Rev. Dr. Philip Schaff
with Dr. David Bains & host Nick Walters
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Philip Schaff (1819–1893) believed that Christianity could not be understood without studying its entire history. At a time when Protestant denominations emphasized their differences, Schaff argued that Christians shared a history reaching back to the apostles. His controversial theology and extraordinary publishing career helped establish church history as an academic discipline in the United States.
Born in Switzerland and educated at leading German universities, Schaff arrived in Pennsylvania in 1844 to teach at the German Reformed Theological Seminary in Mercersburg. There he joined John Williamson Nevin in developing what became known as Mercersburg theology. Their work emphasized the historical continuity of the church, the importance of Christian worship, and the meaning of the sacraments.
Schaff’s inaugural address, published as The Principle of Protestantism, argued that the Protestant Reformation should be understood within the larger history of Christianity, not as an absolute break from everything that preceded it. Critics accused him of compromising Protestant doctrine and moving toward Roman Catholicism. He faced heresy charges in 1845 but was acquitted. The dispute raised enduring questions about church authority, the Reformation, and Christian unity.
Schaff imagined Christian history as a great stream with different traditions branching from a shared source. This did not mean he considered theological differences unimportant. He believed historical scholarship could illuminate both the disagreements and the connections among Christians.
After moving to New York, Schaff joined Union Theological Seminary in 1870. His publications included the multivolume History of the Christian Church and The Creeds of Christendom. He edited major reference works and collections of early Christian writings, helping English-speaking readers encounter centuries of Christian thought. He also contributed to Bible revision efforts and founded the American Society of Church History in 1888.
Schaff’s approach to unity evolved. Although he initially criticized the fragmentation of Protestantism, he increasingly valued cooperation among churches without demanding that they abandon their distinctive doctrines. His motto, “Nothing Christian is alien to me,” captured his determination to study Christianity across denominational and historical boundaries.
In September 1893, Schaff addressed the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago on the reunion of Christendom. He distinguished the visible divisions among churches from the spiritual unity he believed Christians already shared. It was among his final public addresses before his death on October 20, 1893. Schaff also defended Union Theological Seminary professor Charles Augustus Briggs amid controversy over biblical criticism, reflecting his conviction that rigorous historical inquiry and Christian faith could coexist.
For our Deep Dive, host Nick Walters is joined by Dr. David R. Bains of Samford University’s Department of Biblical and Religious Studies. With Theodore Louis Trost, Bains co-edited The Development of the Church: “The Principle of Protestantism” and Other Historical Writings of Philip Schaff. His scholarship provides insight into Schaff’s thought, the Mercersburg controversy, and the changing meaning of Christian unity in nineteenth-century America.
How should Christians interpret their past, evaluate scholarship, and relate to other traditions? Schaff’s career continues to raise those questions, and his conviction that “nothing Christian is alien to me” still invites reflection on what Christians share across their divisions.
Our first historical highlight takes us to nineteenth-century Europe. Franz Liszt (1811–1886), the celebrated Hungarian pianist and composer, drew deeply on Roman Catholic spirituality. His sacred works included Christus, and in 1865 he received the tonsure and minor orders in the Catholic Church. Known thereafter as Abbé Liszt, he was never ordained a priest. His life illustrates the intersection of music and religious culture in nineteenth-century Europe.
Our second highlight takes us to Shanghai, where Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975), China’s Nationalist leader, was baptized as a Protestant Christian on October 23, 1930, by a Southern Methodist pastor. His wife, Soong Mei-ling, came from a prominent Christian family. His conversion drew international attention and reflected Christianity’s complex place in modern Chinese public life.
This Week in Christian History is produced by the Center for Christian History and hosted by Nick Walters.