Friedrich Adolph Lampe

Short Name: Friedrich Adolph Lampe
Full Name: Lampe, Friedrich Adolph, 1683-1729
Birth Year: 1683
Death Year: 1729

Lampe, Friedrich Adolf, D.D., son of Heinrich Lampe, pastor of the Reformed church at Detmold, was born at Detmold, apparently Feb. 18, and was certainly baptized there Feb. 19, 1683. He remained at Detmold till the death of his grandfather (General-Superintendent Zeller) in 1691, and then joined his widowed moiher at Bremen. He entered the Lyceum (Academic Gymnasium) at Bremen, in 1698; and in 1702 went to the University of Franeker in Holland. After a short residence at the University of Utrecht he became, in 1703, pastor of the Reformed church at Weeze, near Cleve; in 1706 at Duisburg; and in 1709 second pastor of St. Stephen's Church in Bremen, where in 1719 he became pastor primarius. In 1720 he was appointed German preacher and professor of dogmatics at the University of Utrecht (the degree of D.D. being also conferred on him); and in 1726 professor of Church History and Rector of the University. After a severe illness in the winter of 1726-27 he resigned in June, 1727, and returned to Bremen as third pastor of St. Ansgar's Church and professor at the Lyceum. He died at Bremen, Dec. 8, 1729. (Allg. Deutsche Biog., xvii. 579; F. A. Lampe Sein Leben und seine Theologie. By Dr. Otto Thelemann, 1868, &c).

Lampe was the most important theologian that had appeared in the German Reformed Church since the Reformation period. He was the great exponent of the Federal or Covenant theology in his Geheimniss des Gnadenbundes, 1712 if.; the author of a well-known commentary on St. John's Gospel, 1724-26; of various catechetical works, &c. As a hymn-writer Lampe is not so important; but yet ranks as one of the best writers in the Reformed Church. His hymns are Scriptural, and characterised by glowing piety, deep spiritual insight, firm faith, and play of fancy; but are often somewhat obscure and involved, and not seldom very lengthy. Nine first appeared in his Balsam aus Gilead, Bremen, 1713, and the rest principally in his Bündlein XXV. Gottseliger Gesange, Bremen, 1723 [Royal Library, Berlin], and later editions. The edition of 1731 (XXX. Geistliche Lieder, &c.) contains also an appendix of 13 hymns from his manuscript.

Comparatively few of Lampe's hymns are in modern German common use. Those which have passed into English are:—
i. Mein Leben ist ein Pilgrimstand. For Travellers. 1723, No. 10, p. 39, in 8 St., entitled "Travelling Thoughts." In the Berlin Geistliche Liedersegen, edition 1863. Translated as, "My life is but a pilgrim-stand," by Dr. H. Mills, 1845 (1856, p. 150).
ii. 0 Fels des Heils am Kreuzesstamm. Holy Communion. 1723, No. 5, p. 21, in 12 stanzas of 5 lines entitled "Devotional Hymn at Holy Communion." In Dr. J. P. Lange's Kirchenliederbuch, 1843, st. xii. is omitted, and it begins "O Fels des Heils, O Gotteslamm." The translation in common use is:—
O healing Rock, O Lamb of God. A translation of stanzas i.-iii., v., xii., by Dr. R. Maguire, in his Melodies of the Fatherland, 1883, p. 107. Repeated, omitting stanza iii., in R. Gault's Hymn Book for Church of England, 1886.
iii. 0 Liebesgluth, wie toll ich dich. Love to Christ. Founded on St. John iii. 16. 1723, No. 19, p. 50, in 6 stanzas. Previously in his Geheimniss des Gnadenbundes, pt. iv., vol. ii., 2nd ed., Bremen, 1721, p. 1086. In Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, omitting stanzas ii., iv. Translated as: (1) "O Fire of Love, what earthly words," by Mrs. Bevan, 1858, p. 61. (2) "O wondrous love of Christ! how bright," by Dr. G. Walker, 1860, p. 75.
iv. So ist von meiner kurzen Pilgrimschaft. New Year. 1723, No. 24, p. 69, in 16 stanzas. The form translation is that in the Berlin Gesang-Buch, 1829, No. 424, altered, and beginning "Wie schnell verstrich, O Herr voll Mild und Huld." Translated as, "How swift, O Lord, most kind, most bountiful," by J. L. Frothingham, 1870, p. 255. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)


Texts by Friedrich Adolph Lampe (13)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Getreuster Gott, wer auf das EndeFriedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German2
Lebenssonne, deren strahlenF. A. Lampe (Author)German11
Mein Fels hat überwundenF. A. Lampert (Author)German18
Mein Leben ist ein Pilgrimstand, Ich reise nach der VaterlandDr. Friedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German39
My life is but a pilgrimageFriedrich Adolph Lampe, 1683-1729 (Author)English4
Nach dir, Israels Arzt und HirtFriedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German2
O Fels des Heils, am KreuzesstammDr. F. A. Lampe, geb. 1638 (Author)German8
O Fels des Heils, o GotteslammFriedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German6
O Liebesglut, die Erd' und Himmel paaretFriedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German7
O Liebesglut, wie soll ich dichFriedr. Adolph Lampe (Author)German20
So ist von meiner kurzen PilgrimschaftFriedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German2
Wer ist der Braut des Lammes gleichDr. F. A. Lampe, geb. 1683 (Author)German1
Wie lieblich, Jesus, ist dein MahlFriedrich Adolph Lampe (Author)German3

Data Sources

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us