Jean Taffin

Jean Taffin (* between July 1529 and July 1530 in Tournai, † July 15, 1602 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch Calvinist.

Life

Jean Taffin was born the son of a lawyer and Council pensioner. This allowed him a spiritual training in his youth. 1554 he became librarian and secretary of Antoine de Granvelle Perrenot. To 1557 ended Taffin his job and went to Antwerp, where he had contacts with the banned Calvinist community. When the persecution of the Calvinists rose, Taffin left the Netherlands. In the following years, he traveled through Europe. From 1561 Taffin settled down as Calvinist preacher in Metz. 1567 he was appointed a preacher to Antwerp, but returned a few weeks later to Metz back. Due to political turmoil Taffin 1569 went to Heidelberg.

Together with Peter Dathenus 1571 he organized the first national synod of the Dutch Calvinists, the Synod of Emden. In the fall of 1573 Taffin Heidelberg left and entered the service of William III. This sichickte him as an emissary to Germany several times. Furthermore, organized Taffin Synods in Dordrecht ( 1574 and 1578 ) and Middelburg ( 1581). In 1583 he finished his service at court and then worked as a preacher in Antwerp, Emden Haarlem and Amsterdam.