Oddur Gottskálksson

Oddur Gottskálksson (* 1495/1497, † 1556 in Kjós ) the son of the Catholic bishop Gottskálk Nikulásson was (Norwegian: Nilsson ) in Hólar ( term 1496-1520 ) and the Guðrún Eiríksdóttir, the granddaughter of the rich Loftur Guttormsson in Möðruvellir. Gottskálk came from a distinguished Norwegian family, his brother was Ólafur Rögnvaldsson, Lögmaður (Legislative Speaker) in Bergen.

Life

With 6 years Oddur came to Bergen and spent his youth with his uncle Ólafur. Between 1518 and 1528 was Geble Pedersson, a very learned humanist and later superintendent in Bergen, principal of the cathedral school. Oddur held during the study period in Denmark and Germany. He dominated beside Icelandic and Latin, Danish and German. During these stays abroad was Oddur staunch Lutheran, but he kept to himself.

After his return he was secretary Bishop Ögmundur Pálsson in Skálholt ( term 1521-1541 ). During this time Oddur worked on the translation of the New Testament in the norrønsche language. He pulled up foreign translations, especially that of Martin Luther. According to tradition, it was the Gospel of Matthew. 1538 left Oddur Skálholt. He probably went to his rich relatives in Norway. In 1539, he presented the translation of the entire New Testament finished. The voice quality of the documents drawn up in Norway part is much worse than the verfertigte in Iceland part. In Iceland there was not a humanist circle of educated men with whom he could discuss the translation, for example Gissur Einarsson, who later became superintendent and bishop in Skálholt, but in Norway. The lecturers of the University of Copenhagen approved the translation, with all the evidence, that no one except his at the time present there friend Gissur Einarsson the Norrøn sufficiently mastered in order to assess the can. King Christian III. ordered in 1539 the pressure " ... ath then almechtigste Gudz loff OCJ Aere maa formeres. och then menighe someone. som Bygge och boo paa word country Iceland T. och icke fuldkommeligen customer forstaa other tungemall mue bedre bliffue underwist vdi Holy Scriptures. " ( ... To be that of Almighty God praise and honor be increased, and the common man who builds on our land and lives Iceland and the foreign languages ​​are not completely understood, must be better trained in the Scriptures ) (Lit.: Diplomatarium islandicum X No. 212 ( erroneously referred to as 312 ) ). At the end he asked to buy the book and ordered its use in worship.

This book was the first Icelandic book that was printed. The pressure was 1540 in Roskilde place of the second edition in 1546 in Rostock.

Oddur also translated the first two volumes and the fourth volume of a guide for Lutheran pastor of Antonius Corvinus, the so-called Corvinus Postille and let the first two volumes in 1546 Print in Rostock. For the printing of the fourth volume with sample sermons for Lent probably lacked the money. He was issued by the superintendent Ólafur Hjaltason Hólar to 1559.

Had a similar fate prepared by him translating the Book The story of Christ's suffering by Bugenhagen, which was published only in 1558 by Gisli Jónsson. In addition, he translated the Catechism of Andreas Osiander, parts of the Psalter and other texts of the Old Testament.

Because of a speech impediment he did not ordain pastors. But his friend and Bishop Gissur Einarsson supported him by asking him to the diocese Skálholt belonging yard Reykir in Ölvus available. He later received the benefice Reykholt and monastery in Reynistaður. He was Sýslumaður in Borgarfjorður and in the 1550s Lögmaður the north and west of the country.

1556 he drowned under mysterious circumstances in the Laxa in Kjós. The Biskupa annálar report on it: " The river was not to cross, and his companions told him that the river was not to ride through with the horse, but he did not want to hear it and rode in front against their will when he pretty far in the. River had ridden it two was very deep. he wanted to return, but fell on quicksand. Thereupon crashed the horse, and he fell from the saddle into the river and floated on a sandbank. he stayed so long in the water, that he drowned. books he had in his breast pocket, were dry: the hymnal and the account book. " (Lit.: Biskupa annálar p. 78).