August Tholuck

August Tholuck studied at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Rudolf Kögel is recorded as having studied under August Tholuck. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is theology. Places of work recorded in the authority are Halle (Saale). Employment is recorded with Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

• Honorific Prefix — The Reverend • Name — August Tholuck • Birth Name — Friedrich August Gotttreu Tholuck • Born — 10 March 1799 • Birthplace — Breslau, Prussia, Holy Roman Empire • Died — 10 June 1877 • Place of death — Halle, Province of Saxony, Prussia, German Empire • Occupation — Pastor, theologian, historian • Main Interests — Apologetics, 1700s Christian history • Education — University of Breslau

Tholuck was born at Breslau and educated at the gymnasium and university there. He distinguished himself by his ability to learn languages. A love of Oriental languages and literature led him to exchange the University of Breslau for that of Berlin, in order to study to greater advantage, and there he was received into the house of the Orientalist Heinrich Friedrich von Diez. He was introduced to pietistic circles in Berlin, and came under the influence of Baron Hans Ernst von Kottwitz, who became his "spiritual father," and of the historian Neander. Before deciding on the career of theological professor, he had in view that of a missionary in the East. Meanwhile, he was feeling the influence to a certain degree of the romantic school, and of Schleiermacher and G. W. F. Hegel too, though he never sounded the depths of their systems. At length, in his twenty-first year, he finally decided to adopt the academical calling. In 1821 he was Privatdozent and in 1823 became professor extraordinarius of theology in Berlin, though he was at the same time active in the work of home and foreign missions. He lectured on the Old and New Testaments, theology, apologetics and the history of the church in the 18th century. In 1821 he published his first work, Sufismus, sive theosophia Persarum pantheistica. In 1825, with the aid of the Prussian government, he visited the libraries of England and the Netherlands, and on his return was appointed (in 1826) professor ordinarius of theology at the University of Halle, the centre of German rationalism, where he afterwards became preacher and member of the supreme consistorial council of the Evangelical State Church in Prussia. Here he made it his aim to combine in a higher unity the learning and to some extent the rationalism of Johann Salomo Semler with the devout and active pietism of A H Francke; and, in spite of the opposition of the theological faculty of the university, he succeeded in changing the character of its theology. This he achieved partly by his lectures, but above all by his personal influence on the students, and, after 1833, by his preaching. His theological position was orthodox, but laid more stress upon Christian experience than upon rigid dogmatic belief. On the two great questions of miracles and inspiration he made great concessions to modern criticism and philosophy. His lifelong battle was on behalf of personal religious experience, in opposition to the externality of rationalism, orthodoxy or sacramentarianism. Karl Schwarz happily remarks that, as the English apologists of the 18th century were themselves infected with the poison of the deists whom they endeavoured to refute, so Tholuck absorbed some of the heresies of the rationalists whom he tried to overthrow. He was also one of the prominent members of the Evangelical Alliance, and few men were more widely known or more beloved throughout the Protestant churches of Europe and America than him. He died at Halle. As a preacher, Tholuck ranked among the foremost of his time. As a teacher, he showed remarkable sympathy and won great success. As a thinker he can hardly be said to have been endowed with great creative power. In 1864, he was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society.[1]

Tholuck was married, but little is known of his family.[4]

His recorded language was German. His recorded confession was Lutheranism. He married Mathilde von Gemmingen-Steinegg.

August Tholuck worked in theology. He was employed by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He worked at Halle (Saale).

August Tholuck is recorded as university teacher, writer, biblical scholar, new testament scholar and theologian.