His father died when he was 4 years old but his mother's guardian Laurits Laurberg Kongslev took care of Paludan-Müller and had him taught along with his own children.

In 1789, he obtained a degree in theology and was hired as a teacher at the school Det Kongelige Vajsenhus in Copenhagen.

The purpose of the sermons was to give people who didn't attend church the opportunity to study Christianity and work with their faith at home.

In 1826 the millennial anniversary of Christianity in Denmark was celebrated and Paludan-Müller was invited to defend his PhD in Theology again, although he turned down the offer.

Jens Paludan-Müller primarily became known through his theological musings and philosophical observations with much in common with Friedrich Schleiermacher.