HENGSTENBERG, ERNST WILHELM. - Principal representative of "orthodox" (positiv, positiv-gläubig) Protestant theology and exegesis in the 19th century, b. at Fröndenberg (Ruhr) on 20 Oct. 1802 to a Reformed pastor, d. at Berlin on 28 May 1869. A tutor at Basel (1823 ff.), where he passed from rationalism to Pietism, he was then a Privatdozent at the University of Berlin in the philosophical faculty (1824), then in the theological faculty, as an extraordinary professor, in 1826, and as an ordinary professor in 1828. He soon became famous and influential as the founder and editor of the journal Evangelische Kirchenzeitung (1827-69). From about 1840 he gave the impetus to a rigid positiv-gläubig Lutheranism. He fought all forms of rationalism (among others, the theology of Schleiermacher and the Hegelian school) and of unbelief of his time, engaging in many violent polemics.
His "positive" approach in the exegesis of the Old Testament was shared by his disciple K. F. Keil (v.) and by others. His "orthodox-conservative" school is today represented by Wilhelm and Hans Möller, and agrees with Catholic theology, except in the controversial questions of the "Reformation."
His principal publications, published at Berlin, are: Christologie des Alten Test. (a study on the Messianic prophecies, 3 vols., Berlin 1829-35; 2nd ed. 1854-57); Beiträge zur Einleitung ins Alte Test. (3 vols., ibid. 1831-39, in which he was the first to combat the documentary theory of the Pentateuch, launched by W. M. L. de Wette); Die Bücher Moses und Aegypten (ibid. 1841); Die Geschichte Bileam's und seine Weissagungen (ibid. 1842); Commentar über die Psalmen (4 vols., ibid. 1842-47; 2nd ed., ibid. 1849-52), which is his best commentary; Die Offenbarung des hl. Johannes erläutert (2 vols., ibid. 1849-1851; 2nd ed. ibid. 1861 ff.), with arbitrary applications to universal history (the millennium begins with the conversion of the Germans, Gog and Magog are the revolutionaries of 1848); Das Hohelied Salomonis ausgelegt (ibid. 1853); Das Evangelium des hl. Johannes erläutert (3 vols., ibid. 1861-63; 2nd ed. ibid. 1867-71); Die Weissagungen des Propheten Ezechiel (2 vols., ibid. 1867 ff.). Posthumously, his courses: Geschichte des Reiches Gottes unter dem alten Bunde (2 vols., ibid. 1869-71); Das Buch Hiob erläutert (2 vols., ibid. 1870-75); Vorlesungen über die Leidensgeschichte (ibid. 1875).
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Antonino Romeo