Johann Wessel

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Epitaph and gravestone in the Martinikerk in Groningen

Johann Wessel (with the surnames Gansfort , Goesfort , Gösevort or Basileus , the Greek word for Wessel; * 1419 in Groningen ; † October 4, 1489 ibid) was a Platonist and humanist and forerunner of the Reformation . His contemporaries honored him with the titles Lux mundi (Light of the World) and Magister contradictionis (Master of contradiction) for his astute arguments against authorities, especially Thomas Aquinas .

Life

Johann Wessel Gansfort was the son of a baker. Orphaned at an early age, he came to the famous school in Zwolle (now the Netherlands) and lived in the convent of the brothers from living together in the nearby monastery on the Agnetenberg. There he met the Augustinian Monk and mystic Thomas a Kempis , of the most widely used of the Bible book of the late Middle Ages , the Imitation of Christ ( Imitation of Christ written) and numerous ascetic, historiographical and biographical works. Wessel dealt intensively with Thomas von Kempen's inner deepening and believing salvation constitution. He combined this experience with the sharpness of his logical thinking and the joy of dialectical investigations and disputes. After a short time he received a teaching post in Zwolle.

For further studies and more intensive education in dialectics , he went to Cologne in 1449 and was housed in the Bursa Laurentiana, which a compatriot of his had founded. The teachers at the university at the time were almost always supporters of realism. Wessel also sympathized with this philosophical line of thought and began his humanistic studies at the same time. He studied Greek in ancient languages ​​and - probably under the guidance of Jewish teachers - Hebrew. He put the knowledge accumulated from lectures and reading into a collection that he called mare magnum .

In Cologne he obtained his master's degree. Recommended by the confessor of the Archbishop of Cologne, he was offered a position at Heidelberg University . He continued his studies there in 1456/57 and also taught in the artist faculty.

After a short stay in Leuven, he moved to Paris , the intellectual center of that time, for further scientific training . There the dispute in the universal dispute between the advocates of nominalism and those of realism, especially the compatriots Wessels Heinrich von Zomere and Nikolaus von Utrecht , was fierce. Wessel wanted to take part in the philosophical debate on the side of realism . During the preparations, however, he was won over by the arguments of nominalism . Although he retained his attitude towards Plato, Augustine and scholasticism, it can be assumed that his attitude towards church politics changed. Almost all of the nominalists were anti-papal and Wessel, too, gradually turned to this attitude.

Wessel stayed in Paris for 16 years. Whether he worked there as an academic teacher is controversial. Eventually nominalism was banned and Wessel, tired of the arguments, devoted himself mainly to promoting humanism.

He stayed temporarily in Angers . After Rome he moved in 1470 his friendship with Cardinal Bessarion and his interest in further studies. He turned down positions offered by Pope Sixtus IV. His other stations were Venice and Basel . In Basel he met Johann Reuchlin and Rudolf Agricola and had a lively scientific relationship with them. In 1474 Johann Wessel Gansfort returned to his homeland via Heidelberg and Cologne.

In his last years Wessel lived in various monasteries, partly in Groningen, partly on the Agnetenberg near Zwolle, under the protection of his patron, Bishop David of Utrecht, because since men like the theologian Johann Rucherath (Wesel) were persecuted, he no longer felt himself for sure. After his death, his remains were first buried in the Groningen Poor Clare Monastery. In 1862 they were then transferred to the Martinikerk . An epitaph was erected against the western wall , at the feet of which the old tombstone was placed. In 1962 the remains were unearthed during the last restoration of the church. The tombstone was then walled in next to the epitaph.

Effect on the Reformation

Under the influence of the Brothers of Common Life and the writings of Aurelius Augustine , Wessel dealt with certain views of the Bible.

In 1522, in his foreword to a collection of smaller tracts and letters, Martin Luther referred to Wessel's faith and teaching, which was very much based on the Bible:

hic si mihi antea fuisset lectus, poterat hostibus meis videri Lutherus omnia ex Wesselo hausisse adeo spiritus utriusque conspirat in unum.
If I had read Wessel beforehand, my opponents would have given themselves the impression that Luther had taken everything from Wessel, so our two spirits are in harmony.

The Bibliographical Church Lexicon, however, allows the statement that Wessel was a forerunner of the Reformation to only apply to a limited extent and justifies this with the fact that Wessel is still completely based on medieval doctrine in fundamental points such as in the article on justification.

Most of Wessel's writings were destroyed by the Inquisition .

Characteristic of his theological view is his deathbed confession: I know no one but Jesus who was crucified.

His friends were like-minded theologians and humanists Heinrich von Rees, Abbot von Advert, Rudolf Lange, Johann Agricola, Hermann von dem Busch.

Works

  • De oratione
  • De sacra Eucharistia
  • De passione Christi
  • De purgatorio et indulgentia
  • Farrago rerum theologicarum , with preface by Martin Luther , Wittenberg 1522 (also Groningen 1614 and Amsterdam 1617)

literature

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ According to ADB, the nickname Goesfort comes from Goes in Westphalia, where the Wessel family came from
  2. ↑ a b c d e see web link Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek ADB
  3. ^ Matriculation entry from June 1, 1456: "Mag. Coloniensis Wessellus Goszfort de Gruningen Traiect. dyoc. ".
  4. ↑ see web link Heidelberg mobil
  5. ↑ The BBKL claims that the AGB denies a public teaching position, but considers teaching appearances in larger and smaller circles to be likely
  6. ↑ a b see web link Church Lexicon BBKL
  7. ↑ ADB Vol. 3, pp. 637-640
personal data
SURNAME Wessel, Johann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wessel Gansfort, Johann; Wessel Goesfort, Johann; Gansfort, Johannes; Wessel, Johann Gansfort; Gansfort, Wessel; Johannes Gansfortius; Johannes Groninganus; Wesselius Groningensis; Wessel, Johann Gösevort
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Platonist and humanist and forerunner of the Reformation
DATE OF BIRTH 1419
PLACE OF BIRTH Groningen
DATE OF DEATH October 4, 1489
Place of death Groningen