RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Walafrid Walch
matice (1723), he prepared for his own lectures an Hinleitung in die christliche Moral (Jena, 1757), and Hinleitung in die dogmatische and in die polemische Cottesgelahrhett (2 vols., 1752-57). ices in behalf of theological literature are his edition of Bosius’ Introductio in notitiam scriptorum ecclestasticorum (1723); the still important Bibliotheca theologica selecta (4 vols., 1757-65); and Bibliotheca patristica litterartis adnotationibus instructa (1770). He edited the works of Luther (24 vols., Halle, 1740-52) with valuable introductions and the inclusion of many documents of the Reformation period. Mention should also be made of his Jntroductio in libros symbolicos ecclesie Lutherane (Jena, 1732); and his edition, in German and Latin, of the Christliches Konkordienbuch (1750). Inspired by Buddeus, Walch wrote, in 1724, his Theologische Hinleitung in die vornehmsten Religionsstreitigkeiten, etc., which expanded into five volumes, under the title Historische und theologische Hinleitung in die Religionsstreitigketiten, welche sonderlich ausser der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche entstanden (1733-86). At the same time he began independently his still valuable work, Historische und theologische Hinleitung in die Religionsstreitigkeiten der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche (5 vols., 1730-39). He was the author also of Miscellanea sacra (Amsterdam, 1744); Historia ecclesiastica Novi Testamenti variis observationibus illustrata (Jena, 1744); and Historia controversie Grecorum Latinorumque de processione Spiritus Sanctt (1751). Though in early life inclined toward Pietism, and ever seeking to be just and impartial, he was strongly opposed to the Moravians, whose doctrines were condemned by him in the opinion requested by his sovereign in 1747 (ed. J. P. Fresenius, 1751).
2. Johann Ernst Immanuel: Eldest son of the preceding; b. at Jena Aug. 25, 1725; d. there Dec. 1, 1778. He was educated at the university of his native city, where he became privat-docent in exegesis in 1746, which resulted in his Hinleitung in die Harmonie der Evangelisten (Jena, 1749). In 1750 he was appointed associate professor and in 1755 full professor of logic and mathematics; in 1759 he became professor of oratory and poetry, in 1768 senior professor of the philosophical faculty, and in 1770 aulic councilor. Walch devoted himself first to philology, though after 1760 his interest in natural science became predominant. He ever retained, however, an active interest in orthodox theology, and in this spirit wrote Dissertationes in Acta Apostolorum (3 parts, 1756-66); Antiquitates nautice ex itinere Pauli Romano (1767); Antiquitates symbolice, quibus symboli apostolici historia illustratur (1772); the posthumous Observationes in Mattheum ex Grecis inscriptionibus (1779); and the following works on persecutions of the Christians: Marmor Hispania antiquum, vexationis Christianorum Neroniane insigne documentum (1750); Christianorum sub Diocletiano in Hispania persecutio ex antiquis imscriptionibus illustrata (1751); and Persequutionis Christianorum Neroniane in Hispania . . . uberior explanatio (1753).
3. Christian Wilhelm Franz: Younger brother of the preceding; b. at Jena Dec. 25, 1726; d. at Gottingen Mar. 10, 1784. He was educated at the
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University of Jena, where, after lecturing on exegesis, philosophy, and history until 1747, he was appointed associate professor of philosophy in 1750. He now accepted a call to Gottingen as full professor of the same subject, but from 1754 until his death was a member of the theological faculty, first as associate (1754-57) and later (1757-84) as full professor. He was able to find time for voluminous works and numerous occasional academic pamphlets; and he was active in the administration of the university. He became the senior professor of his faculty in 1766, and six years later was appointed British’consistorial councilor. In his lectures he used many of his own text-books, among them his edition of his father’s Theologie dogmatice epitome tabulis analyticts expressa (Jena, 1757); Compendium historie ecclesiastice recentissime (1757); Grundsdtze der natirlichen Gottesgelahrheit (1760); Grundsdtze der Kirchengeschichte des Neuen Testaments (G6ttingen, 1761); and Breviarium theologie symbolice ecclesie Lutherane (1765). He was a collector of data rather than an original thinker, but his work is still of value, especially in the domain of church history. His theological attitude was, in general, a moderate Lutheranism. His Geschichte der evangelisch-lutherischen Religion als ein Beweis, dass sie die wahre set (Jena, 1753) is little more than the application of a narrow concept of divine providence to the origin and development of the Lutheran Reformation. His accuracy of investigation and his abhorrence of mere hypotheses are better seen in his more noteworthy works on church history, especially the Hntwurf einer vollstindigen Historie der Ketzereien, Spaltungen und Religionsstreitigkeiten bis auf die Zeitender Reformation (11 parts, Leipsic, 1762-85). He maintained that there is no “ necessary truth ”’ in history, but only “ chance changes of chance things,” and that deductions from historical facts are admissible only when “ physical or moral necessities ”’ are present, these principles being urged both in his Gedanken von der Geschichte der Glaubenslehre (Gottingen, 1765), and Kritische Nachricht von den Quellen der Kirchenhistorie (Leipsic, 1770). He sought to find causes and sources partly in the tendencies, prejudices, and capabilities of persons, and partly in the external circumstances conditioning them; and his final judgment was based on the problem which side represented the truth and on the moral characters of the personages involved. In presenting his conclusions, moreover, he seldom failed to apply a lesson to the conditions of his time. Similar principles underlie Walch’s Entwurf einer vollsténdigen Historie der rémischen Pdpste (1756; Eng. transl., Compendious Hist. of the Popes, London, 1759); Entwurf einer vollstindigen Historie der Kirchenversammlungen (1759); Bibliotheca symbolica vetus (Lemgo, 1770); and Neueste Religions-Geschichte (in collaboration with others; 9 parts, 1771-83). His polemic against Semler and Lessing, the Kritische Untersuchung vom Gebrauch der heiligen Schrift in den vier ersten Jahrhunderten (Leipsic, 1774), is still of value as a collection of material. Besides his important Monumenta medii evi ex bibliotheca regia Hannoverana (2 vols., Géttingen, 1757-64) and Philologische Bibliothek (1770 sqq.), Walch also wrote among other works: Antiquitates pallii philosophict veterum Chris-
Waldeck-Pyrmont Waldenses