Andreas Gottlob Rudelbach

Andreas Gottlob Rudelbach was a Dano-German neo-Lutheran theologian; born at Copenhagen 29 September 1792; died at Slagelse (50 m. s.w. of Copenhagen), Zealand, 3 March 1862. He was educated at the university of his native city, where he became privatdozent. During this period he edited, in collaboration with N. F. S. Grundtvig, the Theologisk Maanedskrift (13 vols., 1825 sqq.), and in 1829 was called to the pastorate of Glauchau, Saxony, where he powerfully aided religious awakening and revolt against the rationalism of the period, though at the same time he opposed any formal separation from the Lutheran Church. In 1830 he aided in founding the Muldenthal pastoral conference, but opposition gradually developed against him, largely on account of his uncompromising Lutheranism, and in 1845 he gladly resigned his pastorate and returned to Denmark. From 1846 to 1848 he lectured at the University of Copenhagen on dogmatics and introduction, but the death of his royal patron in the latter year exposed him to the attacks of those who regarded him as a German and a traitor. He accordingly accepted a call to the pastorate of Slagelse, where he passed the remainder of his life.

He edited the Zeitschrift für die gesammte lutherische Theologie und Kirche (in collaboration with H. E. F. Guericke, Leipzig, 1839 sqq.) and Christliche Biographie, i (1849), and wrote, in addition to the works already mentioned and several volumes of sermons: Hieronymus Savonarola und seine Zeit (Hamburg, 1835); Reformation, Luthertum und Union (Leipzig, 1839); Historische-kritische Einleitung in die Augsburgische Konfession (Dresden, 1841); Amtliches Gutachten über die Wiedereinführung der Katechismus-Examina im Königreich Sachsen, nebst historischer Erörterung der Kathechismus-Anstalten in der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche Deutschlands (1841); and Om Psalme-Literaturen og Psalmebogs-Sagen, historisk-kritiske Undersögelser (Copenhagen, 1856).