Peter Boehler

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Peter Bohler
Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire
DiedApril 27, 1775(1775-04-27) (aged 62)
London, England
NationalityGerman
OccupationMissionary and bishop

Peter Bohler (born Petrus Böhler; December 31, 1712 – April 27, 1775) was a German-English Moravian bishop and missionary who was influential in the Moravian Church in the Americas and England during the eighteenth century. Some people (incorrectly) spell his last name as Boehler.

Bohler was one of the many

Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf. As a part of the first large scale Protestant missionary movement, Bohler spread the religion across Georgia and other American colonies.[1] In 1740, he migrated with other Moravians to Pennsylvania, where they founded the towns of Nazareth and Bethlehem.[2] Bohler was superintendent of the Moravian Church in England from 1747 to 1753 and was made a bishop of the church in 1748. Bohler came back to America and directed new Moravian settlements in the colonies from 1753 to 1764.[2]

Early life

Bohler was born in

Reformed, but with a particular emphasis on a vigorous Christian life and behavior over intellectual doctrine.[5][6] Zinzendorf used his influence on the Moravian Church to gather more supporters of the Pietist
movement, including Bohler.

As a missionary

On December 15, 1737, in his first official act as bishop, Count von Zinzendorf ordained Bohler to

priesthood.[1] On February 7 of the following year, when he was in London preparing for his trip to the Americas, Bohler met John Wesley, who would later found the Methodist movement, who had just returned from a two-year stint as chaplain of Savannah, Georgia.[7] After Wesley met Bohler at the home of a Mr. Weinatz, a Dutch merchant living in London at the time, Wesley offered to obtain lodging for Bohler[4] and introduced him to James Hutton, who would later be an important official in the Moravian Church.[7] Wesley accompanied Bohler on his trip to Oxford, during which the two began an extensive and very personal discourse on the nature of faith. Wesley had returned to England as a troubled man, depressed over his lack of faith and his work in America. At the time, Wesley wrote in his journal, "I who went to America to convert others was never myself converted to God".[7]
Bohler's counsel on the nature of grace and "heart religion" was instrumental in the conversions of both John and Charles Wesley.

Bohler first went as a missionary to America, in 1738, on the ship "Union Galley," with his assistant George Schulius, at the invitation of General James Oglethorpe. The ship was bound for Savannah, Georgia, a city which Gen. Oglethorpe had founded, in 1733. Gen Oglethorpe had already organized two prior voyages to Savannah with Moravians, in 1735 and 1736. The "Union Galley" departed Rotterdam on April 28, 1738, with a large number of Germans and Moravians onboard. However, for various reasons, including the ship needing extensive repairs, and waiting for the winds to be favorable, it did not start its journey across the ocean until July 16th. The ship landed in Savannah, Georgia on September 29, 1738. Shortly after that, Bohler and Schulis headed to

emigrants called the "Sea Congregation" traveled with Boehler and settled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1742.[2]

universal reconciliation of all people. Bohler believed that the grace of Christ was so compelling that it would eventually win all hearts, a belief that is subtly distinct from Universalism. George Whitefield (an ardent Calvinist), in a letter to John Wesley, wrote that Bohler had expressed a belief that "all the damned souls would hereafter be brought out of hell."[8]

After five years, he was made superintendent of the Moravian Church in England. The following year, Bohler was ordained as a bishop of the Moravian churches in America and England.[9] In 1753, Bohler left his post as superintendent, and returned to America. He then served as the director of new Moravian settlements there until 1764.[2] Bohler spent the last nine years of his life back in England, still an active member of the church. He died in London on April 27, 1775, at the age of sixty-two.[3]

In film

The character of Peter Bohler is portrayed by actor Bill Oberst Jr. in the 2009 feature film Wesley, opposite Burgess Jenkins as John Wesley.

References

  1. ^ a b c "December 15, 1737 - Zinzendorf Ordained Peter Bohler". Christian History Institute. December 2006. Archived from the original on February 10, 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Peter Böhler encyclopedia entry". Columbia University Press. 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  3. ^
    ISBN 3-88309-080-8
    .
  4. ^ a b Stephen Berg (2004). "Peter Böhler biographical sketch". Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  5. ^ Kevin Knight. "Pietism". Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  6. ^ "Pietism Movement". Infoplease. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  7. ^
    ISBN 1-4191-2425-0
    .
  8. ^ "Peter Bohler, a brief biography." at TentMaker.org. Accessed Nov. 2, 2007.
  9. ^ "German American Corner: Bohler, Peter". Davitt Publications. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
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