Wilhelm Ludwig Steinbrenner

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Wilhelm Ludwig Steinbrenner (born January 6, 1759 in Petersaurach , † December 26, 1831 in Großbodungen ) was a German Protestant theologian.

Life

The son of pastor Johann Siegmund Steinbrenner and his wife Katharina Karolina Friederika (née Hönicke) decided in their early youth to devote themselves to theological sciences. After attending grammar school in Ansbach , he moved to Erlangen University in 1779 . There he became a member of the theological and philological seminary and obtained his master's degree. Georg Friedrich Seiler (1733–1807) had the most decisive influence on his scientific education , with whom he also lived and who supported him in several ways through advice and action.

Steinbrenner owed Seiler's benevolence the position of managing director at his Bible Institute. His appointment as instructor for Princes Günther Albrecht and Günther Friedrich Carl von Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, who studied in Erlangen, was important for the course of his life . His knowledge, combined with his engaging demeanor, won him the favor of Prince Christian Günther von Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and at the same time ensured him the lasting attachment of the two princes.

In their company, Steinbrenner undertook a trip to Switzerland after briefly staying in Sondershausen in 1787. At the same time he touched Nancy, Metz, later Paris and other famous cities in France. In Metz he met Henri Baptiste Gregoire (1750–1831) and in Zurich Johann Caspar Lavater . Later he also exchanged letters with both scholars. His mind, sensitive to natural beauties, found rich nourishment in the surroundings of Lausanne, where he preached several times. The return journey took the travelers through Belgium and the Rhine region.

Steinbrenner himself described the impressions of that trip in a work, the three volumes of which were published between 1791 and 1792. In July 1789, six months after returning from his journey, he received a preaching position in Großbodungen and Hauröden . In 1809 he received his doctorate in theology at the University of Erlangen and in 1816, after the union of his two communities with the Kingdom of Prussia, he was appointed superintendent .

Steinbrenner was married twice. His first marriage was on October 7, 1789, with Justine Friderike Sophie Gottschalk (born June 1, 1767 in Sondershausen, † 1807), daughter of a councilor and bailiff in Sondershausen and his wife Victoria Rothe from Bothenheilingen . His second marriage was on November 27, 1808 with Christiane Friderike, daughter of the deacon in Bleicherode Georg Friedrich Müller and his wife Eleonora Henrietta Jödicke. Both marriages remained childless.

Act

Steinbrenner left behind not only the fame of a scholar armed with thorough theological knowledge, but also the fame of a man to whom his character as a man earned general admiration. He carried out his professional business with strict conscientiousness. The worst weather did not prevent him from visiting his distant branch Hauröden regularly. A rare strength and warmth inspired his pulpit lecture, which arose from the fullness of his religiously minded disposition. He was a Christian in the strictest sense of the word, unwaveringly firm in his faith, inclined to talk about religious matters, but free from intolerance towards dissenters. In lonely hours, especially on Sundays and feast days, he liked to indulge in devotional contemplations. The diary he left behind, drawn up carefully and with the most sincere self-examination, showed how serious he was about his moral ennoblement. His quiet, withdrawn life showed him morally impeccable, at the same time cheerful, agreeable and charitable. Steinbrenner, who was denied the joys of fatherhood, took on orphaned and neglected children with much public benefit. His mild sense was also shown in 1805 when an association was founded with the aim of supporting those in need.

In his writings, if one excludes a dissertation published in 1786 in which he compared the Mosaic narrative of the origin of the world with Plato's views on the subject, and some other treatises, he almost consistently pursued a practical tendency. To be popular was his tireless endeavor, and he let the citizen and farmer neither in his "Christian Hausandachtsbuch" published in 1793, nor in his "Spiritual Diary" published in 1798, nor in the "Hausbedarf für Bürger- und Landschulen" printed in 1799, not considered in other writings of related content. The "biblical lectures on important and non-profit sections of the Bible" published in 1810 also belong to this category. In 1808, he ascribed to the Christian religion a treatise published in Latin with an immense power and effectiveness, not only to ennoble people morally, but at the same time to educate capable citizens. With this he was completely in the tradition of his time, as the author of rationalism.

Works

  • Funeral speech at the grave of Mr. H. Schmid. Erlangen 1784
  • Some sermons. Erlangen 1785
  • Funeral speech at the coffin of Mr. LF Dubois, the theologian zealous to attain. Erlangen 1786
  • About the happiness of social life and friendship according to the principles of the religion of Jesus, a sermon held on Easter Monday 1786 in the collegiate church in Anspach. Ansbach 1786
  • Diss. Sententiae Mosis et Platonis de ortu mundi comparatae Prolusio I. Erlangen 1786
  • Comments on a trip through some German, Swiss and French provinces, in letters to a friend. Goettingen 1791
  • Why do diseases and death rage so violently in the country in summer? A sermon. Sondershausen and Großbodungen 1793
  • Christian household devotional book, or reflections on every day of the year, for the citizen and farmer. Sondershausen and Großbodungen 1793
  • The preacher, as enlightener in the pulpit and in all his office, a manual for preachers and all who want to become one. Leipzig 1794–1795
  • Dictionaire raisonne de synonymes francois, avec des remarques a l'usage des Allemands, or German-French synonymic dictionary with German notes for beginners. Leipzig, 1796–1801, 2nd parts
  • Sermons for all Sunday and feast day gospels throughout the year. 1st part, Leipzig 1797
  • Spiritual diary for the citizen and farmer. Erfurt 1798
  • House supplies for citizens and rural schools. 1. Dept. of Natural History. Leipzig 1799, with three coppers (also under the title: Natural history for inquisitive children. Erfurt, 1820)
  • Nature teaching for citizens and rural schools. Arnstadt and Rudolstadt 1803, 3rd edition under the title: Naturlehre in Frag 'and Answers for inquisitive children. Arnstadt and Rudolstadt 1820
  • Catechism of Technology for Citizen and Country Schools. Leipzig 1804
  • Sermons on the art of extending human life, according to Hufeland's principles. Hall 1804
  • DGF Seiler etc., a grateful reminiscence. Erlangen 1807
  • Diss. Inaug. de vi et efficacia christianae religionis in tuendis atque regendis hominum moribus, presertim in adjuvanda virtute et obsequio legibus civilibus praestando conspicua. Erlangen 1808
  • Biblical lectures on important non-profit sections of the Bible. Erlangen 1810
  • About cult. Goettingen 1810
  • Sermon, the Christian view of great and momentous world events as well as everything that happens daily before our eyes. Sondershausen 1814
  • The Myths of the Greeks and Romans, a textbook for high schools and schools. Sondershausen 1815
  • ABC and teaching books for the dear schoolchildren. Large floors 1816
  • Stories for the long winter evenings, dedicated to inquisitive children. Erfurt 1819
  • The advisor when studying the Sunday and feast day gospels and epistles, a collection partly of mere main clauses, partly of dispositions and scattered topics. Magdeburg 1821
  • Stories based on Aulus Gellius, dedicated to inquisitive children. Zerbst 1828 (with copper)

literature

personal data
SURNAME Steinbrenner, Wilhelm Ludwig
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Protestant theologian
DATE OF BIRTH January 6, 1759
PLACE OF BIRTH Petersaurach
DATE OF DEATH December 26, 1831
Place of death Large floors