Christian Cyclopedia

(Fürbringer; March 29, 1864–May 6, 1947). Son of O. Fuerbringer*; b. Frankenmuth, Michigan; grad. Conc. Sem., St. Louis, Missouri, 1885; pastor Frankenmuth, Michigan, 1885–93; prof. Conc. Sem., St. Louis, 1893–1947; pres. 1931–43; pres. Synodical* Conf. 1927–44.

Combined strong pastoral sense with fluent literary activity and scholarship across a broad front, esp. in Biblical exegesis. Strongly conservative in some respects of the latter (repudiation of source hypothesis [see Higher Criticism, 6], simplified view of the Bible canon,* Messianic prophecy understood in terms of E. W. Hengstenberg*), but his exegetical lectures also revealed mastery of contemporary, esp. Ger., scholarship (influenced by T. v. Zahn*) and moved ahead of his time in stress on unity of the Testaments. salvation hist., and the eschatological tension bet. the present and the Parousia.* Displayed remarkable alertness to cultural values of his ch. and community and phenomenal memory for the 2 generations of his students and their families. Free and open in discussion, but cautious in establishing policy. Often progressive in educ., soc., and pol. areas.

Works include 80 Eventful Years; Persons and Events; The Eternal Why; Theologische Hermeneutik; Einleitung in alas Alte Testament; Einleitung in das Neue Testament; Liturgik. Ed. Der Lutheraner 1896–1912, 1917–47; Synodalhandbuch and Statistisches Jahrbuch of the Mo. Syn.; Briefe von C. F. W. Walther; the Men and Missions series: sermons: The Thomasius Gospel Selections; Die Evangelischen Perikopen des Kirchenjahres; rev. eds. of M. Günther's* Populäre Symbolik. RRC