The German education of Christian scholar Philip Schaff

The focus of this study is Philip Schaff (1819-1893), whose life spans two continents. Born in Switzerland and educated at German universities, as an immigrant scholar he had a distinguished American career as church historian, biblical scholar, apologist of Christianity, and fervent advocate of the reunion of the Christian churches. This book offers for the first time a scholarly exploration of Philip Schaff's German years of education, for, as the book demonstrates, only a thorough understanding of Schaff's formative years will enable us to do full justice to his distinguished American career. His German education largely shaped his American career. With its broad compass and with its focus of outstanding personalities and theological positions in nineteenth-century German Protestantism, this study therefore contributes to the ongoing scholarly discussion both of a significant figure in nineteenth century American Christianity and of German Protestantism in the nineteenth century's first half, as it contributes to the important field of immigration studies. An extensive bibliography of relevant German literature is another contribution to scholarship by this book.