Girolamo Zanchi

Girolamo Zanchi ( born February 2, 1516 Alzano Lombardo, † November 19, 1590 in Heidelberg ) was a Reformed theologian, sectarian and reformer.

Life

Zanchi was born the son of a lawyer and historian in Italy near Bergamo. After initial basic training in his hometown, he joined with 15 years in the regulated Augustinian canons in Bergamo. After completing his studies he came to Lucca and decided under the influence of Peter Martyr Vermigli to study theology. Besides works of the Church Fathers, he won knowledge of Martin Bucer and Philipp Melanchthon, also read writings of Martin Luther and the Swiss reformers. However, the biggest appointed him John Calvin.

Even after Vermigli had to flee, he remained as a teacher back at the convent school. 1551, however, he was forced to flee. After a short stay in Geneva, he wanted to go to England, but was called to Strasbourg and worked there as a professor of the Old Testament. His point of view is by law, the interpretation of painstaking accuracy. In his theological overall view he committed himself to neither the Lutheran nor the Calvinistic type, although it is attributable to that. He was one of the most learned theologians of the second half of the 16th century, without being self-employed, an admirable and consistent teacher.

Even the request to commit themselves to the Confessio Augustana, caused him trouble. Vocations to Geneva and Lausanne, he had to decline because he was held in Strasbourg. But staying the confrontation with John Marbach not let her. In 1561 it came to a fight. Zanchi had described the differences in the doctrine of the Eucharist as minor, also taught strict Calvinist predestination. After receiving many reports of foreign theologians a consensus was found and signed the formula of agreement from all Strasbourg preachers and professors.

When Calvin rebuked him for his resilience and he then delivered his opinion again and precise, the dispute began again. Now Zanchi departed from Strasbourg and in November 1563 was a preacher in Chiavenna. In 1568 he received a call to Heidelberg, where he held dogmatic lectures and Zacharias Ursinus took the first spot. Here he wrote some significant works that bear most apologetic and polemical character. The presentation is quite scholastically. On behalf of the reformed state, he finally wrote in 1581 a " Harmonia confessionum fidei ," was intended to unite as a counterpart to "Formula Concordiae " the existing Reformation confessions. As in Heidelberg by a change of government, the Reformed professors were expelled, he went to Neustadt rely on the wine route. On a visit trip to Heidelberg, he died and was buried in the University Church.