Cornelius Becker

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Cornelius Becker

Cornelius Becker (born October 24, 1561 in Leipzig ; † May 25, 1604 there ) was a German Lutheran theologian and hymn poet .

Life

Title page of the Psalter David Gesangweis , Leipzig 1602

Cornelius Becker was born the son of a businessman on October 24, 1561 in Leipzig. He attended the Thomas School and studied from 1573 at the University of Leipzig . He finished his studies in 1580 and became a Baccalaureus artium. The university appointed him in 1584 to the Magister artium . In 1588 he worked for six months in Rochlitz as archdeacon , was ordained and also a teacher at the St. Thomas School. In 1592 he became a deacon at the Nikolaikirche and in 1594 a pastorpromoted after he was also a Baccalaureus in theology that year. In 1597 the university awarded him the degree of a licentiate in theology based on his writing Positiones de autoritate ecclesiae in scripturis interpretandis et dijudicandis de religione controversiis . In 1599 she earned him a doctorate in theology with his dissertation Quaestio de Sacra domini coena, Continens statum controuersiae inter Ecclesias Augustanam Confessionem amplectentes & Calvinianos . Since that year he has been an associate professor at the university while retaining his pastoral office. In 1601 he was promoted to full professor. After he had also been dean in 1602 , he gave up the professorship the following year.

Becker was a strict Lutheran theologian and took a polemical stand against cryptocalvinism . Therefore he was removed from office in June 1601. Half a year later, in November, he was reinstated because he was found innocent.

The "Becker Psalter"

With his suspension, Becker began to translate the Psalms into German chants, which he completed soon afterwards. In the end she replaced Ambrosius Lobwasser's . The psalms followed Lutheran melodies, 43 of which were composed by Sethus Calvisius . Valentin Cremcovicus translated these poems into Latin and Heinrich Grimm created four-part compositions. Even Heinrich Schütz published in 1628 92 sound sets , for he had found solace in the poems after his wife had died. Finally, Johann Georg IV introduced the psalm settings at court and in schools and churches in Electoral Saxony.

Becker also composed other hymns, some of which went into hymn books.

family

In 1589 Becker married Dorothea Stockmann, who gave birth to four children. After she died in 1603, he married Martha Schreiner the next year.

Works

  • The Psalter of David sangweis (Leipzig 1602; over 25 editions until 1712),
    including the hymn book     songs
    • With my God I go to rest , verse 1 (Psalm 4; EG 474)
    • The Lord is my loyal shepherd, whom I completely trust (Psalm 23; EG Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe 612)
    • I want as long as I live (Psalm 34; EG 276)
    • Now all the world cheer to the Lord (Psalm 100; EG 288, GL 144 ; edited by David Denicke )
    • Happy those who walk (Psalm 119; EG 295, GL 543)
    • I eagerly lift up my eyes (Psalm 121; EG 296)
  • Christian funeral predict at the funeral of […] Mr. Adam Tulsner, the councilor and city judge of Leipzig […] February 22, 1603 (Leipzig 1603)
  • Let the little children come to me, says the Son of God (Song for the funeral of children, 1604)

literature

Web links

Commons : Cornelius Becker  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Becker, Cornelius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Lutheran theologian and hymn poet
DATE OF BIRTH October 24, 1561
PLACE OF BIRTH Leipzig
DATE OF DEATH May 25, 1604
Place of death Leipzig