Credner, Karl August

Credner, Karl August, was born Jan. 10, 1797, at Waltershausen, near Gotha. He studied at Jena, Breslau, and Gottingen. In 1830 he became professor extraordinary of theology at Jena, and in 1832 obtained the appointment of ordinary professor at Giessen. He died in 1857. Among his numerous writings are, Der Prophet Joel übersetzt u. erklärt (Halle, 1831): — Beitrge z. Einleit. in die Liblischen Schr. i: — Die Evangelien der Petrineroder Judenchristen (Halle, 1832, ii): — Das alttest. Urevangelium (Halle, 1838): — Einleit. in das N.T. (Halle, 1836): — Zur Gesch. des Kanons (Halle, 1847; new edition by Volckmar, with additions, Berl. 1860): — Das N.T. fur denkende Leser (Giess. 1841-43, 2 vols.). Credner was one of the chief representatives of the Rationalistic school in Germany. In many of his works his theological views are but little apparent, and these, especially his Einleitung, are generally valued by theologians of all schools for their vast amount of information. In some of his late works, however, he shows himself a very determined Rationalist. Credner took also an active part in the religious controversies of his time, publishing a number of books in defense of the rights of the Rationalistic party to remain in the state church, and to enjoy liberty of preaching and teaching (Die Berechtigung der protestant Kiriche Deutschlands, 1845; Asterisken, 1847; Die sittlichen Verirrungen, etc., 1853). Credner also contributed many articles to German periodicals, and to Kitto's Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature. — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 19:366.