John Ernest Grabe

Johannes Ernst Grabe (* July 10, 1666 in Königsberg, † November 3, 1711 in Oxford ) was a German Lutheran, 1697 Anglican theologian.

Life

Johannes Ernst Grabe was born as the son of Lutheran theology professor Sylvester Grabe and his wife Sophie Behm, daughter of theology professor Michael Behm, on July 10, 1666 in Königsberg. His brother was the librarian Sylvester grave. Initially, he was trained by his parents in Königsberg. The family moved to Pomerania, as the father was transferred there. Since that time dominated the grave already the Latin language on native level. In addition, he made ​​the brother of his mother, Michael Behm, from Pomerania. This accompanied the grave in 1682 at the University of Königsberg. There he studied for three years philosophy and history and was appointed in 1685 to the Master. The early graduation allowed his curiosity and his deep knowledge. He was connected with the Master Promotion now at the University lecturer in history and rhetoric. Later he trained in theology and exegesis, so he also held theological lectures.

1686 his father died, so grave 1686/1687 a study tour of Germany and undertook several universities attended, as prescribed, the then custom among scholars. On his return he was also allowed to church history lectures. He was so popular that he was advised to apply for an extraordinary professorship of theology, but he refused because he already doubted at the time of the Lutheran denomination. Because of the Konigsberg syncretism 'and the writings of the Jesuit Robert Bellarmine grave doubt more and more the truth of the Lutheran Church. Responsible for the syncretic disputes in Königsberg were the ecumenical aspirations Georg Calixtus. The minds differed between orthodoxy and rationalism, so some changed to pietism, but those which also Pietism was not satisfactory, converted to the Catholic faith. Grave was, however, persecuted because he was suspected to accept the Catholic beliefs.

Specifically criticized grave at the Lutheran denomination initially not the doctrine, but the cult; He criticized the fact that there was no valid priesthood with apostolic consecration and at the Last Supper no sacrifice. As a professor of theology in 1694 Johann Philipp Pfeiffer ( 1645-1695 ) converted with friends and students, the syncretism in Königsberg had reached its peak. On this occasion, wrote his grave addressed to the Consistory magazine called dubia as forced arranged by the elector investigations. In it, he accused Martin Luther fivefold heresy and he spoke of these had moved away from the true faith. Consequently, the grave was briefly detained in pillau and then spent under house arrest in Königsberg. On May 1695, finally came out of the Lutheran faith. In the case of grave Elector had three reviewers used that should respond to the grave dubia, one of them was the Pietist Philipp Jacob Spener. The other two reviewers were the Protestant theologian Johann Wilhelm Baier and Bernhard von Sanden. Only in the latter specification replied grave in Abgenöthigte vindication resist sands 1696th After writing the script traveled grave to Vienna, where he wanted to convert. Spener, however, advised them from the grave in his address to him. He argued with a Protestant interpretation of the biblical passage Revelation of John, 12.3, and at the same time advised him to convert to the Anglican Church. In addition, the grave had offers to Prussian universities, which he declined.

In the year 1697 finally emigrated to England from the grave after he had discussed in Berlin with Spener about and joined the Anglican Church. There he was ordained a priest and received by Queen Anne in addition to a royal pension more gifts. Grave never occurred in England but as a priest in appearance, since he could not make friends with the Anglican doctrine of the Eucharist. He spent the next 14 years as a private scholar at Oxford and has focused particularly on patristics and the Septuagint. He authored important writings, his most significant is a new edition of the Septuagint on the basis of the Codex Alexandrinus. The work consisted of four parts, with the second and third were not published until after the author's death. In the work the tomb was very carefully chosen and ordered the three recensions of the Septuagint in the manuscripts after that were available to him. Thus he laid the foundations for the Septuagintaforschung, resorted to the later included Paul de Lagarde. Overall, he brought in a text about 2000 corrections carefully marked. Worldwide was awarded for his work grave gifts, including a gift of money by Friedrich I. In spite of all he does not forget his home and searched in Prussia for the Anglican Church to advertise.

Meanwhile received grave for his services by the University of Oxford theological honorary doctorate in 1706. Finally, he was also with the Anglican faith not satisfied with what was probably a reason for his homesick in later years. Overall, he was pious and humble and was called by the people of the Blessed. He had a weak health, the 45 - year put an end to his life on November 13, 1711 in Oxford. He was buried is located in St. Pancras in London. 1726 was erected in Westminster Abbey in his honor a monument of alabaster. He is depicted in Doctor Habit, as it is based with the right arm on a coffin and in his left hand holding a book.

Works

• Animadversiones historicae in controversias Bellarmini (1692 )
• Abgenötigte vindication ( 1696 )
• Specilegium patrum et haereticorum saeculi I-III p. Chr ( first volume in 1698, second volume 1700)
• Liturgia graeca (edited by Christopher Matthew Pfaff The Hague 1715 )
• Justin's Apology (1700)
• Irenaeus, Contra haereses libri V ( 1702)
• I Septuagint (1707, Part II, edited by Francis Lee 1719, Part III, edited by G. Wigan 1720 Part IV 1729 )