Zacharias Ursinus

Zacharias Ursinus ( born July 18, 1534 Breslau, † March 6, 1583 in Neustadt an der Haardt, today Neustadt on the Wine Route ), born Zacharias Baer, ​​was a Reformed theologian and reformer.

Training

Ursinus, who followed a custom of his time and Latinized his name, was in his youth from Ambrosius Breslauer Moibanus influenced theologically. He studied at the University of Wittenberg, where he Philipp Melanchthon joined. After a study trip that took him to Geneva to John Calvin, Paris and Zurich, he worked as a teacher at the Elizabeth School in his native city of Wroclaw. After disputes with local Lutherans he initially returned to the reformed Zurich and worked closely with Peter Martyr Vermigli and Heinrich Bullinger together.

Teaching

University of Heidelberg

On the recommendation of the Zurich theologians appointed him Elector Friedrich III. 1561 at the University of Heidelberg, where he received his doctorate in the following year as a doctor of theology. He taught there and at the theological faculty at the Collegium Sapientiae. On behalf of the Elector Palatine, he designed templates for the Heidelberg Catechism, the most significant confession of the Reformed Church in Germany. In several writings he defended the Reformed theology of the Palatinate against Lutherans. At the Collegium Sapientiae in Heidelberg he laid continuously from the Heidelberg Catechism for budding theologians. From transcripts of these lectures made ​​from 1584 students a catechism comment that appeared in different languages ​​and especially in the Netherlands under the title of " shadow boeck " a rich history of influence showed ( see Wagner - Peterson ).

Casimirianum Neustadt

After the death of his patron Frederick III. ( 1576 ) Ursinus refused to sign the Formula of Concord in favor of Lutheranism, and therefore had to leave the University of Heidelberg. On Casimirianum in Neustadt he found a new place of learning. He opened his post on April 26, 1578 with a lecture about the prophet Isaiah. In Neustadt his last major work, the " Admonitio Christiana " was released. It is a sharp rebuttal of the Formula of Concord.

Importance

Ursinus died in 1583 at the age of only 48 years and was buried in the collegiate church Neustadter. From the series of theological scholars who were active in the Casimirianum, he stands out particularly, and mainly owes him the Casimirianum his former fame.