HENGSTENBERG, ERNST WILHELM. — The principal representative of «orthodox» (positiv, positiv-gläubig) Protestant theology and exegesis in the nineteenth century, b. at Fröndenberg (Ruhr) on 20 October 1802 to a Reformed pastor, d. in Berlin on 28 May 1869. Tutor in Basel (1823 ff.), where he passed from rationalism to pietism, he subsequently became a privat-docent 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 director of the journal Evangelische Kirchenzeitung (1827–69). From about 1840 onward he initiated a strict positiv-gläubig Lutheranism. He opposed every form of rationalism (among other things, Schleiermacher’s theology and the Hegelian school) and the unbelief of his time, engaging in many fierce controversies.
His «positive» approach to 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 on the controversial questions concerning the «Reformation».
His principal publications, issued in Berlin, are: Christologie des Alten Test. (a study of 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 oppose the documentary theory of the Pentateuch, put forward 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.). Published posthumously were 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).