Julius Köbner

[1][2] In addition to his extensive missionary and teaching activities in the young free church, his work as a hymnwriter and author is notable.

After attending the gymnasium in Odense, where Köbner received instruction not only in German and Danish, but also in French and English, he learned the trade of copper engraver and also showed great talent in other areas.

After numerous encounters with the Reformed revivalist preacher Johannes Geibel [de] from Lübeck, Köbner converted to Christianity in 1826 and joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in connection with his upcoming wedding.

With his baptism on 31 July 31 1826 in Hamburg, Köbner changed his first name, calling himself Julius Johannes Wilhelm after his fiancée.

Under the impression of Johann Gerhard Oncken's preaching, the elder and pastor of the congregation founded only a year earlier, he had a believer's baptism on 26 May 1836, and placed himself at the service of the young movement.

Köbner initially translated Baptist literature from English, edited Oncken's publications and wrote a number of religious writings.

Prior to his ordination, Köbner held a significant role in the church in Hamburg, running it when Oncken was away or imprisoned.

That same year he published Manifest des freien Urchristenthums an das deutsche Volk [de] ('Manifesto of Free Primitive Christianity of the German People').

Christian novels, narratives on church history, and large dramatic poems with a doctrinal character are among his works.

[15] The Baptist movement in northwest Germany [de] and Berlin also received important influences from Köbner's work.