Johannes Mathesius

Johannes or Johann Mathesius (* June 24, 1504 in Rochlitz, † October 7, 1565 in Jáchymov, Bohemia ) was a German Lutheran pastor and reformer.

Life

A child Rochlitzer

Johann Mathesius was born in Rochlitz on 24 June ( Midsummer Day ) 1504, the third son of the alderman Wolfgang Mathesius. He received his baptism in St. Peter's Church and his home was on the bleach place at the trough. His godparents were friends of the family Mathesius, including Thomas Neumann, the mayor of the city was Rochlitz. The mother, Christine, born Scheuerfuß, came from the not far distant Mittweida. Together, he grew up with his brothers Luke, who later studied in Bologna and earned a master's degree, his second brother Burckhardt which in Leipzig the academic degree of Baccalaurus acquired and later became a teacher and rector of Sebaldusschule in Nuremberg was and his younger brother Wolfgang on. His mother already died early, his grandmother Juliane Scheuerfuß took over his education in the neighboring town Mittweida.

In the parents' house, he learned from his father, in his own words, the Ten Commandments, the faith and the Lord's Prayer. Mathesius remembered his parents and grandparents in later life with the greatest respect, for he was brought up under " earnest exhortations ," but also with heartfelt love. At age six, he attended the local school and learned Rochlitzer " Latin grammar, the Sunday gospels and spirituals ". In the former city of the diocese of Merseburg he learned according to the rules Catholic catechism, was Latin grammar explained, learned to read and write. As he got paid by the eighth year a tutor of his grandmother, his services developed positively. From the age of ten he was prepared by his father to a mining career.

Therefore, the father brought him back to himself to Rochlitz, to make him a capable miner. He employed him as an assistant clerk in the newly established mines " Junker Mountain " and " Vogelsang " in his hometown. Thus developed the ten year old mind and a love of nature and made his first mineralogical and botanical studies. Unfortunately, already fell in 1517 the Rochlitzer mine, whereby the wealthy father impoverished. Then John went out again to Mittweida for grandmother. On January 1, 1521 his father died. After his son's view inflicted a reckless " quack " his death. The young man took the Wanderlust and he wanted to follow suit as a traveling student schools according to the fashion.

Apprenticeship and journeyman years

In 1521, Mathesius went on his way to Nuremberg, where he lived with relatives and attended a Latin school. His livelihood, he secured at this time as a chorister. The thriving cultural city of Nuremberg lasting impression on him. The students moved in the field of action of famous contemporaries such as Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) or Adam Kraft ( 1493-1558 ). Two years later he moved to Ingolstadt and studied at the then famous university theology. Already in 1523 he had to abandon his studies for lack of funds.

This is followed by many professional activities: first in Munich and in the service of a private library, and then as a private tutor and educator at Castle Odelzhausen ( noble residence in the district of Dachau) at the widow Sabine Auer. Martin Luther's book " Of the good works " put him on the way to the Reformation. " From this I have the beginning of Christianity, God be praised, I taught it in the first place ," he said later. In Bruck bei Furstenfeld found in the house of the priest Zacharias Weichsner more opportunity to study Luther's teachings.

To get to know the Reformer himself, left Mathesius Bruck and arrived after an arduous hike in Wittenberg. Arrived on 21 May 1530 in Wittenberg, he heard on the following Saturday Luther on "essence and power of the Holy Baptism " preach what made ​​a deep impression on him. Mathesius matriculated out on May 30 at Wittenberg Academy. For three years he remained in Wittenberg and attended lectures and sermons of all great men of Wittenberg University, for example, by Philipp Melanchthon, Johannes Bugenhagen, Justus Jonas the Elder, Caspar Cruciger the Elder and especially of Luther. A scholarship from his hometown Rochlitz financed him these studies. With diligence to Mathesius dealt with theology and philosophy, dialectic and rhetoric. Furthermore, his love led him to science in the lecture halls of the astronomers and naturalists. In addition to the theoretical and scientific training Mathesius also retained the ecclesiastical and practical in mind. In the Castle Church in Wittenberg, which often reminded him of his hometown, as the floor was covered with Rochlitzer porphyry, he heard Luther preach. Again, lack of money, he had to stop his studies and took a job as a teacher at the high school Altenburger.

Despite his work as a teacher and director at the Latin School in Joachimsthal his thirst for knowledge did not let him rest. 1540 he retired for a second time as a student at Wittenberg. The funds for this he gained through the participation of grateful parents of his students on their profitable mine. Here he was Luther's table companion and a narrator of the Table Talk of the Master, he recorded two years. Luther liked the humble and talented students, trying to make an able preacher from him. Melanchthon was him at this time. Formative teacher and close friend Mathesius felt his life Wittenberg University joined. He was an ardent supporters of religious renewal. On September 23, 1540 Mathesius acquired the academic degree of Master of Arts and was ordained for his ministry of Luther himself.

Mathesius in Joachimsthal

Due to its pedagogical talent and his vast knowledge of theology and language and Realienfächern receives Mathesius appointment as rector of the Latin School of emerging silver Jáchymov that he takes on 15 March 1532. During his eight-year leadership, the Humanist Institute came to a large bloom. Despite his love for the teaching profession, it drew Mathesius back to Wittenberg, where he had a table companion Luther ample opportunity to hear their views on religious and secular things by himself. 1541 came an embassy from Joachimsthal to Wittenberg, to hand over the young master his vocation as a deacon.

With a shining testimony of the University Mathesius returned to Joachimstal. After he was ordained on March 29, 1542 in Wittenberg, he held in April 1542 his entry into the free mountain town, where he then worked first as a preacher since November 25, 1545 as pastor until his death.

As a preacher Mathesius developed a very great effectiveness. His personality, his vast knowledge, his open-mindedness brought him everywhere great reputation far beyond his community beyond. Under his leadership, Joachimsthal developed into a true evangelical model community in Bohemia. In his sermons he refers again and again to the mountain town and brings his joy in nature, his powers of observation and his interest in classical antiquity with a. As he taught, he also lived, he remembered every day of his duties. With great patience he also did not give up, if his work did not want to bear the right fruit. Despite all the piety he loved the " decent, cheerful companionship ." Often, friends and neighbors were invited to dinner in a happy round in his house. Johann Mathesius maintained a lively and intense correspondence with many eminent men such as Paul Eber, Philipp Melanchthon and many others. Twice he visited him in Joachimsthal and wrote no less than a hundred letters to the pastor.

Heavy hours prepared Mathesius the time of the Smalcald War: coerced and harassed by the king, came in 1545 their sovereignty over the valley from the Counts of Schlick.

Genealogy

From its closed on December 4, 1542 marriage to Sybilla († February 23, 1555 ), the daughter of Joachim Thaler mining officer Paul Richter, five sons and three daughters are known:

Works (selection)

• A consolation hearing, and the Dormition of the men, with joy resist coming together, Nuremberg 1565 ( digitized )
• Histories of Martin Luther's early, teaching, life and death, Nuremberg 1566
• Sarepta or mountain Piety, darinn of all sorts Bergwerck and Matallen ... good report is given, Nuremberg 1578 Digitized edition Leipzig 1618
• Digitized output Freiberg 1679

Remembrance

October 8 in the Protestant calendar name.