Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg

Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg (1802-1869), a Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Berlin and editor of the influential Protestant Church Newspaper (Evangelische Kirchenzeitung), was one of the most distinguished and controversial advocates of the conservative group in the 19th century church. In this study, the author explores the development of his thinking, using a wide variety of sources, and analyzes the motivation for his actions. He explains Hengstenberg's relationship to revivalism, describes his understanding of theology and the church and deals with the issue of the role politics played in his life and his position in regard to political events. This work makes a substantial contribution to the study of church conservatism which started to grow stronger in the first third of the 19th century.