Karl Christian Johann Holsten (March 31, 1825 – January 26, 1897) was a German Protestant theologian.

He was educated at Leipzig, Berlin, and Rostock, where in 1852 he became a teacher of religion at the Gymnasium.

In 1870 he went to Bern as professor of New Testament studies, moving from there in 1876 to Heidelberg, where he remained until his death.

[1] Holsten was an adherent of the Tübingen school, and held to Baur's views on the alleged antagonism between Petrinism and Paulinism.

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