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[German Version] I. Catholic Church – II. Protestantism I. Catholic Church A godparent or sponsor is a Christian who (along with the parents) accompanies the baptizand or confirmand on his or her path to Christian initiation. The earliest precursors of godparents are already mentioned in the Traditio apostolica (15 and 20) and Tertullian ( Bapt. 18). The office originated in the nascent catechumenate (I) and in the growing practice of infant baptism. To counter tendencies during the Middle Ages to increase the number of godparents, the Council of Trent ¶ imposed a limit of one godf…

[German Version] I. Unity of Bohemian and Moravian Brethren – II. Renewed Unity of Brethren, Herrnhuters I. Unity of Bohemian and Moravian Brethren 1. Beginnings. The Unity of Brethren associated itself with the concerns of the Hussite reform movement (J. Hus), especially the theology of the Taborites. The church should be subject to the norms of the praxis of Christ and of the Early Church …

[German Version] I. Resurrection of the Dead 1. History of religions a. Resurrection as a religious category. The concept of resurrection has been shaped extensively by connotations drawn from the tradition of Christian theology. In this sense, it is understood as a unique event that takes the body and soul of a human being, separated at death, and reunites them for a new, eternal life in the next world. Here it serves to mark a distinction from other notions of a postmortal existence (e.g. reincarnation, metempsyc…

[German Version] 1. Ernst Christian (Jan 13, 1838, Bremen – Apr 10, 1912, Marburg). Studied theology in Heidelberg (1857–1859) and Halle (1860); served as a Reformed curate in Arsten and pastor in Hastedt (1862) and Wuppertal-Unterbarmen (1875); 1882–1911 as professor of practical theology at Marburg. Achelis first made his mark as a biblical homiletician and as an …