Analysis of the historical Jesus originated as a subversive intellectual project in the study of Hermann Samuel Reimarus, a Hamburg-based scholar who maintained a professional facade of orthodoxy while privately dismantling the theological foundations of his era. His work introduced a naturalistic framework that prioritized human reason over the claims of divine revelation.
Academic Career and Influences
Educated at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums and the University of Jena, Reimarus developed expertise in philology, philosophy, and theology. He served as a Privatdozent at the University of Wittenberg starting in 1716. Following travel in England and the Netherlands, he assumed the role of rector at the high school in Wismar in 1723. In 1727, he returned to Hamburg to serve as a professor of Hebrew and Oriental languages, a position he retained for the remainder of his life. His residence functioned as a prominent cultural hub in Hamburg, where he helped establish societies that influenced the city's intellectual climate.
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Reimarus advocated for Deism, proposing that human reason could independently discern the existence of a creator and ethical truths through nature. He rejected the necessity of miracles and mysteries, arguing that revealed religion could never achieve the universality required of a credible faith. In his view, the Bible contained significant contradictions and historical inaccuracies, rendering it incompatible with rational thought. While he critiqued the supernatural aspects of Christianity, he simultaneously maintained a sincere opposition to atheism.
The Apologie and Posthumous Legacy
His most significant contribution to theological inquiry was the Apologie oder Schutzschrift für die vernünftigen Verehrer Gottes. During his lifetime, this text was shared only with close acquaintances. After his 1768 death, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing published portions of the manuscript between 1774 and 1778, triggering the Fragmentenstreit. These texts proposed that Jesus was a mortal Jewish prophet focused on an imminent worldly kingdom, and that the apostles constructed Christianity as a separate religion to serve their own ambitions. This investigation established a foundation for critical research into the life of the historical Jesus.
Fast facts
- Born: 1694, Hamburg
- Died: 1768, Hamburg
- Citizenship: Holy Roman Empire
- Primary Occupations: Philosopher, theologian, philologist
- Notable Publication: Apologie oder Schutzschrift für die vernünftigen Verehrer Gottes
- Key Academic Posting: Professor of Hebrew and Oriental languages, Hamburg
- Languages: German
- Affiliations: Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences
Questions readers ask
What was the main argument of Reimarus regarding Jesus?
He argued that Jesus was a Jewish prophet preaching an earthly kingdom, and that Christianity was a fabrication created by the apostles.
Why was the Apologie not published during his life?
The work presented a radical critique of revealed religion, which he shared only with a small circle of intimate friends for safety and privacy.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Wittenberg
- Fields: philology, philosophy and history
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