Seize the book, jail the author
Book Description
In eighteenth-century Germany, a humble private tutor dared to challenge the religious establishment with a revolutionary approach to biblical translation. Paul Spalding's compelling historical account reveals how Johann Lorenz Schmidt transformed from an obscure educator into a lightning rod for controversy when he published his annotated translation of the Bible's opening books in 1735.
The Wertheim Bible, as Schmidt's work became known, introduced intellectual and religious innovations that sent shockwaves through the German territories. What began as scholarly endeavor quickly escalated into a battle for intellectual freedom as religious and political authorities mobilized against Schmidt's translation. When condemnations poured in from across central Europe, even his initial supporters retreated, leaving Schmidt to defend his work virtually alone.
Spalding meticulously chronicles how this single individual confronted one of history's most sophisticated censorship systems. As book bans spread from Saxony and Prussia to the German emperor's council and beyond, Schmidt faced imprisonment for his audacious challenge to orthodox interpretation. His eventual flight to Hamburg marked not surrender but continued resistance, as he persisted in advocating for free thinking despite living in relative obscurity.
Drawing from extensive manuscript and printed sources, this comprehensive treatment illuminates the courage required to pursue truth in the face of overwhelming opposition. For readers interested in the intersection of faith, intellectual freedom, and personal conviction, Schmidt's story offers profound insights into the price and power of standing alone for one's beliefs.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Buddhism
📄 Length: 347 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Study Bible from spiritual perspective
- ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
- ✓ Explore Censorship
- ✓ Explore Versions
- ✓ Explore Geschichte
- ✓ Discover Zen principles and teachings
- ✓ Explore Schmidt
- ✓ Explore Church history
