Erich Sauer

Erich Sauer (1898–1959) was a German dispensationalist Christian theologian associated with the Plymouth Brethren. His various books have sold around one million copies.[1][2]

Early life

Sauer was born in Berlin in 1898, his mother was already a Christian and he attended Open Brethren congregations.[3]

Theological views

Sauer's theology was influenced by the political climate of Germany during the rule of Hitler. Despite the fact that some Nazi periodicals ridiculed the Israel-centered theology of Sauer, he saw Hitler's rise to power as "God's gift of providence" and viewed him as the instrument through which God would bring the Jews to their holy land.[2][4][3] Sauer's soteriology has been often associated with Free Grace theology, he argued that although justification is a free gift of grace, the degree of one's glorification depends upon one's good deeds in this life.[5][6][7]

Sauer believed in the inerrancy of scripture and dispensational premillennialism.[3]

References

  1. ^ Russell H. Bowers, Jr (1991). "Dispensational Motifs in the Writings of Erich Sauer". Bibliotheca Sacra. 148 (591).
  2. ^ a b Afflerbach, Horst (2006). Die heilsgeschichtliche Theologie Erich Sauers (in German). R. Brockhaus Verlag GmbH &. ISBN 978-3-417-29498-9.
  3. ^ a b c "Erich Sauer – Leben und Werk | Bibelbund". bibelbund.de. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  4. ^ Kierspel, Lars (2006). The Jews and the World in the Fourth Gospel: Parallelism, Function, and Context. Mohr Siebeck. ISBN 978-3-16-149069-9.
  5. ^ Chay, Fred (2017). A Defense of Free Grace Theology: With Respect to Saving Faith, Perseverance, and Assurance. Grace Theology Press. ISBN 978-0-9981385-4-1.
  6. ^ "Final Destiny: The Future Reign of the Servant Kings". Grace Theology Press. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  7. ^ "A Free Grace Primer: The Hungry Inherit, The Gospel Under Siege, and Grace in Eclipse – Grace Evangelical Society". Retrieved 2023-08-03.