Friedrich Christoph Oetinger, a German theologian, born at Göppingen, Würtemberg, May 6,1702, died at Murrhardt, Feb. 10, 1782. He was educated at Tubingen, Jena, and Leipsic, was for a time tutor at Tubingen, and assisted Count Zinzendorf in his project of translating the Bible. In 1738 he was appointed pastor at Hirschau. He became a convert to the doctrines of Jacob Boehm, and attempted to arrange a system of theology on the mystical interpretation of Scripture. In 1765 he published his Theologia ex Idea Vitoe Deducta (Frankfort; translated into German by Ham-berger, 1852), in which he set forth his peculiar notions. He assails the philosophy of Wolf because he has converted the terms life, kingdom, spirit, to which the Scriptures attach a definite meaning, into abstract ideas, from which he develops a system of idealism which resolves everything into mere symbolism. Ho translated several of Swedenborg's works into German (2 vols. 8vo, Leipsic, 1765). His own views were expressed in his "Heavenly and Earthly Philosophy," which was condemned by his ecclesiastical superiors; but the duke of Würternberg took him under his protection, and he was made prelate and ecclesiastical councillor at Murrhardt, a post which he held until his death.

He exerted a great influence on the spiritual thought of Germany. He wrote several philosophical and cabalistic works, and devoted much time to the study of the transmutation of metals. His autobiography was published at Stuttgart in 1845, and a complete edition of his works has been collected and edited by Ehmann (Reutlingen, 1852 et seq.), who published also his life and letters in 1859.