The Blumhardt Battle: Possession of Gottliebin Dittus

The case of Gottliebin Dittus and Pastor Johann Christoph Blumhardt represents one of the most influential possession cases in Protestant Christianity, leading to a spiritual revival and shaping theological discussions about spiritual warfare for generations.

Background

Gottliebin Dittus was a young woman living in the village of Mottlingen in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg (now part of Germany) in the 1840s. She had been a devout Christian since childhood but began experiencing strange phenomena in her early twenties.

Pastor Johann Christoph Blumhardt (1805-1880) was the Lutheran minister of Mottlingen, known for his serious approach to faith and pastoral care.

The Onset of Possession

In 1842, Gottliebin began experiencing disturbing symptoms:

• Violent convulsions and seizures
• Objects moving in her home without apparent cause
• Strange sounds including knocking and scratching
• Appearing to be attacked by invisible forces
• Speaking in voices other than her own
• Periods of unconsciousness followed by no memory of events
• Blood spontaneously appearing from wounds with no visible cause
• Objects flying through the air in her presence

Medical doctors were consulted but could find no physical explanation for her condition. The phenomena seemed to intensify rather than subside with treatment.

Blumhardt’s Investigation

Initially skeptical, Pastor Blumhardt began investigating after repeated appeals from Gottliebin and her family. What he witnessed convinced him that her affliction was spiritual in nature:

• Gottliebin spoke in multiple voices claiming to be different entities
• She displayed knowledge she could not naturally possess
• Sacred objects and prayers produced violent reactions
• The phenomena affected others in proximity to her

Blumhardt documented that some of the voices claimed to be deceased individuals from the village, revealing secrets known only to their families.

The Two-Year Battle

Unlike typical exorcisms that last hours or days, Blumhardt’s confrontation with the forces possessing Gottliebin lasted nearly two years (1842-1843). He employed a method he called “prayerful resistance” - continuous prayer, scripture reading, and pastoral care.

Key events during this period included:

• Multiple possessing spirits: Different voices manifested, each requiring separate confrontation
• Physical phenomena: Blood appearing from nowhere, objects moving, supernatural strength
• Community involvement: The phenomena spread to others in the village, with neighbors also experiencing disturbances
• Gottliebin’s sister: Katharina Dittus also became affected and required deliverance
• Church opposition: Blumhardt faced criticism from ecclesiastical authorities who were uncomfortable with his spiritual warfare approach

The Victory

On December 28, 1843, during a particularly intense confrontation, witnesses heard a loud voice cry out from Gottliebin: “Jesus ist Sieger!” (Jesus is Victor!).

Following this declaration, the possession symptoms ceased entirely. Gottliebin was restored to full health and lived a normal life afterward.

Aftermath and Revival

The events in Mottlingen sparked a remarkable spiritual awakening:

• People began spontaneously confessing sins and seeking spiritual renewal
• Reports of healings and deliverances multiplied
• The revival spread to neighboring villages
• Thousands came to Mottlingen seeking pastoral care

Blumhardt documented everything meticulously and submitted reports to church authorities. His accounts were examined and, while controversial, were not officially condemned.

Theological Impact

The Blumhardt case profoundly influenced Christian theology:

• “Jesus is Victor” became a rallying cry for spiritual warfare movements
• Blumhardt’s methods influenced later Pentecostal and Charismatic movements
• His son, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, continued his father’s ministry
• The case is still studied in theological seminaries worldwide
• It demonstrated a Protestant approach to deliverance ministry

Legacy

Pastor Blumhardt later founded the Bad Boll healing center, which operated for over a century. The case remains one of the most thoroughly documented possession accounts in Protestant history.

The “Blumhardt movement” that emerged from these events emphasized:

• The reality of spiritual warfare
• The power of persistent prayer
• The victory of Christ over evil
• Physical and spiritual healing through faith

Gottliebin Dittus lived a quiet life following her deliverance and is remembered as central to one of the most significant spiritual events in 19th-century European Christianity.