Georg Sverdrup, together with Sven Oftedal, were two scholars from prominent Haugean families in Norway who were recruited to the United States by August Weenaas, founding president of Augsburg Seminary. They both brought with them a genuinely radical view of Christian education, centered on Scripture and the simple doctrines of Christianity. In 1874, they became professors at Augsburg.[2] Two years later, Sverdrup was appointed as the president of the Seminary.[2][4][5]
Emphasizing the freedom of the local congregation, together with Sven Oftedal, he founded the Lutheran Free Church in 1897. He also served as the President of Augsburg until his death in 1907. Apart from his teachings, Sverdrup became joint editor to the Theologisk Kvartalskrift (1875–1877; sole editor until 1881), of the weekly church magazine Lutheraneren (1885–1890), later renamed as Luthersk Kirkeblad (1890–1894) and editor of the monthly magazine Gasseren (1900–1907). Many of his writings are published in a six-volume set edited by Andreas Helland.[3]
Viewsedit
Sverdrup was raised in the Norwegian State Church and educated in Lutheran theology. However, he declined to become a minister, serving rather as a Professor at Augsburg Seminary. He was member of the Norwegian Lutheran Conference which existed between 1869 and 1890. Sverdrup believed that the congregation was "the right form of the kingdom of God on earth". He had become concerned with the role and influence of the hierarchy within the church as well as their understanding of the Bible. He believed that, according to the New Testament of the Bible, the local congregation was the correct form of God's kingdom on earth. He believed in a "free church in a free land". His beliefs resulted in his participation in the formation of the Lutheran Free Church in 1897.[6]
Personal lifeedit
Sverdrup married Katherine Elisabet Heiberg in 1874, with whom he had five children. Three years after her death, Sverdrup married Katherine's sister, with whom he had two children. His son George Sverdrup later also served as President of Augsburg College.[7]
^ abcd"Augsburg Seminary". Wilmar Tribune. June 8, 1901. p. 2. Retrieved January 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcGeorg Sverdrup. Dictionary of American Biography Base Set (American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936)
^Hallgeir Elstad. "haugianere". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
^Standing Fast in Freedom (The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations)
^James S. Hamre Georg Sverdrup and the Augsburg Plan of Education (Norwegian-American Historical Association. Volume 26: Page 160)
^James S. Hamre Georg Sverdrup / utdypning (Store norske leksikon)
Other sourcesedit
Hamre, James S. (1986) Georg Sverdrup: Educator, Theologian, Churchman (Northfield, Minn: Norwegian-American Historical Association)
Helland, Andreas (1947) Georg Sverdrup, the Man and His Message 1848–1907 : A Biographical Sketch (Minneapolis, MN)
Tavuchis, Nicholas (2013) Pastors and Immigrants: The Role of a Religious Elite in the Absorption of Norwegian Immigrants (Springer Publishing Company) ISBN9789401760560
External linksedit
The Georg Sverdrup Society Website
January 01, 1970
georg, sverdrup, theologian, founder, norwegian, university, library, georg, sverdrup, georg, sverdrup, december, 1848, 1907, norwegian, american, lutheran, theologian, educator, contents, background, career, views, personal, life, references, other, sources, . For the founder of the Norwegian university library see Georg Sverdrup Georg Sverdrup December 16 1848 May 3 1907 was a Norwegian American Lutheran theologian and an educator 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Career 2 1 Views 3 Personal life 4 References 5 Other sources 6 External linksBackground editHe was born at Balestrand 2 in Sogn og Fjordane Norway to Karoline Metella Suur and Harald Ulrik Sverdrup a member of the Norwegian Parliament whose brother Johan Sverdrup was Prime Minister of Norway between 1884 and 1889 3 He attended the Hartvig Nissens skole in Christiania and later graduated from the University of Christiania in theology in the year of 1871 2 Moving to France he was educated in Semitics at the University of Paris and befriended Sven Oftedal before traveling to Germany to study at several other universities 3 Career editGeorg Sverdrup together with Sven Oftedal were two scholars from prominent Haugean families in Norway who were recruited to the United States by August Weenaas founding president of Augsburg Seminary They both brought with them a genuinely radical view of Christian education centered on Scripture and the simple doctrines of Christianity In 1874 they became professors at Augsburg 2 Two years later Sverdrup was appointed as the president of the Seminary 2 4 5 Emphasizing the freedom of the local congregation together with Sven Oftedal he founded the Lutheran Free Church in 1897 He also served as the President of Augsburg until his death in 1907 Apart from his teachings Sverdrup became joint editor to the Theologisk Kvartalskrift 1875 1877 sole editor until 1881 of the weekly church magazine Lutheraneren 1885 1890 later renamed as Luthersk Kirkeblad 1890 1894 and editor of the monthly magazine Gasseren 1900 1907 Many of his writings are published in a six volume set edited by Andreas Helland 3 Views edit Sverdrup was raised in the Norwegian State Church and educated in Lutheran theology However he declined to become a minister serving rather as a Professor at Augsburg Seminary He was member of the Norwegian Lutheran Conference which existed between 1869 and 1890 Sverdrup believed that the congregation was the right form of the kingdom of God on earth He had become concerned with the role and influence of the hierarchy within the church as well as their understanding of the Bible He believed that according to the New Testament of the Bible the local congregation was the correct form of God s kingdom on earth He believed in a free church in a free land His beliefs resulted in his participation in the formation of the Lutheran Free Church in 1897 6 Personal life editSverdrup married Katherine Elisabet Heiberg in 1874 with whom he had five children Three years after her death Sverdrup married Katherine s sister with whom he had two children His son George Sverdrup later also served as President of Augsburg College 7 References edit Georg Sverdrup Store norske leksikon a b c d Augsburg Seminary Wilmar Tribune June 8 1901 p 2 Retrieved January 10 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp a b c Georg Sverdrup Dictionary of American Biography Base Set American Council of Learned Societies 1928 1936 Hallgeir Elstad haugianere Store norske leksikon Retrieved June 15 2016 Standing Fast in Freedom The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations James S Hamre Georg Sverdrup and the Augsburg Plan of Education Norwegian American Historical Association Volume 26 Page 160 James S Hamre Georg Sverdrup utdypning Store norske leksikon Other sources editHamre James S 1986 Georg Sverdrup Educator Theologian Churchman Northfield Minn Norwegian American Historical Association Helland Andreas 1947 Georg Sverdrup the Man and His Message 1848 1907 A Biographical Sketch Minneapolis MN Tavuchis Nicholas 2013 Pastors and Immigrants The Role of a Religious Elite in the Absorption of Norwegian Immigrants Springer Publishing Company ISBN 9789401760560External links editThe Georg Sverdrup Society Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Georg Sverdrup theologian amp oldid 1018158615, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
