Jakob Otter

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Memorial plaque in Kenzingen

Jakob Otter (also Otther, Other, Ottner etc .; * 1485 in Lauterbourg ; † March 15, 1547 in Esslingen am Neckar ) was a Reformed theologian and reformer.

Life

Otter was one of three children of Hans and Brigitta Otter who died when he was a toddler. So the son of a tailor and councilor came to an uncle in Speyer , where the cathedral preacher Jakob Wimpheling and the humanists Jodokus Galtz and Johann Wacker influenced his development. From 1505 he was able to study in Heidelberg and in 1507 acquired the academic degree of a bachelor's degree and was ordained a priest without having had any theological training. Then he came as a secretary to the preacher Johann Geiler von Kaysersberg in Strasbourg , after his death in 1510 he published his writings.

Despite the mystical thoughts that he had absorbed in this environment, his urge to learn again drove him to the university in Freiburg im Breisgau . After earning his master's degree here , he turned to theology. According to the usual rules of the time, he acquired the degrees of a bachelor's degree, the sententiarius and, in 1517, that of a lic. Theol. In 1518 he was given the parish of Wolfenweiler near Freiburg, around 1520 he went to Rottenburg am Neckar as a pastor .

From 1520, under the influence of Martin Luther's writings, Otter began to work for the Reformation. In 1522 he was appointed professor in Kenzingen . Here he was granted great success. He held the divine service in Luther's style in German and also represented the doctrine of the sacraments in his sense (communion in both forms). Since there was no lack of attacks, he published his sermons in Strasbourg in 1524 and courageously offered himself to any public account. In order not to endanger the city, he moved to Strasbourg, where 150 to 200 citizens followed him. Archduke Ferdinand practiced strict judgment in Kenzingen, arrested the mayor and beheaded the town clerk.

Meanwhile he was by the knight Hans III. Landschad was appointed pastor in Neckarsteinach in 1524 , where he again had a strong influence on the entire community and led them to the Protestant faith. The poor box was set up from the sale of church ornaments. The service was held according to the Lutheran order. The peasants stood by their pastor and did not take part in the peasant uprising. He dedicated the beautiful little book “Christian Living and Dying” to his patron, who defended him against the Austrian government, in which he also spoke about the sacrament.

The book was printed in Strasbourg in 1528, and the aged Mathis Gothart-Nithart drew the title page for it. This was followed by his sermons on Genesis, which appeared in Hagenau in April of the same year. Despite all opposition from his friends, he was expelled from the Palatinate in February 1529 . He went back to Strasbourg and was recommended to Huldrych Zwingli in Switzerland by Martin Bucer .

The influential preacher stayed in Solothurn , Aarau and Bern for several years and also took part in the Swiss peace talks between Zurich and the original cantons, until Ambrosius Blarer drew the attention of the city of Esslingen am Neckar to him. He married in Switzerland, although nothing is known about his wife and family. In 1532 he began his work in Esslingen under more favorable conditions. He was able to carry out and complete the Reformation here with the greatest emphasis. The church service and church regulations come from him, as well as the reorganization of the school system, and above all he took care of pastoral care.

While he himself represented the theologians in Strasbourg, strict Lutherans caused him a lot of hardship after the Reformation of Württemberg, which began in 1534. Martin Bucer himself made sure that he got along with them. He also wrote to Luther on August 26, 1535, and in May 1536 he was allowed to move to Wittenberg with Bucer and other Upper Germans to conclude the Wittenberg Agreement . Here he finally got to know Luther personally. His advocacy of the Agreement also strengthened his position in Esslingen.

His work in the parish had a lasting effect. He was responsible for the uplifting of the congregation chant, general prayer and care for the instruction of the children. In particular, his "bed booklet for all common concerns of the churches diligently brought together by M. Jacob Ottern", printed in Strasbourg in 1541, was very famous. A staunch, loyal and energetic preacher and pastor, he was respected by most of his co-workers for the sake of his honest character and thorough education.

Works

  • The Epistle Sancti Pauli preached to Titum and expounded , 1524
  • The first book of Mosi preached , 1528
  • Live and Die Christian , 1528
  • A brief introduction , 1530
  • Christian intimation in the kantnus right created empty and faith , 1532, 1540
  • A Brief Instruction and Knowledge of Faith , 1534
  • To use a brief report on sick and dying needs , 1534
  • Bettbuchlin für allerley gemeyn anligen der Kirchen , 1537, 1539, 1541, 1546, 1548

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Tilman Matthias Schröder: Jakob Otter and the Reformation in Esslingen , Württembergische Kirchengeschichte Online
personal data
SURNAME Otter, Jakob
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Jakob Otther; Jakob Other; Jakob Ottner
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Reformed theologian and reformer of Esslingen
DATE OF BIRTH 1485
PLACE OF BIRTH Lauterbourg
DATE OF DEATH March 15, 1547
Place of death Esslingen am Neckar