Ritschl

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about race that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) ALBRECHT, a German theologian; born in Berlin, Germany, March 25, 1822. His university studies were carried on at Bonn, Halle, Heidelberg, and Tübingen. In 1846 he "habilitated" at Bonn, the subject of his thesis being the relation between the gospel of 1919 there were 250 students and 21 in-Marcion and the canonical gospel of Luke. Ritschl, who had become Professor extraordinarius of Theology at Bonn in 1853, was promoted to an ordinary professorship in 1859, and in 1864 was transferred to Göttingen, where the rest of his life was spent. His lectures, especially those on Christian ethics, soon became famous for their originality and vigor. Ritschl is usually classified as an "eclectic mediating theologian"; perhaps "intermediate" would be a better word, ord, for his theology is uncompromisingly opposed alike by the "rationalists" and by the "orthodox" parties. The Ritschlians now form a large and important school in Germany, the most prominent among them being Kaftan, Herrmann, and Bender. His principal work, on the Christian doctrine of justification and reconciliation, was published in three volumes (1870-1874); the first of which traces the history of the doctrine, the second discusses its Biblical premises, and the third its theological meaning. An English translation of the first volume appeared in 1871. The distinguishing feature of the Ritschlian theology is perhaps the prominence it gives to the practical, ethical, social side of Christianity. Among his works are "A Treatise on Christian Perfection," "A Tract on Conscience," "A Tract on Theology and Metaphysics," etc. He died in Göttingen, March 20, 1889.