Lang, Georg Heinrich

Lang, Georg Heinrich a distinguished German theologian, was born November 28, 1740, at Oettingen. He received a scientific education in his native town, and pursued theology at the University of Jena. In 1765 he assumed a pastorate at Bühl, and in 1770 accepted a call to Hohen-und-Nieder-Altheim. From 1774 to 1779 he filled the position of superintendent and pastor at Trochtelsingen, and in the latter year returned to his late pastorate. In 1789 he became court preacher and ecclesiastical counselor to the reigning princess at Ratisbon. He died March 15, 1806. Lang exerted no little influence in the progress and culture of religious learning. His Dictionary of the N.T. ( Worterbuch des neuen Testamentes), which appeared in 1778, placed him in the front rank of writers on the theory and history of the Christian religion. His intense zeal for the practical in later life directed his literary activity to the popular treatment of religious truth; hence appeared Katechetisches Magazin; Neues Magazin; Ascetische Bibliothek, and numerous sermons and liturgical writings. In his homiletical writings he developed many new and happy ideas, peculiarly adapted to the exigencies of the times. Many estimable traits of character both adorned his private life and enhanced his merits as a teacher of religious truth. For a list of his works, see Döring, Gelehrte Theol. Deutschlands, 2:229.