Baptistic Theologies, 2009

r degree penetrated all of Protestantism, and are still discernible elements in present day Christianity. 16 It is my opinion and assessment, based upon the collected evidence from several scholars, that one cannot conclude anything different in the case of Norway. The presence of this movement was to be highly significant for the emergence of Norwegian Baptist life. Moravian Influences The Moravian Brethren gained numerous adherents across Europe and beyond from the 1740s, and separatist groups of people who were religiously awakening appeared in many places. 17 Arnold T. 0hrn states: IQ ‘This movement has no ascertainable connection with the Baptists’. This, however, has been disputed by J.C.S. Mason. Moravian piety had in fact great influence. 19 Moravians began their work in Norway in the 1730s. 14 Ibid., p. 7. 15 Ibid., p. 12. 16 Ibid., p. 23. Note: It would seem that an adequate understanding of this movement must be based upon four characteristics found in all Pietism. In the first place, all Pietists agreed to the fact that the essence of Christianity is to be found in the personally meaningful relationship of the individual to God. A second basic characteristic of historic Pietism is to be found in its religious idealism - perfectionism. The third basic characteristic of Pietism was its biblical emphasis. How are the insights of the Bible to be applied to the problems of daily life. The fourth characteristic of Pietism is intrinsic to many historical movements to the designation of which we add the suffix 'ism’. The 'ism' must assert itself against a dominant pattern. This is the aspect of protest. Ibid., p. 22. 17 Arnold T. 0hrn, Baptist Work in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden (Stockholm: Baptistmissjonens bokforlag, 1947), p. 51. 18 Ibid., p. 51. 19 The most telling evidence came from the internationally respected and scholarly Danish Pietist, Erik von Pontoppidan (1689 - 1764) a bishop of the Lutheran Church in Norway and. from 1755 until his death in 1764, Principal of the University of Copenhagen. A ‘Church Pietist’ close to the Danish court, Pontoppidan had originally been one of the most severe critics of Aindendort and the Moravians during 106 Baptistic Theologies Along with the various pietistic influences on the Norwegian population, we also see Unity of the Brethren influence, especially in the southern part of Norway where Baptist work had its beginning. Two Moravian preachers came to Norway from Herrnhut. One was Nils Mpnich and the other Geir Hansen. They were active in several places. In 1739 they organised a society in Christiania (Oslo), in Bergen in 1740, and in Drammen in 1746. Also in Trondheim and surrounding areas there were Moravian influences. 20 Four basic notions from the Pietistic and Moravian movements were carried over into most major revival movements in the nineteenth century, namely the stress on personal conversion, biblicism, the gatheri