author
Adolf von Harnack
1851–1930
A leading liberal Protestant thinker, he helped reshape how modern scholars study early Christianity and church history. His books pressed readers to look past dogma and ask what lay at the heart of the Christian message.
2 Audiobooks
History of Dogma, Volume 2
by Adolf von Harnack
History of Dogma, Volume 1
by Adolf von Harnack
About the author
Born in Dorpat, now Tartu, in 1851, Adolf von Harnack became one of the most influential theologians and church historians of his time. He taught at several universities, including Berlin, and was especially known for bringing historical criticism to the study of early Christianity.
His best-known work, History of Dogma, traced how Christian doctrine developed over time rather than treating it as something fixed from the start. He also wrote widely on the New Testament, the early church, and the essence of Christianity, and his ideas played a major role in shaping liberal Protestant theology.
Harnack’s influence reached beyond theology. He was involved in the organization of German academic life and helped inspire the founding of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society, the institution that later became the Max Planck Society. He died in 1930, leaving behind a body of work that continued to spark debate long after his lifetime.