Stephan Praetorius

Life

Praetorius attended the School of Abdias Praetorius in his native city, then in Magdeburg. In March 1558 he entered the University of Rostock, where he especially David Chytraeus joined. In order to earn a subsistence, he taught at a school. In October 1563 he was awarded his doctorate for Bakkalar and master. 1565 he left Rostock. From John Agricola of Eisleben, he was ordained a preacher in Berlin in Salzwedel, where he first worked as a deacon at the Church of St. Augustine, from 1569 to his death as pastor at St. Catherine's Church. Vocations to Uelzen and Wismar he refused.

Praetorius established a Latin school, where he published several textbooks. However, special attention caught his pastoral tracts and devotional works. Gottfried Arnold is counting on its 80. Johann Arndt was in 1622 a thematically organized collection out, Martin Statius in 1625 a selection and for 1636 under the title " Ecclesiastical Treasury of the faithful " a comprehensive collection that was widely reprinted until the 19th century, but also repeatedly attacks orthodox Lutheran theologians ( eg Abraham Calov, Konrad Tiburtius Rango ) moved up. The Swedish translation was of great importance for the Pietism in Sweden. From the Danish translation appeared in 2008 a new edition.

Although Praetorius wanted to hold on to the Lutheran orthodoxy, he laid great emphasis on personal holiness in life. This led to the accusation of perfectionism ( praetorianism ). His writings, particularly in the collection of Statius, inspired numerous mystical spiritualists in the 17th century (eg Augustin Fuhrmann, Frederick Breckling ).