Zinzendorf, Nicolaus Ludwig, Count (1700-1760)
Place of Birth: Dresden, Germany, of noble Saxon parents
Description: Founder of Moravian or Bohemian Brethren (revived Unitas Fratrum)
Early Influences and Education: Received early care from pietistic maternal grandmother, who often had Pietists such as Spener and Francke in her home; schooled in Halle (age ten to sixteen) under personal influence of Francke as to ideas of Pietism and missions; studied law at U. of Wittenberg, center of orthodox Lutheranism (1716-19)
Early Activities: Unsuccessfully tried to reconcile faculties of U. of Halle and U. of Wittenberg; traveling in Europe made contact with Reformed theology, non-church groups, Roman Catholics; entered civil service of Saxon government; held meetings in his Dresden home
Formation of Herrnhut: Used patrimony to purchase estate at Berthelsdorf; provided home for religious refugees from Moravia, Christian David their leader (1722); formed Christian community, called Herrnhut, of which he was landlord and spiritual overseer; other religious groups joined settlement
Beliefs and Teachings: Stressed a heart religion (deep, mystical, spiritual, experiential faith), worldwide evangelism, ecumenical relationships
Later Work: Sent out first missionaries to the Caribbean (1734), Greenland, America, Africa, and others; consecrated as bishop by Jablonski, a link to Hussite church; forced into exile, he established other communities in Germany, London, America; sought to unite Protestant groups in America, but failed (1741-43); in England (1749-1755); appointed Spangenberg bishop over America and West Indies
Sufferings in Later Years: Experienced personal tragedy (death of son and wife) and financial difficulties
Motto: “I have but one passion; it is He, only He”
Writings: Wrote as many as 2,000 hymns including “Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness,” “Christian Hearts, in Love United”; Peter C. Erb, ed., Pietists: Selected Writings, New York: Paulist Press, 1983
Biographies: John R. Weinlick, Count Zinzendorf, New York: Abingdon Press, 1956; A.J. Lewis, Zinzendorf the Ecumenical Pioneer, London: SCM Press Ltd., 1962
