Matthew Judex

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Arms of M. Judex (lower right) and three other centuriators

Matthäus Judex (also Matthias Richter ; born September 21, 1528 in Dippoldiswalde ; † May 15, 1564 in Rostock ) was a Lutheran theologian of Gnesiolutheran stamp.

Life

Judex came from respected, moderately wealthy backgrounds on both his father's and mother's side. His father Johann Richter († 1567) was a judge in Dippoldiswalde, his mother's name was Walburga Lehmann. Judex had several siblings, his brother Franz was a councilor in Aussig , his brother Johann was a pastor in Feldsberg , Liechtenstein ; five sisters were married in their home area.

After finishing school in Dippoldiswalde, his father made it possible for him to attend schools in Dresden , Wittenberg and Magdeburg , where he made his living as a career singer . In addition, the rector of the Magdeburg Ratsschule, Levin Emden , hired him to inform his sons. Together with one of the Emden sons, Judex moved into the University of Wittenberg in April 1546 . Although, according to his father's wishes, he should have looked for a job as a teacher, a recommendation from Philipp Melanchthon helped him to obtain a doctorate in October 1548 .

Returning to Magdeburg, Judex was first under his patron Emden vice-rector of the city school, eventually also its rector and restored the school operations, which had got into disorder after the siege of the city by Georg zu Mecklenburg 1550–1551. However, because he was inclined to theology, he insisted that Abdias Prätorius be called as his successor, under whom he again worked as vice-rector until Easter 1554.

In December 1553 he was selected by Johann Wigand in Magdeburg under prayer and laying on of hands for church service at St. Ulrich ordained . Judex he married the only 15-year-old, not very wealthy Anna Glück from a family originally from Braunschweig. Six children were born from their ten-year marriage.

Judex worked as a deacon at St. Ulrich until 1559 and then followed a call to the University of Jena , where he taught as a theology professor for a year and a half until he was removed from office by Duke Johann Friedrich II. And returned to Magdeburg.

He had previously practiced church discipline there so hard and uncompromising that he could no longer gain a foothold in the city. In 1562 he therefore went to Wismar in Mecklenburg, where his friend Wigand had become superintendent . Together with Wigand, he wrote the bulk of the Magdeburg Centuries , the first major church history from a Protestant point of view. Without having obtained a job, he died surprisingly at the age of 35 in Rostock . The theologian Simon Pauli gave him the funeral sermon . Judex's widow married the theologian Andreas Schoppe .

Matthias Flacius , Simon Musäus , Tilemann Hesshus , Michael Neander and Basilius Faber belonged to Judex's circle of friends . According to Schoppe's testimony, Judex was a skilled musician who composed four-part chants and an astrologer who made horoscopes for himself and for his own children and those who were entrusted to him . He also wrote in Greek .

Works (selection)

  • Quod arguere peccata seu concionari poenitentiam sit proprium legis et non evangelij, proprie sic dicti, rationes et argumenta, Basel 1559
  • The eternal almighty divine majesty mandate and serious fear, which every Christian should keep the whole papacy according to his profession and status against the revealed Antichrist, sl 1561
  • A lesson and consolation to the sad church in Magdeburg, Mühlhausen 1563, which was frightened by internal spiritual enemies
  • De typographiae inventione et de praelorum legitima inspectione, Copenhagen 1566
with wigand
  • Magdeburg Centuries , Basel 1559–1574
  • Συνταγμα seu Corpus doctrinae Christi ex novo Testamento tantum, Basel 1558
  • De adiaphoristicis Corruptelis, Magdeburg 1559
    • (also German) From the adiaphoristic corruptions, Jena approx. 1559
  • Warning of a Scharteken Bilibalds Ramsbock, Magdeburg 1559
  • Answer to the printed blasphemy against the spirits of darkness, Eisleben 1562
  • Simple instruction for the Christians in Magdeburg on what to think of Mr. Amßdorffij's supposed judgment according to God's word and the holy catechismo, Regensburg 1563
  • Συνταγμα seu Corpus doctrinae Veri et omnipotentis Dei ex veteri Testamento tantum, Basel 1564
  • Synopsis Antichristi Romani, spiritu oris Christi revelati, sl 1567

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Judex, Matthew
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Richter, Matthew; Richter, Matthias; Judex, Matthias
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Lutheran theologian and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH September 21, 1528
PLACE OF BIRTH Dippoldiswalde
DATE OF DEATH May 15, 1564
Place of death Rostock