Jón Árnason (Bishop)

Jón Árnason (* 1665 ; † February 8, 1743 ) was an Evangelical Lutheran bishop of Skálholt in southern Iceland .

He was considered a very learned man, especially in the fields of theology and mathematics. He was also a gifted singer.

Family and education

Jón Árnason was in the district of Dýrafjörður in the West Fjords born. His father Árni Loftsson was a pastor there and in other places.

He received his education first at the Skálholt School and later (until 1692) at the University of Copenhagen .

Professional background

Jón Árnason was the head of the renowned school in Hólar for a long time until he became pastor in Staður on Steingrímsfjörður in the West Fjords in 1707 .

After the sudden death of Jón Vídalín he became Bishop of Skálholt and worked as such until the end of his life.

Character and attitudes

He was considered a very strict man and one of the most influential bishops in the country.

Against the resistance of the merchants he tried to prevent the import of tobacco and brandy. Also in his own sphere of activity he fought against alcoholism, among other things by removing pastors from office. He also showed this strictness with regard to the customs in the school of Skálholt.

Unusually he managed the finances of his diocese himself, but times were difficult and the bishopric remained poor.

scientist

As a theologian and mathematician, he published a number of works, including textbooks for the school in Skálholt, which he had printed in Copenhagen , and a Latin-Icelandic dictionary. He also wrote many tracts and letters.

wife

He was married to Guðrún Einarsdóttir (1665-1752), the daughter of Einar Þorsteinsson , the bishop of Hólar .

Works (selection)

• 1722: Spurningar Ut af Frædunum: Samannteknar handa Børnum og fa Frødu Almuga-Folcke / af Jone Arnesyne. Spurningakver, kallað Jónskver.
• 1738: Nucleus latinitatis (latína: "kjarni góðrar latínu") eða Nucleus latinitatis / Kleyfsi - latnesk orðabók með íslenskum skýringum
• 1739: Fingrarím / Dactylismus ecclesiasticus eður Fingra-Rím viðvíkjandi kirkju-ársins tímum. Fylgir og með ný aðferð að finna íslendsk Misseraskipti

Web links

• Umfjöllum um Jón Árnason í The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
• Staðarkirkja í Staðardal í Steingrímsfirði
• Website from Skálholt to Jón Árnarson

Individual evidence

1. ^ Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain): The Biographical Dictionary of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1844, p. 535. Limited preview in Google Book search
2. ^ Jón Árnason - Skálholt. (No longer available online.) In: Skalholt.is. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014 ; Retrieved January 3, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  

predecessor	Office	successor
Jón Vídalín	Bishop of Skálholt 1722 - 1743	Ludvig Harboe

Note: Icelanders are referred to by their first name or first and last name, but not just their surname. Further information can be found under Icelandic personal name .