Adolf Köberle (July 3, 1898 – March 22, 1990) was a German

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing th ...

. From 1922 to 1926, he was head of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Seminary in Leipzig.G. Müller (Hrsg.): Rechtfertigung, Realismus, Universalismus in biblischer Sicht. Festschrift für Adolf Köberle zum achtzigsten Geburtstag. Darmstadt, 1978 (mit Bibliographie) From 1930 to 1939, he was Professor of

Systematic Theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topi ...

Basel , french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese , neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS) ...

. He is best known for his work, ''The Quest for Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Investigation.'' Köberle studied philosophy and theology at

University of Tübingen The University of Tübingen, officially the Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen (german: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; la, Universitas Eberhardina Carolina), is a public research university located in the city of Tübingen, Baden-W� ...

. In 1928, he received his doctorate with the writing of ''Das Verhältnis von Rechtfertigung und Heiligung in seiner Bedeutung für den christlichen Glauben. Eine biblische, theologiegeschichtliche und systematische Untersuchung''. The book was published later under the title ''Rechtfertigung und Heiligung,'' and translated to English in 1936 by John C. Mattes under the title ''The Quest for Holiness: A Biblical, Historical and Systematic Investigation''. The "brilliant theological study... attracted so much attention in Germany that within a few years it passed through three editions..."Köberle, Adolf: The Quest for Holiness, xv. Ballast Press 1999. Köberle primarily wrote about Christian holiness as being motivated by the love of Christ and gratitude to God (rather than being motivated by obligation or fear).Köberle, Adolf: Rechtfertigung und Heiligung. Eine biblische, theologiegeschichtliche und systematische Untersuchung. Leipzig, 2. Auflage 1929; Gießen, 4. Auflage 1987 He was considered a representative and interpreter of the heritage of Lutheran

Pietism Pietism (), also known as Pietistic Lutheranism, is a movement within Lutheranism that combines its emphasis on biblical doctrine with an emphasis on individual piety and living a holy Christian life, including a social concern for the needy an ...

Notable quotations

* "...The personal and voluntary relationship between God and man that is taught in the Bible has been utterly betrayed and forgotten."Köberle, Adolf. ''The Quest for Holiness.'' Translated by John C. Mattes, D.D. Ballast Press 1999. p.10 * "The legalistic Pharisee, who had imagined that he could purely and completely fulfill God's will with his own natural powers, lays aside the proud legal name he bore. The alpine heights of human piety and virtue become very small in his eyes as he views Him Who dwelleth in the heavens. The relative difference existing on earth, from which the vanity and self-consciousness of man draws its support, are all levelled (Rom. 1-3)."Köberle, Adolf. ''The Quest for Holiness.'' Translated by John C. Mattes, D.D. Ballast Press 1999. p.23

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koberle, Adolf 1898 births 1990 deaths People from Bayreuth (district) People from the Kingdom of Bavaria German Lutheran theologians University of Tübingen alumni 20th-century German Protestant theologians German male non-fiction writers 20th-century Lutherans