An edition project of the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig
Philipp Jakob Spener – Biography
13. January 1635 – Born in Rappoltsweiler, Alsae (County of Rappoltstein)
11. September 1648 – Matriculation in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Strasbourg
Private instruction directed by the Rappoltstein Court Preacher Joachim Stoll
1650/51 – Private instruction in Colmar
2. May 1651 – Studies at the University of Strasbourg
17. March 1653 – Philosophical disputation in qualification for theMaster’s degree Philosophema, De conformatione creaturae rationalis ad creatorem, Thomae Hobbei ejusque hyperaspistis quibusdam ψευδογραφήμασι magna ex parte oppositum Beginning of historical studies with Johann Heinrich Boecler
14. June 1654 – Beginning of theological studies with Sebastian Schmidt and Johann Conrad Dannhauer
1654-1656 – Private tutor for Christian and Johann Carl, Rhenish Palatine Counts
23. June 1659 – Conclusion of theological studies in Strasbourg
1659/60 – Hebrew studies with Johann Buxtorf d.J. in Basel
1660/61 – Extended travels through Europe, including Geneva
May-October 1662 – Journey to Württemberg
16. March 1663 – Preacher without pastoral duties at the Strasbourg Minster
15. June 1664 – Theological disputation in qualification for the Doctor’s degree Muhammedismus in Angelis Euphrataeis S. Johanni Apocal. IX., V. XIII & seq. praemonstratus
23. June1664 – Awarding of the degree of Dr. theol. and marriage to Susanna Erhardt, daughter of a Strasbourg patrician family
20. July 1666 – Appointment as Senior Pastor of the Predigerministerium (council of pastors) of the Free Imperial City of Frankfurt am Main
Early August 1670 – Foundation of the Frankfurt Collegium pietatis
1674 – New edition of Johann Arndt‘s Vier Büchern von Wahrem Christentum
24. March 1675 – Preface to the new edition of Johann Arndt’s Evangelienpostille
Fall Trade Fair 1675 – Separate edition of the preface as: Pia Desideria oder Hertzliches Verlangen nach gottgefälliger Besserung der wahren evangelischen Kirche, sampt einigen dahin einfältig abzweckenden christlichen Vorschlägen
1682 – Separation of Saalhof Pietists from Spener‘s congregation
July 1686 – Senior Court Preacher for the Saxon Elector Johann Georg III. in Dresden
Spring 1687 – First meeting with August Hermann Francke
February 1689 – Conflict with the Elector Johann Georg III.
June 1691 – Provost and Counsellor of the consistory at St. Nikolai church in Berlin
1693 – Chiliasm Dispute
1697/98 – Berlin Confessional Dispute
1698/99 – Spener’s withdrawal from all controversies, concentration on publication of the Theologische Bedencken
5. February 1705 – Death in Berlin and burial in the cemetery of St. Nikolai