Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier

Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier was a German Protestant theologian, university professor, and hymnwriter.

Life

Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier was born on 12 July 1774, at Oberstenfeld, near Marbach, in Wurtemberg, where his father was minister. He studied theology at Tubingen, and assisted his father in his ministry until his death, in 1803.
In 1805 he travelled in Europe, and in 1806 was appointed to the Church at Marbach. In 1810 he removed to Ludwigsburg, and from 1815 to 1819 he was professor of theology at the University of Tubingen. Being unreasonably deprived of this position, he was appointed dean of Kirchheim, and in that office he died, on 18 August 1841.

Works

He wrote, De Miraculis N. Test. Meletemata, besides a number of sermons and ascetical works which he published; he also wrote some hymns, one of which, Valte, walte, nah undfern, was translated into English by Catherine Winkworth, "Spread, oh spread, thou mighty Word".