Johan Magnus Almqvist (September 6, 1799 – October 9, 1873) was a Swedish

theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...

and parliamentarian.

Biography

Almqvist was born in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

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, to civil servant and vicar and Gustava Brandelius. He began his studies at

Uppsala University Uppsala University (UU) () is a public university, public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the List of universities in Sweden, oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation. Initially fou ...

in 1819 and thereafter studied at

Lund University Lund University () is a Public university, public research university in Sweden and one of Northern Europe's oldest universities. The university is located in the city of Lund in the Swedish province of Scania. The university was officially foun ...

, receiving his master's degree in philosophy in 1823. The following year he was ordained. In 1830, Almqvist became vicar of Skärstad Church near Jönköping and remained so until his death. From 1844 to 1866 he was a contractual provost and member of the

Riksdag of the Estates Riksdag of the Estates (; informally ) was the name used for the Estates of Sweden when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King. It was a Diet made up of the Fou ...

. As a politician, he was a liberal and belonged to the opposition party within the clergy against its conservative majority. With regard to criminal law, inheritance law, schools, etc., he belonged to the reformists and voted for the representation bill in the 1865 Riksdag. He was a "staunch supporter" of

Louis Gerhard De Geer Baron Louis Gerard De Geer af Finspång (18 July 181824 September 1896) was a Swedish statesman, lawyer and writer. He was the first Prime Minister of Sweden. Biography De Geer was born at Finspång Castle in Risinge parish, and was a member o ...

, the country's first prime minister, at the 1865 Riksdag. Almqvist also worked for the cause of temperance and was on the 1859–1860 Riksdag committee on spirits. In a polemic with priest Peter Wieselgren (1827) concerning the church's confessional writings, Almqvist asserted "biblical faithfulness" as opposed to "confessional faithfulness", and this biblical Christianity remained his platform during many ecclesiastical battles concerning the church constitution, the new church manual, etc., when he rejected both the church theology from Lund and the

free church A free church is any Christian denomination that is intrinsically separate from government (as opposed to a state church). A free church neither defines government policy, nor accept church theology or policy definitions from the government. A f ...

revival movements. Almqvist was also an author of theological works. He became a member of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...

, a Swedish

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, in 1862. Almqvist married Fredrika Eneström (1800–1885) on July 7, 1830. He was the brother of politician Ludvig Teodor Almqvist. He died in Skärstad in 1873.

Bibliography

* , 1823 British Library, Historical Print Editions * 1827 Stockholm, Bernh. Magn. Bredberg. * , 1829 (Stockholm, published by P. A. Norstedt & Söner) * , 1873

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Almqvist, Johan Magnus 1799 births 1873 deaths Swedish Lutheran theologians 19th-century Swedish Lutheran priests 19th-century Lutheran theologians Members of the Riksdag of the Estates People from Stockholm