This book investigates the relationship between nineteenth-century German theological
Wissenschaft and the emergence of confessional Lutheranism. This study argues that the first generation of confessional Lutherans contributed to the discourse over the nature of theological
Wissenschaft. Part I examines the intellectual context of nineteenth-century theological
Wissenschaft. Chapter 2 presents Kant's and Schelling's conceptions of
Wissenschaft in relationship to theology. Chapter 3 analyzes Schleiermacher's contribution to the debate about the integrity of theology as a
Wissenschaft, and concludes by considering the developments represented by F.C. Baur and Albrecht Ritschl. Part II investigates the different Lutheran approaches to theological
Wissenschaft represented by Adolf Harle , August Vilmar, and Johannes von Hofmann. Chapter 4 examines Harle 's Theologische Encyklopädie as the first expression towards a confessional Lutheran
Wissenschaft. Chapter 5 highlights Vilmar's antagonistic posture towards modern German theology, while attending to his construction of an alternative approach to modern theology. Chapters 6 and 7 contextualize Hofmann against the landscape of German theology, while situating his theological
Wissenschaft within his contentious work
Der Schriftbeweis. Chapter 8 reflects upon these efforts at establishing a theological
Wissenschaft in service to the church and the university.
