Adolf von Harnack

Adams, S. (2011) Adolf von Harnack. In: Kurian, G. T. (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization. Blackwell. ISBN 9780470670606 (doi: 10.1002/9780470670606.wbecc0635)

Abstract

Adolf von Harnack was born in Dorpat, the son of Theododius Harnack, who was an orthodox theologian teaching at Dorpat and Erlangen. Although he began his studies at Dorpat, Harnack soon transferred to Leipzig to complete his doctoral dissertation on the history of gnosticism. He began his teaching career in Leipzig in 1874 and became a professor at Giessen in 1879. In 1886, Harnack accepted a position at Marburg; however, after a bitter controversy he moved to Berlin to become the professor of Church History there in 1888. From 1905 until 1921 Harnack was the director of the Royal Library. He was elevated to the German nobility in 1914, and was the last scholar to whom this honor was given.

• Item Type: Book Sections (Encyclopaedia entry)
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Adams, Professor Sean
• Authors: Adams, S.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Publisher: Blackwell
• ISBN: 9780470670606