Johann Joachim Spalding

Critical Version (SpKA)

With this edition, Johann Joachim Spaldings’ preachments are made publicly available in singular volumes. The text is represented in a diplomatic way, the different versions are presented as a structured overview. These editions include introduction, commentaries and detailed registers.

Published episodes (list only available in German)

Johann Joachim Spalding’s short bibliography

Johann Joachim Spalding (1714-1804), a main representative of the German Enlightenment, was born on 1st November 1714 in Tribsees. After he visited Gymnasium Stralsund, he started studying theology and philosophy at the university of Rostock in 1731. Because Spalding was not content with the theology taught, he left after two years and worked as an at-home-teacher. After that he returned to his birth town, and supported his father in his work as priest and wrote his dissertation, which was published in 1736.

In the following years, he published smaller essays and translated different English and French philosophical writings. From 1745 till 1747 he was the secretary of a Swedish diplomate in Berlin. 1748 his most influential work was published which was followed by several others. In 1749 he worked as a priest in Lassan. In 1751, he was married to Wilhelmine Sophie Gebhardi. In 1757, he was first priest and propositus of the synod in Barth. After the death of his first wife (1762), with whom he had six children, he married Maria Dorothea von Sodenstern in 1764. Twice, he neglected a job offering of the university of Greifswald.

1764 marks the climax of his professional career. He moved to Berlin and became Prussian “Oberkonsistorialrat, brandenburgischer Provinzialkonsistorialrat, as well as Propst and first preacher of the Nikolai and Marienchurch”. After the death of his second wife, he married Maria Charlotte Lieberkühn 1775. He participated in composition and publishing of the Hymnbook which was influenced by Neology and was published in 1780. The Prussian queen Elisabeth Christine chose him to be her spiritual adviser. At the 25th September 1788 Spalding gave his final preachment. 1791 he stopped being Oberkonsistorialrat and went back to his family circle. He died on 22nd May 1804.