Home  |  Back to Reports

Emanuel Swedenborg

(January 29, 1688 – March 29, 1772)

  1. Family Origins
    1. Born January 29, 1688 in Stockholm, Sweden
    2. Father – Jesper Swedberg

                                                                                                                                       i.      Attended University of Uppsala

                                                             ii.      Professor of theology at Uppsala

                                                            iii.      Dean and Rector of the Church

    1. Mother – Sarah Behm Swedberg

                                                                                                                                       i.      Modest and religious woman

                                                             ii.      Died in 1696 in an epidemic

    1. Step-mother – Sarah Bergia

                                                                                                                                       i.      Wealthy mining widow married Swedberg in 1697

                                                             ii.      Bequeathed half her estate and a modest fortune to Swedenborg upon her death in 1720

“From my fourth to my tenth year, I was constantly engaged in thought upon God, salvation, and the spiritual sufferings of men, and several times I revealed that at which my father and mother wondered.... From my sixth to my twelfth year my delight was to discourse with clergymen concerning Faith—that the life thereof is love, and the love that gives life is the love of one's neighbor...”

  1. Education and Studies Abroad
    1. Graduated from University in 1709
    2. Studied mathematics and astronomy in England from 1710 – 1712

                                                                                                                                       i.      Studied with John Flamsteed and Edward Halley

    1. Learned the arts of engraving, making mathematical instruments, cabinetry and glass-grinding
    2. Remained abroad until 1715

                                                                                                                                       i.      Holland

                                                             ii.      France

                                                            iii.      Rostock, Germany

“I saw also in vision that fine bread on a plate was presented to me; which was a sign that the Lord Himself will instruct me since I have now come first into the condition that I know nothing, and all preconceived judgments are take away from me; which is where learning commences; namely, first to be a child and thus be nursed into knowledge, as is the case with me now.”

  1. Career Path
    1. Published journal Daedalus Hyperboreus dedicated to practical scientific inquiry

                                                                                                                                       i.      Discontinued publication in 1718

    1. Appointed Extraordinary Assessor of the Board of Mines in 1716 by Charles XII

                                                                                                                                       i.      After the King’s death the Board denied him the seat and a salary

                                                             ii.      Granted the acknowledgement of the seat and a salary in 1724

                                                            iii.      Resigned from the position in 1747

    1. Pursued a career as an independent scholar after the death of his stepmother in early 1720

“The first conception is that all things are in series; there is a series of particles beginning with mathematical points and ending in water, salt and earth.”

  1. Writings and Publication
    1. Publication of Daedalus Hypterboreus
    2. First book publication in 1721 Chemistry
    3. Many publication dealing with science and mining
    4. Theological and philosophical publications
    5. 1770 first volume of The True Christian Religion
    6. 1771 second volume of The True Christian Religion

In you I acknowledge the source of personal benefit, inasmuch as it was by your advice and wishes, that my mind, then ripening and eager for study, though hesitating and ignorant, nevertheless, as at that early age it is wont to be, to what pursuits to turn, was directed to the present and similar subjects, which were auguries of a personal career in literature....

  1. Ideas of Swedenborg
    1. Man completes creation
    2. The Infinite

                                                                                                                                       i.      That from which all of creation proceeds, and at the end of that work it is to the infinite that all of creation must return

    1. Man is of nature
    2. Connection between the Creator and man is love
    3. The Word can be challenged or confirmed by other men’s response to it
    4. Viewed the Heavenly Kingdom as an image
    5. Organization of the New Church approximately 100 year after Swedenborg’s death

"Lord Jesus Christ, lead me to and on the way on which Thou willest that I shall walk."

Lee Ann’s G20 Home Page                G20 Class Home Page