Johann Stössel

Johann Stössel (born June 23, 1524 in Kitzingen , † March 18, 1576 in Senftenberg ) was a Protestant theologian and reformer .

Life

When he was 15, Stössel came to Wittenberg , where he received his master's degree after 10 years . Since he stayed away from the Philippists , Duke Johann Friedrich the Middle appointed him to Weimar as court preacher . Here he developed into an ardent Gnesio Lutheran . As such, he took part in the introduction of the Reformation in the margraviate of Baden-Durlach . As harsh as he was, he wanted to shape the church order there with anathematism against all those who think differently.

At the religious discussion in Worms in 1557 and when the Confutation Book was being drawn up, he was no different. He defended his position in a special apology . When he accompanied his Duke to Heidelberg , he tried to influence Elector Friedrich the Pious in his favor. There he argued with Pierre Boquin about the Lord's Supper . In the period that followed, he began to change his mind.

When he began to urge reconciliation with other directions, the break with the Gnesio Lutherans had to come. Matthias Flacius and Johann Wigand sued him at court, but were themselves removed from office. Stössel was appointed professor in Jena . As such, he also participated in the organizational tasks of the university and was Rector of the Alma Mater in the summer semester of 1563 and in the winter semesters of 1565 and 1567 . Due to the declaration, Nikolaus Selnecker and others came back to Jena, but soon left the university. Stössel was the only theologian left behind. During this time Paul Eber obtained his doctorate as the first doctor in Jena.

In 1567, when the government changed, Stössel had to give way to the Gnesiolutherans. For a short time he was superintendent in Mühlhausen / Thuringia and then in Pirna , and even rose so much in favor of Elector August that he became the sovereign's confessor. But then came his rapid fall. Stössel stood up for the Dresden crypto-calvinists for unknown reasons , was denounced to the elector and brought to the fortress, where he died after a short illness.

literature

• Georg Müller:  Stößel, Johann . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 36, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1893, pp. 471-473.
• Johann Jakob Herzog (greeting); Albert Hauck (Ed.): Real Encyclopedia for Protestant Theology and Church . 3rd edition. Hinrichs, Leipzig 1907 (24 vols., Here especially vol. 19, p. 59).
• August Beck : Johann Friedrich the Middle, Duke of Saxony. A contribution to the history of the 16th century . Böhlau, Weimar 1858.
• Wilhelm Preger: Matthias Flacius Illyricus and his time . Olms, Hildesheim 1964 (reprint of the Erlangen edition 1861).
• Gustav Wolf: On the history of the German Protestants, 1555-59. Along with an attachment of archival enclosures . Seehagen, Berlin 1888.