How often you have fallen into great distress through your own will, when your blinded mind mistook death for life. But he who loves us eternally sets right what we confuse, brings joy where we grieve ourselves, and leads us where we go astray.

— Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676), Kirchenlieddichter

Topics: Faith & Trust, Guilt & Forgiveness

Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676) war ein deutscher lutherischer Theologe und Pfarrer in Mittenwalde, Berlin sowie Lübben. Er prägte mit Liedern wie „Befiehl du deine Wege“ das geistliche Gesangsgut, verlor jedoch 1667 im Berliner Kirchenstreit sein Amt, da er sich aus Bekenntnisgründen weigerte, das kurfürstliche Toleranzedikt gegenüber den Reformierten zu unterschreiben. Heute bieten seine Dichtungen Bibellesern eine seelsorgliche Sprache des Gottvertrauens inmitten existentieller Krisen und Leiderfahrungen.

All quotes by Paul Gerhardt (149)

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