Erik Benzelius the Elder
Erik (sometimes called Eric ) Benzelius the Elder ( born December 16, 1632 Bensbyn, Luleå municipality, † February 17, 1709 in Uppsala ) was a Swedish Lutheran theologian and Archbishop of Uppsala.
Life
Benzelius who came to study in Uppsala already in 1644, studied from 1648 to the university and obtained in 1661 the title of Master of Philosophy. He was then hired by Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie and made from 1663 to 1665 with his son Gustaf Adolf ( 1647-1695 ), a study trip to Germany, France, England, Holland and Belgium. But the encounter with other currents strengthened its roots in the Lutheran orthodoxy, which ( in 1664 at the University of Gießen) was already evident in the disputation De vitando Syncretismo.
After returning to Uppsala Benzelius was an associate professor of history and moral philosophy, in the following year an associate professor of theology. At the same time he was ordained. In 1668 he moved on to a full professorship in 1674 and 1680 and served as rector of the university. In 1675 he became the Dr. theol. doctorate. In his lectures and publications he made himself primarily as a church historian a name.
After he already in 1686 by King Charles XI. had been entrusted with the religious education of the crown prince, the king in 1687 appointed him Bishop of Strängnäs. However, he continued his training and also took on other tasks outside of his diocese. He had already been involved in the revision of the constitution of the church completed in 1686 ( kyrkolag ) and was now played a leading role in the drafting of a new catechism, a new Bible translation and a new hymnal. Here he sat down against innovations, which he rated as dangerous for the unity of the Church. He also authored a 1694 textbook on homiletics, that was until the end of the 18th century in use.
After the death of Olaus Svebilius he was appointed Archbishop of Uppsala and served until his death as the highest dignitaries of the Church of Sweden. Here he fought against, inter alia, the invading Sweden pietism. He was also responsible for rebuilding the city after the Great Fire of 1702.
Family
Benzelius was born as the son of the farmer Henrik Jakobsson and his wife Margareta Jonsdotter. The name Benzelius ( after his birthplace ), he participated in the student days.
From the first marriage with Margaretha Odhelia (1653-1693), daughter of the professor Erik Odhelius, Benzelius had ten children, including:
- Margareta Benzelia († 1710), married to the bishop Olaus Nezelius
- Christina Benzelia (1673-1724), married to the Bishop Zacharias Esbjerg
- Erik Benzelius the Younger (1675-1743), Archbishop
- Olof Benzelstierna (1678-1726), Assessor at Svea hovrätt
- Lars Benzelstierna (1680-1755), mineralogist and Governor
- Jacob Benzelius (1683-1747), Archbishop
- Nils Benzelstierna (1686-1737), Captain
- Gustaf Benzelstierna (1687-1746), Librarian
- Henrik Benzelius (1689-1758), Archbishop
The sons were taken in the hereditary nobility in 1719, thus establishing the noble family Benzelstierna. The three sons, who were clergymen, however, renounced the title of nobility and kept the name Benzelius.
The second, in 1695 contracted marriage with Anna Mackeij ( 1648-1704 ) remained childless.
Writings (selection )
- Dissertatio logica philo De messia Judaico, e rabbinorum maxime commentariis brevi subinde epricrisi adjuncta. Diss Uppsala 1675
- Epitome rhetoricæ ecclesiasticæ, qvam by collegia privata publico - diversis Temporibus habita in Regia Academia Upsaliensi, studiosæ juventuti proposuit, 1694 ( 3rd edition 1771)
- Breviarium Historiæ ecclesiasticæ, veteris & novi testamenti, discentium usui destinatum, iteratis vicibus juventuti propositum, multorum desideriis expetitum, nunc demum typis descriptum & cum privilegio regional evulgatum. Strängnäs 1695 ( several editions until 1802 )