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LUTHARDT, CHRISTOPH ERNST (1823-1902), German Lutheran theologian, was born at Maroldsweisach, Bavaria, on the 22nd of March 1823. He studied theology at Erlangen and Berlin, and in 1856 became professor ordinarius of systematic theology and New Testament exegesis at Leipzig. In 1865 he was 'made a counsellor to the consistory, in 1871 canon of Meissen cathedral, and in 1887 a privy councillor to the church. He died at Leipzig on the 21st of September 1902. A strictly orthodox theologian, and a clear writer, though not a very profound scholar, Luthardt became widely appreciated as the author of apologetic lectures. These were collected under the title Apologie des Christenlums (vol. i., 1864, 14th ed. 1896; vol. ii. 7th ed., 19o1; vol. iii. 7th ed., 1898; vol. iv. 2nd ed., 188o), a work of which the first three volumes have been translated into English. In 1868 he founded and edited the Allgemeine evang.-lutherische Kirchenzeilung, with its supplement the Theologisches Litteraturblatt, and in 188o became editor of the Zeitschrift fur kirchl. Wissenschaft and kirchl. Leben.
His other works include Das Johanneische Evangelium . . . erkldrt (1852-18J3; 2nd ed. in 2 vols., 1875-1876), Offenbarung Johannis erkldrt (1861), Lehre von den letzten Dingen (1861; 3rd ed. 1885); Kompendium der Dogmatik (1865; 9th ed., 1893), Geschichte der christlichen Ethik (2 vols., 1888-1893), Gnade and Wahrheit (1874), Das Wort des Lebens (1877) and Gnade and Frieden (188o). His autobiography was published with the title Erinnerungen aus vergangenen Tagen (1889; 2nd ed., 1891).