WHO WAS NEANDER? by John Nevins Andrews

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1860

WHO WAS NEANDER?

By John Nevins Andrews

DEAR BRO. ANDREWS: While laboring in Marquette, Wis., an Eld. Lang endeavored to cast a slur on the testimony of Neander as a man of no note. His intention was to show that Neander's testimony in our Sabbath works was entitled to no credit. He several times asked the question, "Who was Neander?" It would be quite a gratification to me and many readers of the Review for you to answer the question, Who was Neander? J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

RESPONSE.—Neander was a German theologian and ecclesiastical historian of the highest eminence. I quote the following from Blake's Universal Biographical Dictionary.

“Neander, Johann August Wilhelm, one of the most celebrated modern authors of ecclesiastical history was born at Gottingen in 1789. His parents professed the Jewish religion and removed to the city of Hamburg when their son was quite young. He was indebted to the excellent seminaries of learning in this place for much of his education, and for his subsequent fame; and it is thought that while residing at that place in 1805, he became a convert to the Christian faith. He was extremely poor, and had to struggle against obstacles to his progress in the acquisition of knowledge, that would have completely discouraged persons gifted with a smaller amount of mental vigor. After his conversion he studied at Halle, and subsequently at Gottingen; his reputation at each place being in proportion to his genius and energy—of the highest order. In 1811 he went to Heidelberg, and commenced the life of an author, his first work having been a historical memoir of the emperor Julian and his age, which was favorably received, and it is probable, led to his being appointed professor of theology in the university of that city in the year 1812. The same year, a few months subsequently, he was nominated for a similar professorship in an university just established at Berlin as the colleague with Marbeinecke and Schleiermacher, in the duties of which station he was unremittingly occupied for the remainder of his life. In addition to the instruction of his classes he wrote and published a history of the Christian church, and other works of great merit, which will long perpetuate his memory. Although his manners were simple, he was not wanting in energy; and notwithstanding he was somewhat eccentric, he was beloved by those who knew him. He died in 1850 at the age of 61 years.”

Edition of 1856, p. 897

The following from the Encyclopædia Americana presents all that need be said respecting this writer:

“Neander, John William Augustus, one of the most distinguished German Protestant theologians, professor at the university at Berlin, Prussian counsellor of the consistory, &c., was born at Gottingen, Jan. 16, 1789, of Jewish parents. He received his first instruction in the gymnasium of Hamburg. In 1805, he went to the university of Halle; and, when this university was broken up by Napoleon, he went to Gottingen, where he remained until he had finished his philosophical and theological studies. The latter he pursued with an earnest desire to discover the truth. He was, however, not as yet converted to Christianity. In 1811, he settled at Heidelberg, as a theological teacher, having previously embraced Christianity, when he also adopted his present name, to indicate his entire change (vεος ανθρω, new man). In 1812, he was appointed professor extraordinarius of theology in the university, and soon appeared before the public with his learned work, The Emperor Julian, and his Time (in German, Leipzig, 1812). In 1813, he was called to a professorship at Berlin, and published, in the same year, his St. Bernard, and his Age (in German, Berlin, 1813),—a work rendered particularly interesting by his liberal criticism of Abelard, the distinguished contemporary of St. Bernard. In 1818, he published an Exposition of the most important Gnostic Systems (in German), and, in 1821, his Chrysostom, and the Oriental Church in his Age (likewise in German). In 1822, he undertook the publication of a periodical under the title of Denkwürdigkeiten aus der Geschichte des Christentums und des Christlichen Lebens (2d ed., Berlin, 1825, 8 vols.), in which he strives to explain the history of the six first centuries. In 1825, he published his Antignosticus, Spirit of Tertullian, and Introduction to his Writings (in German, Berlin, 8vo.), in which he strove to show the antipeculative direction of Christianity, of which Tertullian was the representative, as he had in his former work on the Gnosis (q. v.) shown the visionary and mystical direction which Christianity had taken with the Gnostics. He then undertook the execution of a work which he himself calls the center of his endeavors,—a General History of Religion and the Church (in German), of which the first volume appeared in 1825 (Hamburg), and of which two volumes have appeared, in several divisions, beginning with the end of the apostolic age, and reaching to Gregory I. He promises a history of the apostolic age, as a separate work. He says, in the preface to the first volume, the "chief aim of his life, from an early period, was to represent the history of the church of Christ as a speaking proof of the divine power of Christianity, as a school of Christian experience, and a voice sounding through all ages, of edification and warning for all who are willing to listen." A volume of small theological treatises has appeared in a third edition (1829). All these works prove indefatigable zeal and vast erudition. Neander is also a most active teacher in all branches of historical theology, and is, besides, engaged in several avocations connected with his science, and deserves to be called a zealous laborer in the vineyard of the Lord. His example is that of a most pious Christian, who abhors party controversies in religion.”