Balthasar kauffelin

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Balthasar kauffelin (* around 1490 in Wildberg (Black Forest) ; † 1559 in Tübingen ) was a German theologian and rector of the University of Tübingen .

In the course of the Reformation set in motion in Europe by Martin Luther , which ultimately culminated in a split in the Christian Church , kauffelin, in his position as professor of theology, was forced to take a stand on the theological and religious innovations of Protestantism . He initiated the transformation of the University of Tübingen into a Protestant educational institution, but during the course of his tenure maintained a critical attitude towards certain reformatory practices.

Educational path

Kauffelin enrolled at the theological faculty in Tübingen in 1510. In 1513 he completed his master's degree. On June 18, 1521 his habilitation took place, a short time later on July 2 he was appointed professor of theology. Until his death in 1559 he was the only constant and for a long time the only professor at the theological faculty.

Paul Phrygio , Johann Forster and Erhard Schnepf were temporary colleagues .

Career at the theological faculty

Kauffelin was appointed sentenziar on March 2, 1519 and full professor on July 2, 1521, and worked at the faculty until his death in 1559. During this time he was rector of the university thirteen times. In 1538, kauffelin and his colleague Phrygio wrote new statutes for the theological faculty, which were supposed to supplement the university's ordinances. Among other things, this strengthened the position of the dean and ensured greater control over teaching at the faculty.

Scientific work

It is known that kauffelin wrote a manuscript called epistola de papa deponendo (Latin for "letters written by the Pope"). This, like any other work by the man, has not been preserved for posterity.

Attitude to the Reformation

In 1526, kauffelin received the order from the Bishop of Basel, “as Ordinarius theol. and Prädikant zu Tübingen ”to participate in the Baden disputation . On the return trip he met his old college friend Ambrosius Blarer in Constance, to whom he stated that he had "let himself be entangled by the Lutheran sect". In fact, however, kauffelin seems to have struggled internally against these innovations. Together with the other three professors of the theological faculty, he closed himself off against all reforms. His counterparts were then fired; only kauffelin, whose attitude most closely matched the ideas of the Reformation, was allowed to keep his professorship. As a result, kauffelin was the only professor in the theological faculty for a long time.

Since kauffelin did not clearly admit Protestantism, he became a controversial figure in the eyes of other reformers. He himself seems to have recognized the need for a Reformation, but opposed the idea of ​​a schism in the Christian church. That is why he always emphasized the similarities between Protestants and Catholics.

Attitude to the Confessio Augustana

In 1540 Ulrich von Württemberg asked all members of the theological faculty in Tübingen to collect their opinions on the Augsburg Confession , including Confessio Augustana, the official statement of the Lutheran imperial estates on their faith. All members except Phrygio and kauffelin found that the Confessio Augustana was based on the Holy Scriptures and that it could therefore be recognized without hesitation. Kauffelin had reservations about Article 7, which deals with the unity of the church. There the confession to the one holy Christian church is formulated, but with the reservation that unity is only necessary in relation to the sacraments and doctrine, but not in relation to rites, traditions or ceremonies that have been introduced by people. Accordingly, kauffelin deemed him unacceptable - he continued to adhere to the principle of a single, united church.

In 1548 kauffelin was again the only professor in the theological faculty. Due to the changed political framework and the suppression of Protestantism as a result of the Augsburg interim , he led the faculty closer to the Catholic Church. With the end of the interim, kauffelin's influence in the theological faculty declined until he was finally retired. “As an old, well-deserved professor and co-regent of the university who did a lot of good for the Hohenschul”, he was still allowed to claim the salary and residence of a professor until his death.

Kauffelin's goal as a reformer was not the separation of a new church, but the Reformation within the Catholic Church. Since there are no theological writings of kauffelin, his theological positions can only be read from his utterances and his work at the theological faculty.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Heinrich Hermelink : The theological faculty in Tübingen before the Reformation 1477–1534. Tübingen 1906, pp. 84-85
  2. ^ Julius August Wagenmann :  kauffelin, Balthasar . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 15, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1882, p. 462 f.
  3. ^ Heinrich Hermelink: The theological faculty in Tübingen before the Reformation 1477–1534. Tübingen 1906, p. 84
  4. ^ A b R. Harrison: The Reformation of the theological faculty of Tübingen. London 1975, pp. 215-218, pp. 66 + 67
  5. ^ Julius August Wagenmann:  kauffelin, Balthasar . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 15, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1882, p. 462 f.
  6. ^ Ulrich Köpf, Sönke Lorenz, Dieter R. Bauer (eds.): The University of Tübingen between the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War. 2010, ISBN 978-3-7995-5514-2 , p. 103
  7. ^ Julius August Wagenmann:  kauffelin, Balthasar . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 15, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1882, p. 462 f.
personal data
SURNAME Kauffelin, Balthasar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kefele, Balthasar; Kefelin, Balthasar; Keuflin, Balthasar; Kaeuffelin, Balthasar; Kauffelein, Balthasar
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1490
PLACE OF BIRTH Wildberg (Black Forest)
DATE OF DEATH 1559
Place of death Tübingen