Johann Briesmann

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Johann Briesmann

Johann Briesmann (also Brießmann, Brismann, Prysmann , Sorbian Jan Brězan ; born December 31, 1488 in Cottbus , †  October 1, 1549 in Königsberg ) was a German-Sorbian Protestant theologian of the 16th century and reformer.

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Briesmann came from a respected family, his grandfather was second mayor in his native Cottbus . He entered the Saxon Province of the Franciscan Order around 1510 . In 1518 he enrolled under the rectorate Konrad Wimpinas at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder . In January 1520 he moved to the University of Wittenberg , where, under the influence of Martin Luther , he received his doctorate in theology in October 1521 and a doctorate in theology on February 1, 1522 and thus a seat in the theological faculty of the University received.

As part of the Wittenberg movement , the Franciscans were expelled from Wittenberg by the city council . Therefore Briesmann returned to the monastery in Cottbus , but had to face serious arguments with his friars because of the monk's vows . He laid out his point of view in the letter " Teaching and Admonition " that he had printed in Wittenberg. At the end of 1522 he returned to Wittenberg on the mediation of Georg Spalatin and on Luther's intervention.

Again it was Luther who recommended Briesmann in 1523 to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order Albrecht I of Brandenburg-Ansbach as preacher at the cathedral in Königsberg . With the consent of Georg von Polenz , he began his journey to the Prussian Königsberg at the end of June and gave his first sermon in the Reformation spirit on September 27, 1523 and gained the full confidence of Polentz, who subsequently became his next colleague.

His sermons were spiritual, serious, and focused on the essence of the gospel: the justification of sinners before God. So that other preachers could receive instructions for the Reformation foundations, he put up 110 theses, the " Flosculi de homine interiore et exteriore, fide et operibus ", which made a decisive contribution to the breakthrough of the Reformation in Prussia, based on Luther's treatise on the Freedom of a Christian. The movement initiated by him was strengthened when Paul Speratus was appointed as castle preacher to Königsberg in 1524 and Johann Poliander to the old town church of St. Nikolaus in Königsberg in 1525 .

When Albrecht took the oath of homage in Cracow on April 8, 1525 , Prussia became Protestant. Now Briesmann was given the task of drawing up a new church order. He had numerous sermons printed as tracts and thereby had a strong impact on the congregations. On June 12, 1525 he had married Elisabeth Sackheim, the former abbess of the Marienkloster in Löbenicht near Königsberg. When he got married he was the first married preacher in Prussia.

Due to his varied commitment and his position as confidante of Duke Albrecht, he became a member of his government council. As an adviser, he helped the Duke, together with Andreas Knopke , to push through the Reformation in Riga and Livonia in 1527 . To this end, he traveled to Riga with his family in October 1527 and wrote his pamphlet on the " Short Order of Church Service including a preface to ceremonies ", in which he partially followed the " Königsberg Order " verbatim . The basic part was in High German, the implementation regulations were written in Low German .

After working in Livonia for four years , he returned to Königsberg Cathedral as pastor in 1531. Together with Speratus and Poliander, he initially led a bitter fight against the enthusiasm of Kaspar Schwenckfeld . His work was also recognized in other German cities. The University of Rostock wanted to appoint him professor and superintendent. However, he refused this call, but dedicated two sermons to the faculty on the 4th chapter of Genesis in gratitude . Instead he was interested in the order and consolidation of evangelical worship in his community.

When a new church order became necessary in 1544, he worked it out as the " order of external worship and articles of ceremonies as it is held in the churches of the Duchy of Prussia ". It essentially represents the conclusion of the Reformation in Prussia. When the University of Königsberg was founded, Briesmann was one of the key participants. He took over the management, prepared reports and also enforced his instructions. Therefore, he was raised to president and superintendent of the Samland diocese in 1546 .

However, Briesmann fell ill. Since he could no longer meet the requirements placed on him, he resigned from his office. In March 1549 the Osiander dispute broke out , in which Briesmann turned decisively against Osiander . Since this dispute was about basic articles of the Christian faith, he wanted a decision in the country without expert opinions being obtained from abroad. With this protest its public effectiveness ends. He fell victim to the plague and was buried in the choir of the Königsberg Cathedral .

Works

  • Flosculi de homine interiore et exteriore de fide et operibus , 1523
  • A sermon v. three kinds of salutary confession f. the simple-minded layman , 1524
  • Several consolations f. the scary u. weak conscience , 1525
  • Annotationes in apocalypsin , 1527

literature

personal data
SURNAME Briesmann, Johann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Prysmann, Johann; Brießmann, Johann; Brismann, Johann; Brězan, Jan
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH December 31, 1488
PLACE OF BIRTH cottbus
DATE OF DEATH October 1, 1549
Place of death Koenigsberg