From a forward written by Hans Salomonsen.

No single person has made a more important contribution to the strengthening of Christianity in Norway than Erik Pontoppidan. This happened through his textbook “Truth unto Godliness”, which was first published in 1737. It was a comprehensive explanation of Luther’s small catechism, intended for use in school and church. It was often called simply “The Explanation.” Many generations in Norway gained solid Christian knowledge through this book. The Evangelical Lutheran church community has published it in its complete edition several times, the last edition came out in 1981.

Erik Pontoppidan was the son of a priest, born in Aarhus in 1698. He was orphaned at an early age, and grew up with relatives in various places. At the age of twenty, he took the theological official exam in Copenhagen, and was then a housekeeper for a while, among other things. in Christiania. In 1720-21 he had the opportunity to make a trip to Holland, Belgium and England. What this journey has meant to him, you can get a small glimpse of, among other things, in this book. In 1723 he became castle priest and later parish priest at Als. Eleven years later he became court preacher in the capital, and in 1738 extraordinary professor of theology. During this time he became a member of a committee that was supposed to revise the Bible translation. He also became unnamed co-director of Waisenhuset and a member of the Missionary College. In 1747, Pontoppidan came as bishop to Bergen, where he did a great deal of work in several fields, not least within the school system, both the common school and the Latin school. After 7 bishoprics, he returned to Copenhagen and became pro-chancellor at the university. He died in 1764.

Pontoppidan gained the greatest importance through his books. We have mentioned the “Explanation.”  It was written by royal command. There was also a book of hymns, which he published in 1740. Several theological/ecclesiastical books are: “The Mirror of Faith” (1727), “Dialogue on Religion and the Purity of Doctrine” (1728), “Evil Proverbs that corrupt good customs, driven by the Word of God” (1736), “Annales Ecclesiae Danica” (Danish church history, 1741-52), “Certain and important Truths imagined in some Sermons” (1746), “Stirring Shepherd Letters, especially sent to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Bergen” (1753). “The Power of Truth to Overcome Atheistic and Naturalist Unbelief” (1758), “Bold Testimony on the Essentials of Christian Faith and Duty” (1759). Furthermore, a brief overview of the history of the Danish Reformation (1734), thesis on the degrees of beatitude (for the doctoral degree 1749), and sermons delivered in the years 1735-48. Mention can also be made here of the novel “Menoza” about an Asian prince who traveled the world looking for Christians (1743), and the writing on the immortality of the soul (1762).

“Collegium pastorale practicum” are lectures in pastoral theology, which Pontoppidan had given at the University of Copenhagen for future priests. It was first published in 1757.

Pontoppidan also published a number of books of a different nature, e.g. a historical and geographical description of Denmark (1730), “Treatise on the Newness of the World or Natural and Historical Proof that the World is not Eternal” (1757), Copenhagen’s history (1760). While he was in Norway, he also published a collection of Norwegian words: “Glossarium Norvegicum”, and a writing on “Norges Naturlige Historie”. “The Danish Atlas” is a work about Denmark’s people, geography, flora and fauna. He also invited others to submit dissertations on economic and physical topics, and what came in, he published in 8 volumes: “Danmarks og Norges oeconomiske Magazine”. Here you can find the ideas for many agricultural reforms.