 He received his education in Breslau, Halle and Berlin, and as a student was influenced by the teachings of August Neander (1789–1850).In 1846 he became an associate professor at the University of Breslau, and during the following year relocated to Greifswald, where in 1855 he achieved the title of "professor ordinarius".In 1862 he was appointed professor of systematic theology at the University of Giessen, and in 1868 moved to Heidelberg as a successor to Richard Rothe (1799–1867).