Category: Edition

Letters from the Berlin period 1691-1705. Vol. 2: 1694-1696

Philipp Jakob Spener was the founder of the Lutheran pietistic movement; his letters are an essential source for research into the Early Modern Age, not only in terms of church history, but also regarding cultural history and the history of ideas.
The edited ‘Letters from the Berlin period 1691-1705’ shed light on Spener’s period as provost at the Church St. Nikolai in Berlin. Letters from the same period are published in ‘Briefwechsel mit Adam Rechenberg’ from volume 3 and in ‘Briefwechsel mit August Hermann Francke’.
Volume 2 contains 212 letters from the years 1694-1696 and reflect a first high point in his disputes with the opponents of Pietism. They provide insights into the origin and reception of his polemics. Among other things, they deal with the dispute over chiliasm and the accusation that Spener disregarded the Lutheran confessional writings. Numerous letters illustrate his influence on personnel developments in the theological faculties in Halle and Giessen as well as on the filling of important clerical positions in Brandenburg.

The volume is available now:

https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/isbn/?9783161644832

Philipp Jakob Spener
Letters from the Berlin Period 1691-1705.
Volume 2: 1694-1696.
Edited by Udo Sträter in collaboration with Klaus vom Orde
2025. XLI, 972 pages.
(Published in German)

Letters from the Berlin period 1691-1705. Vol. 1: 1691-1693

Philipp Jakob Spener was the founder of the Lutheran pietistic movement; his letters are an essential source for research into the Early Modern Age, not only in terms of church history, but also regarding cultural history and the history of ideas.
The edited ‘Letters from the Berlin period 1691-1705’ shed light on Spener’s period as provost at the Church St. Nikolai in Berlin. Letters from the same period are published in ‘Briefwechsel mit Adam Rechenberg’ from volume 3 and in ‘Briefwechsel mit August Hermann Francke’.
Volume 1 contains 190 letters from the years 1691-1693, in which Spener described the circumstances of his change from the position as the court preacher in Dresden to Berlin as Lutheran provost under reformed sovereignty. The consequences of the pietistic disturbances in Leipzig and the horrors of the War of the Palatinate Succession (Nine Years’ War) are reflected in his letters. The Wolfenbüttel Edict against Pietism renewed the accusation of the emergence of a new sect. Chiliastic positions and the phenomenon of new revelations were categorised and commented by Spener. Important literary debates began.

The volume is available now:

https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/isbn/?9783161644177

Philipp Jakob Spener
Letters from the Berlin Period 1691-1705. Volume 1: 1691-1693
Edited by Udo Sträter in collaboration with Marcus Heydecke
2025. LIV, 1024 pages.
(Published in German.)

Correspondence with Adam Rechenberg 1686-1704. Volume 2: 1690-1691

Philipp Jakob Spener was the founder of the Lutheran pietistic movement; his letters are an essential source for research into the Early Modern Age, not only in terms of church history, but also regarding cultural history and the history of ideas.
The correspondence between Spener (1635-1705) and Adam Rechenberg (1642-1721) makes up the most extensive part of the preserved letters, which up to now were only available as original manuscripts. The rich corpus offers comprehensive insights into Spener’s life, thinking, work, and networks that portray many areas of contemporary spiritual and societal life outside of religious circles.
The second volume contains 173 letters from the years 1690-1691. The correspondence shows a detailed picture of the pietistic disturbances in Leipzig and the growing hostility of leading Saxon theologians against Spener. Furthermore, his quarrels with the elector of Saxony and the efforts to call him to Berlin are illustrated precisely.

The volume is available now:

https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/isbn/?9783161644160

Philipp Jakob Spener
Briefwechsel mit Adam Rechenberg 1686–1704
Vol. 2: 1690-1691
Edited by Udo Sträter in collaboration with Claudia Neumann
2025. XXXV, 708 pages
(Published in German)