Johann Arndt
Johann Arndt or Arnd (* December 27, 1555 either in Edderitz at Köthen or Ballenstedt am Harz, † May 11 1621 in Celle) is one of the most important post-Reformation theologians.
Life
Johann Arndt was the son of the village pastor Jacob Arndt. He received his first lessons from his father; later he attended the schools of Aschersleben, Halberstadt and Magdeburg. From 1575 he studied at the University of Helmstedt the liberal arts and medicine. In 1581 he is said to have gone to the University of Wittenberg, where he found a theological teacher in Polycarp Leyser the Elder. He moved on to the University of Strasbourg to John Pappus and then to the University of Basel to Simon Sulcer. 1582 he returned to his home Anhalt. After he was ordained in 1583 in Bernburg (Saale ), Prince Joachim Ernst von Anhalt in 1584 gave him the Lutheran parsonage in Badeborn.
Prince Joachim Ernst took the Formula of Concord in 1577 not to, but in 1585 adopted a separate confession formula. In 1589, demanded his successor, Prince Johann Georg von Anhalt, the abolition of exorcism in baptism. Arndt refused to do so and refused to submit to the new creed. On September 10, 1590 Arndt issued a corresponding declaration. A few days later the office was revoked and he was deported. Arndt guessed rightly that this commitment would only be the first step for the transfer of the Principality of Anhalt to Calvinism. 1596 Prince Johann Georg led an Calvinism. 1590 Arndt therefore took a pastorate in Quedlinburg, where he remained until 1599. Subsequently, he worked in Braunschweig ( 1609 ), in Eisleben, and to 1621 as general superintendent in Celle.
Arndt was among other things, clearly influenced by the mysticism and edited medieval writings such as the Theologia German, Thomas a Kempis or John Tauler. For these and others, he compiled the Four Books from true Christianity, which together with its Paradise Gärtlein to be among the most successful books of Christian devotional literature. True Christianity appeared until 1740 in a total of 123 runs.
The diverse spiritual impulses Arndt triggered on the one hand from the fierce opposition Lucas Osiander, but ultimately resulted in the movement of German pietism. Arndt's works have been translated into most European and many non-European languages. With Simeon Todorskijs 1735 published in Halle transfer of four books from the true Christianity is a hard to overestimated effect began in Russia. After nearly a decade of uncontrolled proliferation in Russia Arndt's work was banned here in 1743 due to lack of censorship. Among other things, the three later canonized Bishops Tikhon of Zadonsk, Arseniy Maceevic and Makari Glucharew used demonstrably the Russian translation of the devotional book.
Works
- Of true Christianity, Book 1 Frankfurt am Main in 1605.
- Four Books from true Christianity. Magdeburg 1610. Vol 1, digitized and full text archive in the German text.
- Vol 2, digitized and full text archive in the German text.
- Vol 3, digitized and full text archive in the German text.
- Vol 4, digitized and full text archive in the German text.
As of 1695, the Four Books, the Garden of Eden and other writings Six Books of the true Christianity appeared under the title. This work is still available:
- Johann Arnd 's six books of true Christianity together with his little garden paradise. Mission of the publisher Lutheran. Prayer Community, Bielefeld, 2nd edition 1996, ISBN 978-3-929602-01-2
Remembrance
11 May Protestant calendar name.