Johann Wilhelm Friedrich Höfling (December 30, 1802 – April 5, 1853) was a German

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

born in Neudrossenfeld, Bavaria. He specialized in the field of

liturgical Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...

science. He studied

philology Philology () is the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics (with especially strong ties to etymology). Philology is also defined as th ...

and

theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

Erlangen Erlangen (; East Franconian: ''Erlang'', Bavarian: ''Erlanga'') is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the administrative district Erlangen-Höchstadt (former administrative district Erlangen), and with 116,062 inhab ...

, and following his theological exam served as a vicar in

Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River. Würzburg ...

(1823) and as a minister in

Nuremberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...

(1827). In 1831 he earned his doctorate in philosophy at

Tübingen Tübingen (, , Swabian: ''Dibenga'') is a traditional university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer rivers. about one in three ...

, and in 1835 received his theological degree. In 1833 he was appointed professor of

practical theology Practical theology is an academic discipline that examines and reflects on religious practices in order to understand the theology enacted in those practices and in order to consider how theological theory and theological practices can be more full ...

at the

University of Erlangen A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

. He died in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the third-largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Ha ...

Published works

Höfling was a prominent member of the so-called "

Erlangen School Neo-Lutheranism was a 19th-century revival movement within Lutheranism which began with the Pietist-driven '' Erweckung,'' or ''Awakening'', and developed in reaction against theological rationalism and pietism. This movement followed the Old Lu ...

" within the German

Neo-Lutheranism Neo-Lutheranism was a 19th-century revival movement within Lutheranism which began with the Pietist-driven '' Erweckung,'' or ''Awakening'', and developed in reaction against theological rationalism and pietism. This movement followed the Old L ...

movement. He collaborated with Gottlieb Christian Harless (1806–1879) on edition of the periodical "''Zeitschrift für Protestantismus und Kirche''". Among his more important publications are the following: * ''Das Sacrament der Taufe nebst den anderen damit zusammenhängenden Akten der Initiation'', (The sacrament of baptism, together with other related acts of initiation); (volume 1- 1846, volume 2- 1848). * ''Grundsätze evangelisch-lutherischer Kirchenverfassung'',(Principles of

Evangelical Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched ...

faith) 1850. * ''Die Lehre der ältesten Kirche vom Opfer im Leben und Cultus der Christen, Zeugenverhör in einer Reihe akademischer Programme, angestellt'', (The teaching of the

Early Christian Church Early Christianity (up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325) spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and beyond. Originally, this progression was closely connected to already established Jewish centers in the Holy Land and the Jewish ...

in regards to sacrifice in the life and worship of Christians) 1851.HathiTrust Digital Library
published works * Publications about Höfling: * ''Johann Wilhelm Friedrich Höfling. Leben und Werk'' by Manfred Kiesseg, Gütersloh, Mohn 1991.

References

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English translation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hofling, Johann Wilhelm Friedrich 1802 births 1853 deaths People from Kulmbach (district) German Lutheran theologians Academic staff of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Liturgists 19th-century German Protestant theologians German male non-fiction writers 19th-century male writers 19th-century Lutherans