PIA DESIDERIA

Philp Jacob Spener

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I. Socio-historical background

The Thirty Year’s War in Germany, initiated by the conflict between Protestants and Catholics for their expansions, was gradually developed into a large scaled war involving a political powers, and even countries in later to extend their territories.[1] On October 27, 1648, the Thirty Year’s War finally ended with the treaties of Osnabruck and Munster, part of the wider Peace of Westphalia. Germany where was the center of the battle field, had been damaged so badly that only irrevocable ruins and pains were left across the nation. Subsequently, famine and pestilence hit the land, restless social-crimes and violations threatened inhabitances, and religions, tragically, forfeited their functions as well. Because of the difficulties, the size of the Christianity in Germany has increased, however, people, at the time, were lack of consciences and spiritually deteriorated. Hence, churches, rather, gradually lose their power and vitality.[2] Moreover, churches were enervated rapidly since the authorities whose power – according to the divine prophecy (Isa. 49:23) – was given by God should have use their powers to advance the kingdom of God, but, instead, captured by their own avarice, tried to deprive privileges church had possessed.[3] They, later, even achieved the rights to appoint clergies and enact the church laws. As a result, clergies become more like government officials and it, eventually, accelerated corruptions both on clergies and churches. The clergies, like authorities, were thoroughly fainted. Their life reflects a worldly spirit, marked by carnal pleasure, lust of the eye, and arrogant behavior, and so it is evident that they have never taken even the first practical principle of Christianity seriously, namely, denial of self[4]. They all look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ(Phil. 2:21), fawning over the authorities seeking promotions. Common people, confined in the perfunctory worship, pretends to be a Christian but they had already lost the dignity and peace in their mind. All of those factors radicalized public opinions to return to the Lutheranism and end the controversies over dogmas, but emphasized on the individual piety[5].

II. Theology of Spener

A. Theological background

1. Mysticism : End of medieval times

Mysticism is one of the important flows to understand Spener’s Pietism. While some of historians contradict this idea, but most of people agree to the Eric Seeberg’s opinion: “All the Pietism have the tendency of the mysticism.” Mysticism’s monastery-centered tradition had influenced on Spener both directly and indirectly, and had affected to Luther and Arndt as well. The representative mystics are Meister Eckhart(1260-1328), and John Tauler(1300-1361).

2. Martin Luther, 1483-1546

“Compare the writings of our dear Luther, in which he expounds the Word of God or treats articles of the Christian faith, with the still extant works of many other theologians who lived in and shortly after his time or with a majority of the books being published today. To speak candidly, in the former one will assuredly encounter and experience great spiritual power, together with wisdom presented with the utmost simplicity”[6]

Spener confessed that through Luther, he encountered and experienced great spiritual power, together with wisdom presented with the utmost simplicity. Spener enjoyed the teaching from Luther and in many ways, he tried to take after him. Most of all, Spener had a great interest in Luther’s holy life, since he believed that is the essence of faith. Spener formed his thoughts not only by the direct meeting with Luther and his works, but also apostles in the Lutheran orthodox who attempted the reforms.

3. John Arndt, 1555-1621

John Arndt took a significant role on Spener’s Pietism. Even Spener valued on Arndt equally as Luther. The book of ‘True Christianity’ by Arndt was what Spener cared the most next to the bible. This book provided an excellent example to Spener how to reform the German Lutheran Churches. Arndt claimed that the dogma itself is not enough to maintain Christians’ spirituality, but advocated and imitated the mysticism at the time. Those aspects had become a corner stone of Spener’s ideas and actions.

4. Puritans[7]

Puritans is a reformative movement against the English Catholic Church of its practices, political system, and perfunctory, advocating greater "purity" of worship and doctrine, as well as personal and group piety. Spener, in his early age, had impressed by the book of ‘The Practice of Pietie’ written by the puritan, Lewis Bayly. The book was about the guidance to discipline Christians’ faith growth.

5. Joachim Stoll

The most influential person in Spener’s childhood. His lessons provided to Spener a solid foundation of his theological works in later.

6. Jean de Labadie, 1610-1674

Spener learned passion and vitality of faith from Jean de Labadie, an enthusiastic preacher.

7. Book of Theophil Grossgebauer

Spener behold the church corruption through his book, and in later, accepted his work in his book, PIA DESIDERIA.

B. Features on Spener’s Theology

1. More Extensive Use of the Scriptures

Thought should be given to a more extensive use of the Word of God among us.[8] Spener proclaimed that it is not enough to know better of bible with the only sermon in the service. Rather, he insisted, first, laities must have the deep knowledge of bible to obtain a sufficient outcomes; second, they must read the bible as much as they could. Thus, he suggested the bible study to meet those needs.

2. Exercise of the Spiritual Priesthood

Spener, accompanying with Luther’s idea, mentioned that everyone in the church are the priest through the holy spirit, which is only limited to clergies in the Roman Catholic Church. Accordingly, laities, as a priest, should be diligent at read bible, educate, console, and show love to neighbors. Moreover, it is good for clergies either since they will have supports in many ways, which was hard to managed by him/herself alone.

3. Practice vs. Knowledge of Christianity

Spener claims that it is by no means enough to have knowledge of the Christian faith, for Christianity consists rather of practice. If we can therefore awaken a fervent love among our Christians, first toward one another and then toward all men, and put this love into practice, practically all that we desire will be accomplished. For all the commandments are summed up in love.(Rom. 13:9)[9]

4. Conduct of Religious Controversies[10]

Spener advise people to be beware of how they conduct themselves in religious controversies with unbelievers and heretics. He asserts that people should protect themselves from every kind of seductions, and at the same time, practice the duties as a Christian. First of all, pray earnestly that the good God may enlighten and lead them to the truth. Secondly, give them a good example and careful not to offend them in any way. Thirdly, indicate decently but forcefully how their errors conflict with the Word of God and what dangers they carry in their wake. Fourthly, all of this done out of heartfelt love toward them. Lastly, do not stake everything on argumentation for God perhaps has the bigger plans.

5. Reform of Schools and Universities[11]

Minister should be a true Christian and, then, have the divine wisdom to guide others carefully on the way of the Lord. And such suitable persons must be trained in the schools and universities. Accordingly, the schools would have to be recognized from the outward life of the students to be nurseries of the church for all estates and as workshops of the Holy Spirit. The professors could themselves accomplish a great deal here by their example. Besides, students should be diligence and study hard, for study without piety is worthless.

6. Preaching for Purposes of Edificaiton[12]

The sermons be so prepared by all that their purpose may be achieved in the hearers to the greatest possible degree. The pulpit is not the place for an ostentatious display of one’s skill. It is rather the place to preach the Word of the Lord plainly but powerfully. Words should be powerful enough to penetrate people’s heart, so that the Holy Spirit speak there. Since the real power of all Christianity consists of this, it would be proper if sermons, on the whole, were pointed in such a direction. If his were to happen, much more edification would surely resulted in.

III. Influences of Spener’s Theology

A. The Birth of Protestant Missions

At first, the Pietists were not interested in world missions, although they were active in meeting the needs of their fellow Christians by founding schools and institutions to serve orphans, the poor, and others in need. But, in 1707, the King of Denmark, an admirer of the Pietists, decided to send missionaries to his colonies in India. The letters from missionaries circulated in Germany, awakened great interest among the Pietists.[13]

B. John Wesley and Methodism[14]

On 14 October 1735, Wesley and his brother Charles sailed for Savannah in the Province of Georgia in the American colonies at the request of Governor James Oglethorpe. Oglethorpe wanted Wesley to be the minister of the newly formed Savannah parish. It was on the voyage to the colonies that Wesley first came into contact with Moravian settlers. Wesley was influenced by their deep faith and spirituality rooted in pietism. At one point in the voyage a storm came up and broke the mast off the ship. While the English panicked, the Moravians calmly sang hymns and prayed. This experience led Wesley to believe that the Moravians possessed an inner strength which he lacked. The deeply personal religion that the Moravian pietists practiced heavily influenced Wesley's theology of Methodism.

C. Present Christianity

The Christianity in many parts around the world such as United States, South Korea and other European countries, where, in the past, was flourished, now encountered with the declination of its power and number. Moreover, the images of Christianity especially with clergies, Christians, and churches were fall into the bottom. Even though the Christianity in those countries are eager to recover its heydays, but they still does not have the clear solution. In this reality, the book of PIA DESIDERIA by Philp J. Spener, present a valuable lessons to the Christianity how to way out from the inextricable maze. [15]

References

1. Kyungdong Cho. “The Study of Philip Jacob Spener” Kyunggi Province. Hapdong Theological Seminary. (2003) Print.

2. Philip Jacob Spener. Tranlated, Pia Desideria. Ed. Theodore G. Tappert. Oregon, Wipf and Stock Publisher, 2002. Print.

3. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.

4. Justo L. Gonzalez. The Story of Christianity. Vol 2. New York, HarperOne, 1985. Print.

5. Daeyung Kim. “How to Reform the Korea Church in the Perspective of Pietism” Soeul. Mokwon Theological Seminary. (2007) Print.

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[1] “The Thirty Year’s War” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

[2] Kyungdong Cho. “The Study of Philip Jacob Spener” Kyunggi Province. Hapdong Theological Seminary. (2003) 7. Print.

[3] Philip Jacob Spener. Tranlated, Pia Desideria. Ed. Theodore G. Tappert. Oregon, Wipf and Stock Publisher, 2002. 43-44. Print.

[4] Ibid. 45

[5] Kyungdong Cho. “The Study of Philip Jacob Spener” Kyunggi Province. Hapdong Theological Seminary. (2003) 8. Print.

[6] Philip Jacob Spener. Tranlated, Pia Desideria. Ed. Theodore G. Tappert. Oregon, Wipf and Stock Publisher, 2002. 51. Print.

[7] “Puritan” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

[8] Philip Jacob Spener. Tranlated, Pia Desideria. Ed. Theodore G. Tappert. Oregon, Wipf and Stock Publisher, 2002. 87. Print.

[9] Ibid. 95-96

[10] Ibid. 97-102

[11] Ibid. 103-114

[12] Ibid. 115-117

[13] Justo L. Gonzalez. The Story of Christianity. Vol 2. New York, HarperOne, 1985. 207-208. Print.

[14] “John Wesley” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2010.

[15] Daeyung Kim. “How to Reform the Korea Church in the Perspective of Pietism” Soeul. Mokwon Theological Seminary. (2007) 1-3, 65-68. Print.