Johann Lange (theologian)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johann Lange , also Johannes Lang and Variations, (* around 1487 in Erfurt ; † April 2, 1548 there ) was a German theologian , humanist and reformer .

Life

In 1500, Lange enrolled at the University of Erfurt . He not only learned the elements of Greek from the humanist Nikolaus Marschalk , but also acquired a good general education. Soon afterwards he got in touch with the humanist group that gathered around Mutianus Rufus . However, this did not prevent him from seeking monastic silence in 1506. In Erfurt Augustinian monastery he came with Martin Luther together as this 1509 from Wittenberg returned. When Luther went back to Wittenberg in 1511, he soon followed him. In the Wittenberg convent he met Wenzeslaus Linck , Heinrich von Zütphen , Johann Westermann and Tilemann Schnabel .

After he had obtained his master's degree there , he received the teaching of moral philosophy at the University of Wittenberg in 1512, which he experienced with great success. Now he began to study theological questions seriously. In 1515 he received his doctorate in Baccalaureus biblicus and Luther introduced him in 1516 as prior of his old Erfurt monastery. He continued to support him in his office by letter. Long accompanied him to the Heidelberg disputation . He himself continued to be a humanist, also gave good humanistic lectures and received his theological doctorate in 1519 after he had become district vicar in Luther's place a year earlier.

The Leipzig disputation saw him at Luther's side. He also managed to get the University of Erfurt to refuse to agree to Duke Georg and to condemn Luther. After the Erfurt Pfaffenstürmen , his position in the city had become difficult. The opponents demanded his removal from the university. However, he was not dissuaded from spreading Reformation writings. During this time his German translation of the Gospel of Matthew was created. In 1522 he left the monastery.

The struggle with the Catholic forces grew fierce. In this situation, Johann Eberlin von Günzburg intervened with his popular sermons. When Lang married a wealthy widow in 1524, he again gave his opponents material for personal attacks, especially in 1528 when he entered into the second marriage. During this time, when the Reformation had prevailed in Erfurt, he wrote a uniform order of worship in Erfurt in 1525 and overcame the aftermath of the German peasant war . After 1526 the council of Erfurt was concerned that its liege lord Albrecht von Brandenburg might intervene and largely gave in to the Catholic reaction. For a long time, as a senior member of the Protestant church, he had a difficult time. He was constantly supported by the Wittenberg reformers, as well as by Friedrich Myconius .

At the convent in Schmalkalden in 1537 he signed the Schmalkalden Articles . After the death of Luther and Link, his life became more and more lonely. In the last years of his life he published a new little catechism, which he added to the "Christian questions". Even if his hometown had allowed him to endure so much resentment and hatred and never let him come to the full effect of his gifts, he still has his firm place among the reformers through the introduction of the Reformation in Erfurt and its entry into the university. Here he guided the movement with a firm hand and kept it on a healthy path so that it could assert itself in Erfurt.

Works

  • The holy Euangelium Matthei from Kriechsersprach / vn sometimes from the highly educated hern Erasmi from Roterdam translacion by the future doctor Johane Langiu from Erffurt Augustiner ordes yns German brought / wilches tzu more gothic protection of the truth / from the warped Christians / benefit vnd ​​selicheity improvement has happened. Ano MD xxi (1521).
  • little catechism

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lange, Johann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lang, Johannes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian, humanist and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1487
PLACE OF BIRTH Erfurt
DATE OF DEATH April 2, 1548
Place of death Erfurt