The Swedish Pietists: A Reader

by Mark Safstrom (Editor)

Overview

Beginning in the 1830s and stretching into the first decades of the twentieth century, the Lutheran state churches of Scandinavia experienced a great spiritual awakening. At the center of this movement were devotional materials and sermons made accessible through colporteurs and booksellers throughout Scandinavia, as well as among immigrants in North America. Two of the most influential and widely-read authors of this period were the Swedish preachers, Carl Olof Rosenius (1816-1868) and Paul Peter Waldenstrom (1838-1917), who became household names through their immensely popular devotional journal Pietisten (""The Pietist""). Both men emerged from the long tradition of revivalism within the Lutheran state churches of Europe known as Pietism, and consciously drew on this heritage as they helped to articulate and redefine the priorities of revival Christianity in a new era. This collection includes many excerpts never before translated into English, as well as an accessible and thorough introduction to these authors' careers and historical contexts. Influenced by their irenic tone, simplicity, and evangelical warmth, translator and editor Mark Safstrom makes available some of the best of Rosenius's and Waldenstrom's writing for a new generation of laypeople, pastors, and scholars. ""This treasure of writings of Swedish Pietists enriches both the mind and soul of the reader. Such writings launched Sweden's spiritual revival of the nineteenth century, and remain timeless in theological breadth and spiritual depth for us in the twenty-first century. What a resource for scholar, pastor, and lay reader alike."" --David M. Gustafson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL ""Mark Safstrom's The Swedish Pietists: A Reader is an invaluable resource for scholars in the fields of history, theology, homiletics, and Scandinavian studies. For those interested in Pietism, renewal movements, and devotional practices, Safstrom's excerpts provide an excellent window into the world of a critical movement in church history. The translation work--both in technical skill and choice of excerpts--shows careful scholarship and makes a real contribution."" --Michelle A. Clifton-Soderstrom, Professor of Theology & Ethics, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL Mark Daniel Safstrom, PhD, is Lecturer in Swedish and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on various aspects of the history of social movements and revivalism in Scandinavia. He has previously written on such topics as the political career of Paul Peter Waldenstrom (chapter in The Pietist Impulse in Christianity, 2011), as well as translated Waldenstrom's allegorical novel Squire Adamsson, Or, Where Do You Live? (2014).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781625647382
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	03/24/2015
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Mark Safstrom, PhD, is Lecturer in Swedish and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on various aspects of the history of social movements and revivalism in Scandinavia. He has previously written on such topics as the political career of Paul Peter Waldenstrom (chapter in The Pietist Impulse in Christianity, 2011), as well as translated Waldenstrom's allegorical novel Squire Adamsson, Or, Where Do You Live? (2014).

Table of Contents

Illustrations x

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

1 Pietism according to Scott and Rosenius 31

Pietism 31

A Pietist 36

2 Knowing God as Father 45

Learning From What We See, To Believe What We Cannot See, Rosenius 45

"Adam, Where Are You?" Rosenius 48

Knowing God as Our True Father, Waldenström 51

The Lord is Good and Righteous, Waldenström 52

Gods Wrath, Rosenius 55

A Reconciled God, and a Heart that is Reconciled to God, Rosenius 56

God's Wrath, Waldenström 59

God's Love, Waldenström 61

God's Grace is Better than Life, Waldenström 62

3 Knowing Jesus as Christ 67

Christ Fulfills the Law in Our Place, Rosenius 67

Christ became a Curse for Our Sake, Rosenius 70

The Rock of Offense, the Great Mystery, Rosenius 75

The Good Shepherd, Rosenius 77

Christ's Office and Work on Earth, Waldenström 81

Punished by God? Waldenström 83

The Debt of Sin, Waldenström 84

The Meaning of Reconciliation, Waldenström 86

The Fruit of Sanctification is New Life, Rosenius 91

Christ Sanctities and Renews the Sinner, Waldenström 96

4 Invitation to the Christian Congregation 101

Recognizing the True Church, Rosenius 101

The Christian Congregation has Room for All Who Believe, Waldenström 103

The People of God is One Body, Waldenström 108

Spiritual Priesthood, Rosenius 109

Lay Preaching, Waldenström 112

The Diversity of Gods Children, Rosenius 113

Testing the Spirits, Rosenius 117

On Holy Baptism, Rosenius 120

Baptism, Waldenström 125

Communion, Rosenius 135

Communion, Waldenström 139

Comfortable Christianity, Waldenström 143

Pray for the Preacher and the Congregation, Waldenström 144

The Blessing of Song, Rosenius 146

Citizenship in Heaven, Rosenius 148

The Kingdom of God and the Congregation, Waldenström 154

"The Hidden District" from Squire Adamsson, or Where Do You Live? Waldenström 157

5 Invitation to Experience the Life of Faith 168

The Spirit Awakens Us to Life, Rosenius 168

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman, Rosenius 172

Faith Shall be Tested, Rosenius 178

The Function of Doubt, Rosenius 181

What is Faith? Waldenström 186

God is My Assurance, Waldenström 190

Praying for Daily Bread, Rosenius 194

Lord Jesus, Make Us Merciful Like You! Waldenström 199

The Believers' Freedom from the Law, Rosenius 202

Permissible and Beneficial, Waldenström 207

Civil Rights and Responsibilities, Waldenström 211

You are the Salt and Light of the World, Waldenström 216

6 Appendix: Historic Addresses 221

It is Now Lawful to Congregate in Jesus' Name! Rosenius 221

Sermon for the Second Day of Easter, 1864, Waldenström 222

Apology in Response to Archbishop Reuterdahl's Refusal of Ordination, Waldenström 227

"Was the Apostle Peter Legally Married?" Waldenström 230

Bibliography 233

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This treasure of writings of Swedish Pietists enriches both the mind and soul of the reader. Such writings launched Sweden's spiritual revival of the nineteenth century, and remain timeless in theological breadth and spiritual depth for us in the twenty-first century. What a resource for scholar, pastor, and lay reader alike."
—David M. Gustafson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL

"Mark Safstrom's The Swedish Pietists: A Reader is an invaluable resource for scholars in the fields of history, theology, homiletics, and Scandinavian studies. For those interested in Pietism, renewal movements, and devotional practices, Safstrom's excerpts provide an excellent window into the world of a critical movement in church history. The translation work—both in technical skill and choice of excerpts—shows careful scholarship and makes a real contribution."
—Michelle A. Clifton-Soderstrom, Professor of Theology & Ethics, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL

Editorial Reviews

This treasure of writings of Swedish Pietists enriches both the mind and soul of the reader. Such writings launched Sweden's spiritual revival of the nineteenth century, and remain timeless in theological breadth and spiritual depth for us in the twenty-first century. What a resource for scholar, pastor, and lay reader alike.
--David M. Gustafson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL

Mark Safstrom's The Swedish Pietists: A Reader is an invaluable resource for scholars in the fields of history, theology, homiletics, and Scandinavian studies. For those interested in Pietism, renewal movements, and devotional practices, Safstrom's excerpts provide an excellent window into the world of a critical movement in church history. The translation work--both in technical skill and choice of excerpts--shows careful scholarship and makes a real contribution.
--Michelle A. Clifton-Soderstrom, Professor of Theology & Ethics, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL

From the Publisher