Daniel Willi

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Daniel Willi (born May 18, 1696 in Chur ; † December 5, 1755 ibid) was a Swiss Reformed clergyman and Pietist .

Life

Daniel Willi was born as the son of Johann Simeon Willi, who held various commercial honorary positions such as Zoller and City Architect, and his wife Anna Emerita Frizzoni in Chur in the canton of Graubünden . It grew up in the house next to the Salvatorenturm .

In 1709 he went to Bergamo to train as a merchant. Shortly thereafter, however, he rejected the plan, returned to Chur and attended the Collegium philosophicum from 1711 . The next year he began a five-year apprenticeship as a businessman in Friuli . In the end, however, he devoted himself to theology and enrolled at the University of Heidelberg in 1718 and that year became a student of Professors Mieg and Kirchmeyer. He spent the following two years as a private tutor in Bern and then continued his studies at the University of Basel .

On June 21, 1720, the Evangelical-Rhaetian Synod in Ilanz accepted him . This was a prerequisite for working as a pastor in the Free State of the Three Leagues . Admission was on the condition that he study abroad for another year. Willis did not respond to this request, but taught Latin in Chur until 1723. In 1722 he took over the parish in Maladers . During his time in Maladers, he married Anna Bavier, daughter of the Chur pastor Ulrich Bavier. With her he fathered a total of nine children. In 1723 he gave up the position of private tutor and took over the municipality of Thusis .

On February 18, 1727, a fire broke out that severely damaged the church and rectory, among other things. In 1929 he founded an orphanage in Thusis. In 1733 he resigned to work again as a teacher in Chur. In 1737 Willi gave a sermon in Jenaz before the Synod that was pietistic - Willi was assigned to Pietism - and thus caused anger among the opponents of Pietism. In the same year he took over the parish office in Parpan while retaining his teaching post.

Known as an "outstanding pietistic theologian", Willi was appointed to the Regulakirche in Chur in 1738 . Then in 1752 he moved to the Martinskirche in Chur . He held the office until his death on December 5, 1755 at the age of 59.

Willi had contacts with the Moravian Brethren . Erich Wenneker called him the "most important representative of early Pietism in Graubünden" .

Shortly after Daniel Willi's death, the Herrnhut dispute flared up in Graubünden .

Works

  • The Christian's first and last will, or the actual rule of life and death. From Matth. 6 vers. 10. Bey Christian honorary burial of the highly respected, well-born noble, well-wise heart, Mr. Ruodolff Rosenrolle, elected highly-honored Vicari des Veltlin, as well as frequent Haubts our G'meind, and persistent upper class member of the same (St. Gallen 1730)
  • In the word of truth entrusted / and through it alone / and without a few consequences to be opened up and resolved From philosophy, theology, and morality both put together / as itself from and according to the measure of grace (1736)
  • The holy words of Jesus Christ, and the doctrine of godliness, in a synodal sermon by Daniel Willi. In the temple at Janatz in Prätigauw in 1737. d. June 12 (Frankfurt / Leipzig 1737)
  • That illustrated testimony to the truth. To the mad-light a mad-light. 1. Corinth. I, 18-31. A witness of truth to the simple-minded crowd According to the measure of grace (Frankfurt / Leipzig 1738)
  • Shibboleth or the unbearable slogan of those servants of Jesus Christ and his house, in these last days / in two admission sermons. About 2. Tim IV. 1-5 To encourage him and his brothers. Including a Buss wake-up and warning voice over Judic. XVII. 6 communicated and presented. After being elected to the preaching office in Chur near St. Regula (Zurich 1743)
  • Whitsun Echo (Zurich 1744)

literature

personal data
SURNAME Willi, Daniel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss reformed clergyman and pietist
DATE OF BIRTH May 18, 1696
PLACE OF BIRTH Chur
DATE OF DEATH December 5, 1755
Place of death Chur