The Principle of Protestantism as Related to the Present State of the Church
Overview
The Principle of Protestantism as Related to the Present State of the Church grew out of Schaff’s inaugural address delivered at Reading, Pennsylvania on October 25, 1844. This volume outlines the goals and intentions of Protestantism—both theologically and culturally—in the context of particular nineteenth century challenges. He describes the relationship of Protestantism to the Roman Catholic Church, as well as rationalism, realism, and the emergence of historical understanding. Schaff’s call for reconciliation in this volume between Roman Catholics and Protestants ignited fierce controversy.
With Logos, this important work by Philip Schaff is easier to read than ever before! The Scripture texts link to your Greek and Hebrew texts and English translations. And your digital library gives you the ease and flexibility to read Schaff alongside the primary texts of the key figures in church history, such as Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, and the Church Fathers.
Key Features
- Outlines the goals and intentions of Protestantism
- Explanation of the relationship of Protestantism to the Roman Catholic Church
- Introduction by John W. Nevin
Praise for the Print Edition
In the development of the discipline of church history in the United States, few scholars played a more important role than the Swiss-born, German-educated immigrant Philip Schaff. His model of careful, accurate, comprehensive, and irenic scholarship . . . remains worthy of admiration and emulation.
—R. Graham, professor of American church history, North Park Theological Seminary
No scholar of his generation has interested me so much. He was broad, powerful, a man of great genius.
Philip Schaff wanted to be remembered as a Christian scholar, and he pursued this scholarship in the context of his grand and optimistic ecumenical vision . . . Schaff was, in his own words, an inveterate hoper.
—George Shriver
Product Details
- Title: The Principle of Protestantism as Related to the Present State of the Church
- Author: Philip Schaff
- Publisher: Publication Office of the German Reformed Church
- Publication Date: 1845
- Pages: 215
About Philip Schaff
Philip Schaff (1819–1893) was born in Chur, Switzerland. He was educated in Germany at Tübingen, Halle, and Berlin, where he studied under August Neander. In 1843, he moved to America and became a professor of church history and biblical literature at the German Reformed Theological Seminary in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania.
During that time, he edited a hymnal, worked on the liturgy in the German Reformed Church, and edited a translation of the Heidelberg Catechism. The English translation of his History of the Apostolic Church appeared in 1853. Schaff remained at Mercersburg until 1863, when the Civil War forced the seminary to close.
In 1870, Schaff became a professor at Union Theological Seminary. During his tenure there, he held the chair of theological encyclopedia and Christian symbolism, the chair of Hebrew and cognate languages, the chair of sacred literature, and the chair of church history. He also served on the committee that translated the American Standard Version.
Schaff also authored or edited the History of the Christian Church, Early Church Fathers, and the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. He is remembered as one of America’s foremost church historians of the nineteenth century.
Top Highlights
“forming it into itself, much as this may be denied by the world in its present stage” (Page 145)
“undervalued, in favor of personal individual piety, the sacraments in favor of faith” (Page 123)
“even, yea the rage of diabolic passion itself, must only help forward in the end” (Page 138)
“For the relation of Christ to humanity is not outward, but inward and essential” (Page 68)
“approved philosophy, indeed may be said to be the scholastic Aristotelian” (Page 143)
- Title: The Principle of Protestantism as Related to the Present State of the Church
- Author: Philip Schaff
- Publisher: The German Reformed Church
- Print Publication Date: 1845
- Logos Release Date: 2011
- Era: era:modern
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Mercersburg theology; Protestantism
- Resource ID: LLS:PRINCPROT
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2021-04-26T19:24:20Z
Philip Schaff (1819–1893) was one of the most distinguished church historians who ever lived. He was educated at Tübingen, Halle, and Berlin, and was professor of church history and biblical literature at German Reformed Theological Seminary. When the Civil War forced the seminary to close, Schaff moved to Union Theological Seminary. Schaff had an enormous influence on German Reformed churches in America, and he wrote History of the Christian Church, Creeds of Christendom, and The Principle of Protestantism.