Johann Gerhard

Johann (es) Gerhard (* October 17, 1582 in Quedlinburg, † August 17, 1637 in Jena ) was a German Lutheran theologian and is considered an important representative of Lutheran orthodoxy.

  • 6.1 Reference

Life

Born the son of a councilor from Quedlinburg Bartholomew Gerhard and his wife Margaretha (born Berndes, died January 27, 1624 ), he attended the school of his native city. ( Exercise books of 1595 are to receive are the oldest known until their discovery in 2012 documents of its kind and give insight into both his working style -. , He seemed to have worked very structured and had a very accurate handwriting - as well as in the school day this time. ) he matriculated in 1599 at the University of Wittenberg, where he first devoted himself to philosophical studies. In addition, he attended at the theological faculty, the lectures of Leonhard Hutter and Salomon Gesner. At first he devoted himself to a study of medicine, accompanied the son of his cousin as a preceptor in 1603 at the University of Jena. An illness brought him from his determination to doctors and he moved below the then active in Quedlinburg pastor Johann Arndt for theology.

He earned the degree of Master of Arts and in 1604 moved to the University of Marburg, where he was the elder and John Winckelmann staying with Balthasar Mentzer. In the spring of 1605 he undertook with Mentzer a journey that led him to the University of Heidelberg, the University of Strasbourg, the University of Tübingen and other places. So he had expanded his horizon and then returned in September 1605 back to Jena, where he gave lectures as an adjunct. 1606 he received his doctorate in theology and went to Heldburg, where he became superintendent. He worked at a teacher at the high school in Coburg. He led the country through Coburg'schen church visitations and developed in 1615 the church order there again. In the same year Duke Johann Casimir appointed him as General Superintendent to Coburg. On February 24, 1615 Gerhard held in Heldburg his farewell sermon, and took up his new post in Coburg. In the summer of 1616 he went despite many offers to the University of Jena, where he remained a professor of theology until his death. There he took a total of four years and the Rector of the University.

Family

Johann Gerhard was married twice. In his first marriage he married on September 19, 1608 Barbara (* November 23, 1594 in Weimar, † May 30, 1611 in Jena, limited June 2, 1611 in St. John's Church of Jena), the daughter of Johann Georg Neumajer and his wife Elisabeth ( born Schröder later behaves. Johann major, Professor in Jena). From this marriage was born in Heldburg son Johann Georg Gerhard was born ( born December 24, 1610 † January 10, 1611, commemorative plate on the Heldburger cemetery chapel of St. Leonhard ). His second wife he married on March 1, 1614 Mary, daughter of the Gotha mayor and physician Dr. Johann Matt Berg ( formerly physician to the French King Henry IV) from Gotha. The wedding took place at Castle Hero Castle in the presence of Duke Johann Casimir ( Saxe-Coburg ), he led the groom himself to the church, and went to him lincke hand. From this marriage ten children come. Of these, known Georg Sigismund Gerhard, Gerhard Magareta, Elisabeth Gerhard, Johann Ernst Gerhard the Elder, John Gerhard, Gerhard Maria, Polycarp Gerhard, Johann Friedrich Gerhard, Johann Andreas Gerhard and Anna Christina Gerhard. Four children died before their father.

Theological Significance

While the Lutheran orthodoxy sometimes gives the impression as if it was only on the " correct doctrine " and less interested in the practical life, this does not apply to Johann Gerhard. So he has - like his teacher Johann Arndt - besides theological works also written devotional literature and is largely contained in the theological conflicts differently than other polemics. In his " Loci theologici " each lesson ends with a section entitled " de usu " ( about the use ), in which the practical benefit for the Christian life is illustrated. Leading Johann Gerhard was in defense of the doctrine of the theologians Hermann Rahthmann Danziger, who had claimed that the Bible reader initially independent of the Bible word must receive the Holy Spirit to understand the Bible at all can ( Rahtmannscher dispute ).

Works

  • Loci theologici. 9 volumes, 1610-1622 ( most important orthodox dogmatics ), online
  • Confessio Catholica. 4 volumes, 1634-1637
  • Harmonis Evangelistarum. 1626/27
  • Meditations sacrae ad veram pietatem excitandam. 1606 Johann Anselm Steiger (ed. and comm. ): Johann Gerhard, Meditations Sacrae (1603 /4). With a facsimile of the autograph. Doctrina et Pietas Dept. I, Volume 2 From man - Holzboog, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt 1998, ISBN 3-7728-1823-4
  • Johann Anselm Steiger (ed. and comm. ): Johann Gerhard, Meditations Sacrae ( 1606/7 ). Latin - German. 2 volumes, Doctrina et Pietas Dept. I, Volume 3:1-2. From man - Holzboog, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt 2000, ISBN 3-7728-1824-2

Manuscripts

  • Handwritten estate Johann Gerhard in the handwriting database HANS belonging to the University of Erfurt, Gotha Research Library
  • Personal copy of the Luther Bible 1541: Scan

Critical editions of her work

  • Johann Gerhard archive ( = Doctrina et Pietas, Series I, Vol 1-13), ed. by Johann Anselm Steiger. From man - Holzboog, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt 1997 et seq, ISBN 978-3-7728-1896-7

Remembrance

  • Evangelical Church in Germany: August 17, in the name Evangelical Calendar
  • Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod: August 17
Casimirianum Coburg Calendar of Saints (Lutheran) Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Neue Deutsche Biographie Johann Gottfried Gruber Johann Heinrich Zedler Integrated Authority File
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