Confessing Lutheran Church, 12), Neuendettelsau 1953, 23 pp.
• The concept of law in current theological discussion. Reflections on G. Ebeling , Munich 1963, 55 pp.
• You are called to freedom. Law and Gospel according to biblical testimony , Neukirchen-Vluyn 1964, 75 pp.
• as publisher: From the service of theology to office and community. Essays and lectures by the lecturers of the Augustana University and the Pastoral College , Munich 1965, 144 pp.
• Faith challenged. A contribution to the theological fundamental reflection today , Breklum 1972, 169 pp.
• Towards a Theology of Mission. A report on the mission's encounter with the church and its theology (contributions to missiology and Protestant religious studies, 5), Gütersloh 1957, 48 p. [Also: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt Berlin-Ost 1958]

literature

• Joachim Track (Ed.): Lutheran Theology Today. Memorial ribbon for Wilhelm Andersen. Munich 1988.

Web links

• Literature by and about Wilhelm Andersen in the catalog of the German National Library
• Homepage for the anniversary of Prof. Wilhelm Andersen