Eduard Meiners

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Eduard Meiners (born July 22, 1691 in Emden ; † December 19, 1752 in Emden) was a German Reformed theologian, church historian and preacher in various communities in East Frisia .

Life

Eduard Meiners was born in 1691 as the son of Emden's burgher Wiard Hermanni and Christina Elisabeth Pears. From 1707 Meiners was enrolled in Leiden as a theology student. His first preaching position was Groothusen (1712-1715), followed by Westerhusen (1715-1717). From 1717 to 1723 he was pastor in Weener and a direct predecessor of Wilhelmus Schortinghuis. Here he married Trijntje Rosingh († 29 May 1746), the daughter of Hermann Rösingh, preacher in Weener, in 1717. His only son, Hermann Meiners († 1749), was a preacher for only a few months. Three daughters survived the father. Finally, Meiners was called to Emden, where he served until his death in 1752. Meiners was the author of numerous writings, some of which were edifying, some of which were exegetical or church history, and a recognized expert on the church history of East Frisia. Throughout his life he was interested in research on orientalism and the biblical original languages.

To his work

In his writing Kort ontwerp van de Praktyk of the Christian Dome of de Praktykale Godgeleertheit (1738) Meiners called for pious exercises such as prayer and Bible reading to be carried out in the morning and in the evening; Fasting is also important. Meiners viewed games of chance (cards, dice), dance and theater, but also walking, clothing and hairstyles as moral vices. He also turned against bird shooting, popular in East Frisia. Under the influence of Pietism , house worship became more important for Meiners in order to promote the spiritual life within the family. In addition, he campaigned for the conventicular system , private meetings of interested church members, which should serve the spiritual exchange and growth. However, against allegations of separatism, Meiners defended the conventicles as long as they were properly implemented. On February 20, 1740 there was a corresponding synodal resolution: The conventicles must be permitted by the church council and the time and place must be reported to the preacher. Those who hold the conventicles should attend the service anyway; Events that take place at the same time are not allowed.

In contrast to the Reformed tradition of singing only the psalms, as they were given their authoritative form in the Geneva Psalter , Meiners recommended Joachim Neander or Schortinghuis to his readers, for example , as many of their songs are not only for worship, but also for Christians in all walks of life had been written. They not only fulfilled their function in worship, but also served to promote deep piety.

Meiners' main work is his East Frisian church history (1738/1739), which is particularly influential for research into the Reformation and Pietism in East Frisia. Meiners defended the view that the beginnings of the Reformation in East Frisia were reformed and not influenced by Lutheranism. In his contemporary analysis, Meiners distinguished the external and internal condition of the church and considered the pious congregations in the country, which were characterized by numerous conversions , to be spiritually more mature than the cities of East Frisia.

Fonts

  • Christ is all in all . 2 volumes. Emden 1724.
  • Jezus of the uitverkoornen Geneesmeester . Emden 1740.
  • Kerkelijke divorced van Oostvriesland . 2 volumes. Emden 1738.
  • Praktyk of the Christian Dome of de Praktykale Godlessness . Groningen 1738.
  • Levensbeschrijving van Joh. Everhardi . Emden 1735.
  • Oostvrieschlandts kerkelyke geschiedenisse, of, Een historically en oordeelkundig verhaal . Groningen 1738-1739; Reprint: Nabu Press 2010, ISBN 1-143-47584-4 .
  • Practical godgeleerdheid . Emden 1738.
  • Urlike Wegwijzer . Emden 1747/1753.
  • Declaration over the letter aan de Romeinen . 4 volumes. Emden 1744.
  • Verklaring van den Oostvrieschen catechism . Emden 1737.

literature

  • Walter Hollweg: The history of older Pietism in the Reformed communities of East Frisia from their beginnings to the great awakening movement (around 1650–1750) . Verlag Ostfriesische Landschaft, Aurich 1978.
  • Aeilt Fr. Risius: From Weener's ecclesiastical past: testimonies to the thousand-year history of the local church . In: Festschrift for the commissioning of the renovated St. George's Church in Weener . 1972, pp. 17-28.
  • Menno Smid : East Frisian Church History . H. Risius, Weener 1974 (East Friesland in the protection of the dike, vol. 6).
  • Enno Johann Heinrich Tiaden: The learned East Friesland . tape 3 . Borgeest, Aurich 1790, p. 269–291 ( limited preview in Google Book search).

Web links

Biographies in:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hollweg: History of the older Pietism , p. 119f.
  2. ↑ Hollweg: History of older Pietism , p. 153f.
  3. ↑ Hollweg: History of older Pietism , p. 99.
  4. ^ Enno Johann Heinrich Tiaden : The learned East Friesland . tape 3 . Borgeest, Aurich 1790, p. 272–282 ( limited preview in Google Book search).
  5. ↑ Smid: Ostfriesische Kirchengeschichte , p. 357.
personal data
SURNAME Mine, Eduard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German reformed theologian
DATE OF BIRTH July 22, 1691
PLACE OF BIRTH Emden
DATE OF DEATH December 19, 1752
Place of death Emden