Adolf von Harnack (Harnack Adolf von)

(1851-1930)
Born May 7, 1851 in Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia). His father, Theodosius von Harnack, was professor of practical theology at Tartu University, author of theological works. Harnack's grandfather on the maternal side, Gustav Evers, published a Handbook on the history of dogmas Munter. Harnack was in Dorpat (1869-1872), and then the University of Leipzig, where he became assistant professor (1874) and extraordinary professor (1876). In 1879 he headed the department of church history at Gisenskom University, then moved to Marburg, from 1888 to 1928 was a professor at Berlin University. From 1905 to 1921 Harnack served as the director of the Royal Library (later renamed to the Prussian State Library). Harnack died in Heidelberg, June 10, 1930.
In Leipzig, Harnack became an ardent follower of A. Richlya, sharing his vision of development of early Christianity. Harnack saw church history as part of world history, and therefore believed that the history of the church apply methods used in historical science. Major works Harnack: Works apostolic men (Patrum apostolicum opera, . 1876-1878) in collaboration with O.fon Gebhardt and T.fon Tsanom; texts and studies on the history of early Christian literature (Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur), . 45-volume edition of the works of early Christian literature, . the publication of which he started in 1882 with Gebhardt, . and since 1907 has continued in collaboration with K. Schmidt, History of early Christian literature before Eusebius (Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur bis Eusebius, . 1893-1904); history textbook dogmas (Lehrbuch der Dogmengeschichte, . 1886-1889); Essence of Christianity (Das Wesen des Christentums, . 1900); mission and spread of Christianity in the first three centuries (Die Mission und Ausbreitung des Christentums in den ersten drei Jahrhunderte, . 1902),
. Of interest also Speeches and Articles (Reden und Aufstze, 1904) in 7 volumes, but primarily from the two-volume Science and Life (Aus Wissenschaft und Leben, 1911), as well as the biography of the theologian, written by his daughter, Agnes von Zahn-Harnack (1936) .