Biographical sketch: F.W. Krummacher

Church bulletin for July

Friedrich Wilhelm Krummacher was born January 28 1796 in the Prussian town of Mors where his father was minister of the Reformed church. At age 16 he joined a militia as the Prussian army fought against the advances of Napoleon. He didn’t see action and upon finishing high school began attending the University of Halle in 1815 to study Theology. It was here that Krummacher felt the full force of rationalistic thinking.

He was taught that the only grid through which truth could be known was reason. Faith was rejected by his tutors and therefore the deity and miracles of Christ were rejected. Whatever didn’t fit with rationalism was rejected or re-interpreted. Christ merely came to teach and lead by example; He did not die a substitutionary death nor did He rise from the dead. Krummacher however had been well grounded through the ministry of his father. In 1823 he was ordained pastor at Ruhort; he later moved to Elberfeld and it was here that he began to cement his reputation as a gifted preacher. This led to a call to the pastorate in Berlin and from there he became court chaplain in Potsdam where he remained until his death in 1868. He was a hugely influential figure in German evangelicalism and fostered close relationships with other church leaders who stood against the tide of liberalism. 

Church historian Philip Schaff provides an interesting assessment: ‘Krummacher does not make a pleasing impression at first sight. He is not good looking. He is built like a lion, and his eloquence corresponds with his build. An imposing, strong figure, massive facial features, a wild confused head of hair, grey eyes, the man vanishes, so to speak, in the pulpit orator. The solemn bass voice which pours itself forth like thunder upon his congregation, the rushing torrent of his figures, the bold but controlled gestures, the tossing of the head from side to side, the contents of the sermon itself, which is always original and, clothed in splendid garb, unlocks the depths of sin and grace, now breaking to pieces the fabric of the old man and the pleasures of the world, now comforting and with magic softness, wooing to the source of salvation.’

Krummacher authored numerous books which are still available today including Elijah the Tishbite, The Last days of Elisha, The Risen Redeemer, The Suffering Saviour, and an autobiography. Like his contemporary Adolphe Monod, Krummacher has largely fallen into obscurity and deserves to be re-discovered by a new Christian readership.   

 

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