Matthias Flacius

Matthias Flacius

Matthias Flacius (called Illyricus "the Illyrier ", actually Matija Vlačić or Vlacich , occasionally Matthias Frankovich ; born March 3, 1520 in Albona (today Labin) on the southeast coast of Istria ; † March 11, 1575 in Frankfurt am Main ) was a Lutheran theologian. Albona was Venetian territory at that time . He came from two long-established families. His father was Andrea Vlacich alias Francovich, that is, he came from the Francovich family and was nicknamed Vlacich. His mother was Giacobea Luciani, daughter of an influential Italian-Albonesian patrician family , related to the Lutheran Baldo Lupetino , who was also from Albona and who was to be groundbreaking for Matthias' future life.

Life

Flacius acquired a thorough humanistic education in Venice . Instead of joining the Franciscan order as originally planned , he went to Basel in 1539 , then to Tübingen and in 1541 to Wittenberg . Here were Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon his teachers. He was made an extraordinary professorship in the Hebrew language in 1544 , which he held from late 1545 to March 1549. In addition, he acquired the academic degree of Magister on February 25, 1546 and was accepted into the Senate of the Philosophical Faculty on May 1, 1546.

When Melanchthon approved the so-called Leipzig Articles in 1548 , Flacius wrote various pamphlets against him and his school from Magdeburg ( Adiaphoristic dispute ). In the 1550s, Flacius dealt with Kaspar Schwenckfeld , among others . The main point of contention was the meaning of God's word . For this purpose, Flacius wrote the text On the Holy Scriptures and their Effects / against Caspar Schwenckfeld (1553). In addition, he began work on the Magdeburg Centuries , from which Protestant church historiography was decisively shaped. Flacius was probably only the organizer of the work, the main authors being his colleagues at the St. Ulrich and Levin Church, Johannes Wigand and Matthäus Judex .

During his historical studies, Flacius worked with Georg Cassander and Cornelis Wouters (Cornelius Gualterus) (1512–1582 / 84). From 1554 to 1555 he stayed with them in Cologne . Like these two Flemish scholars, Flacius was in lively correspondence with Kaspar von Niedbruck - mostly with pseudonymous sender information .

When he was appointed professor at the strictly Lutheran University of Jena in 1557 and became superintendent , he and his colleagues there immediately fought against the Electoral Saxon followers of Melanchthon , whom he accused of synergism . The so-called Confutation Book ( Solida confutatio et condemnatio praecipuarum corruptelarum, sectarum etc. , 1559), formulated in the name of the ducal-Saxon government as a creed against all deviations from the Lutheran doctrine , goes back to him. When Viktorin Strigel , a defender of synergism, appeared at Jena University , Flacius managed to arrest him, but was unable to enforce a condemnation of Strigel at a colloquium in Weimar .

In the Osiandrian dispute , Flacius was at least on the side of Melanchthon in terms of content. With Flacius' participation the synergistic dispute increased in intensity.

In 1561 Flacius, like Simon Musaeus , Johannes Wigand and Matthäus Judex, was relieved of his office in Jena. Flacius first went to Regensburg , later to Antwerp , from where he had to flee to Strasbourg . There, however, he got into such a violent dispute with the clergy that the council expelled him from the city in 1573. Because of his view expressed in Weimar that original sin was part of the essence of man, he was accused of Manichaeism by the strict Lutherans and expelled everywhere until his death. At the invitation of the lord of the castle, Flacius arrived on May 7, 1574 at the castle Lehnhaus , where he wanted to campaign for the convocation of a synod. However, there was only a dispute with Silesian pastors about "Original sin and the free will of man after the fall", which was continued at Langenau Castle .

The word “Fläz”, in the sense of Rüpel or Flegel, first appeared in 1611 by Helvig and is attributed to Matthias Flacius and his violent disputes, in which he “behaved like a Fläz”. One of his Catholic opponents, who published several books directed against his works, was Wilhelm Eisengrein (1543–1584).

His son Matthias Flacius the Younger became a professor at the University of Rostock . His widow Magdalene geb. Ilbeck married Heinrich Petreus and bequeathed her husband's extensive library to him.

"Flacian" confessional writings

Various confessional writings were formulated by the supporters of Flacius in the Gnesio-Lutheran disputes , for example

• the Magdeburg Confession ( Confessio Magdeburgensis ) of 1550; 9 signatories, u. a. Nikolaus von Amsdorf , Nicolaus Gallus (Hahn), Dr. Johann Kittel and Johann Baumgart ,
• the Regensburg Catechism 1554 by Nicolaus Gallus; his Flacian followers Mag. Josua Opitz , Hieronymus Haubold , Mag. Hieronymus Peristerius and Wolfgang Viereckel were expelled from Regensburg in 1574,
• the Lüneburg Article of 1561; However, many of the 15 signatories (including Valentin Curtius , Paul von Eitzen , Joachim Westphal , Tilemann Hesshus , Joachim Mörlin , Martin Chemnitz , Johannes Freder ) withdrew from Flacius in the period that followed,
• the Mansfeld Confessions of 1559 (49 signatories, among them Erasmus Sarcerius , Zacharias Praetorius , Mag. Cyriacus Spangenberg ), 1562 (among the 116 signatories were Mag. Hieronymus Mencel , Mag. Christoph Irenäus , Johann Schellhammer , Mag. Cyriacus Spangenberg and Andreas Lange ) and 1564,
• the Austrian Confession of Faith of 1566 from Grafenwörth ; 19 signatures, including Joachim Magdeburg (hence also called Confessio Magdeburgii ),
• the Antorfish or Antwerp Confession of 1566/67; written by Matthias Flacius and Cyriacus Spangenberg, signed a. a. by Mag. Martin Wolf, Liz. Hermann Hamelmann , Johannes Saliger and Johannes Ligarius or
• the Reussian-Schönburg Confession ( Confessio Ruthenea ) of 1567; among the 34 signatories in Gera were Mag. Bartholomäus Rosinus , Mag. Johann Tettelbach the Elder. Ä. , Andreas Lange and Mag. Josua Opitz.

After the death of Flacius, his supporters continued to lose support. In 1575 Tobias Rupp and Sebald Scheffler were released in Lindau after a public religious talk with Jakob Andreae . In 1577, the formula of concord excluded Flacian positions. Nevertheless, especially in Austria, a few more Flacian confessional writings were written such as

• the Austrian Einfeltig Bedencken of 1580; signed by 28 preachers, including Josias Udenius and Martin Wolf,
• the Lower Austrian repetition of 1581; 40 signatories,
• the Upper Austrian Formula veritatis from 1582, largely written by Hieronymus Haubold and Andreas Lange in Eferding under the protection of Rüdiger von Starhemberg ; 11 already exiled signatories (including Joachim Magdeburg) and 28 signatories in Austrian communities (including Josias Udenius, Martin Wolf),
• the Eferdingian comparison of March 24, 1582 between Joachim Magdeburg, Adam Giller, Andreas Singel and Paul Preusser, also signed by Markus Volmar and Josias Udenius, or
• the Lower Austrian Christlich Bekandtnuß from 1582.

After the death of Rüdiger von Starhemberg in 1582, Flacius' supporters could no longer survive in Austria. The signatories of the Formula veriatis of 1582 fell apart in the following period. Cyriacus Spangenberg, who had published a critical work against Joachim Magdeburg in 1583, was a. a. supported by Christoph Irenäus and Josua Opitz, a reply from Josias Udenius signed in 1584 a. a. Philipp Barbatus (Bartmann).

Works

Clavis Scripturae Sacrae

• Antilogia Papae: hoc est de corrupto ecclesiae statu, et totius cleri Papstici perversitate. Basel 1555 (reprinted by Edward Brown in the Fasciculus rerum expetendarum et fugiendarum , London 1690; digitized version )
• Catalogus testium veritatis , Basel 1556 ( digital version of the second, considerably expanded edition, Strasbourg 1562)
• Clavis Scripturae Sacrae , Basel 1567 ( digitized version )
• Varia doctorum piorumque virorum de corruptu ecclesiae statu poemata , Wittenberg 1557
• Suggestion and collaboration in the editing of the Magdeburg Centuries

literature

Overview representations

• Günter Moldaenke:  Flacius, Matthias. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 5, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1961, ISBN 3-428-00186-9 , pp. 220-222 ( digitized version ).
• Manfred Stoy: Vlačić, Matija Ilirik , in: Biographical Lexicon on the History of Southeast Europe . Vol. 4. Munich 1981, p. 419 f.
• Oliver K. Olson:  Flacius, Matthias . In: Theologische Realenzyklopädie (TRE). Volume 11, de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1983, ISBN 3-11-008577-1 , pp. 206-214.
• Walther Killy (Ed.): Literature Lexicon : Authors and works in the German language. Volume 3, Bertelsmann-Lexikon-Verlag, Gütersloh / Munich 1989; CD-ROM Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-932544-13-7 , p. 404.
• Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz :  FLACIUS (actually: Vlacich), Matthias. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 2, Bautz, Hamm 1990, ISBN 3-88309-032-8 , Sp. 43-48.
• Oliver K. Olson:  Flacius, Matthias . In: Religion Past and Present (RGG). 4th edition. Volume 3, Mohr-Siebeck, Tübingen 2000, Sp. 151-152.
• Luka Ilić: Matthias Flacius Illyricus. In: Irene Dingel , Volker Leppin (Hrsg.): Das Reformatorenlexikon. Lambert Schneider, Darmstadt 2014, ISBN 978-3-650-40009-3 , pp. 116-122.

Overall presentations and investigations

• Wilhelm Preger : Matthias Flacius Illyricus and his time. 2 volumes. Theodor Bläsing, Erlangen 1859/61 ( digitized at OpenLibrary)
• Martina Hartmann : Humanism and Church Criticism. Matthias Flacius as a researcher of the Middle Ages (= contributions to the history and source studies of the Middle Ages. Vol. 19). Thorbecke, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-7995-5719-9
• Oliver K. Olson: Matthias Flacius and the survival of Luther's reform (= Wolfenbüttel treatises on Renaissance research 20). Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2002.
• Arno Mentzel-Reuters, Martina Hartmann (eds.): Catalogus and Centurien. Interdisciplinary studies on Matthias Flacius and the Magdeburg Centuries (= late Middle Ages, humanism, Reformation. Vol. 45). Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 2008, ISBN 978-3-16-149609-7 ( table of contents ).
• Luka Ilić: Theologian of Sin and Grace. The Process of Radicalization in the Theology of Matthias Flacius Illyricus (= publications of the Institute for European History Mainz. Vol. 225). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2014, ISBN 978-3-525-10117-9 ( table of contents ).

Web links

Commons : Matthias Flacius  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Literature by and about Matthias Flacius in the catalog of the German National Library
• Works by and about Matthias Flacius  in the German Digital Library
• Publications by and about Matthias Flacius in VD 17 .

Remarks

1. ↑ Hugo Weczerka (Ed.): Handbook of historical sites . Volume: Silesia (= Kröner's pocket edition . Volume 316). Kröner, Stuttgart 1977, ISBN 3-520-31601-3 , p. 273 f.
2. ↑ Bekentnis Vnterricht vnd vermanung the Pfarrhern vnd preacher of the Christian churches to Magdeburgk. Anno 1550. April 13th / Confessio et apologia pastorum et reliquorum ministrorum ecclesiae Magdeburgensis. Anno 1550. Idibus Aprilis. Michael Lotter, Magdeburg1550 ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
3. ↑ Nikolaus Gallus: Catechismvs, preached for the Church of Regenspurg to the Methodo . Hans Khol, Regensburg 1554 ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
4. ^ Joachim Mörlin, Valentin Curtius, Peter von Friemersheim a. a .: Explanation from God's word, and a brief report, the gentlemen theologians, which they did on the day in Lüneburgk, in July of this 61st jars, to the envoy of the Mercy Sechsischen Stedten, for three articles . Wolfgang Kirchner, Magdeburg 1561 (VD 16 M 5876) ( digitized version of the Johannes-a-Lasco Library Emden).
5. ↑ Cf. Lothar Berndorff: The Preachers of the County of Mansfeld. An investigation into the special spiritual consciousness in the second half of the 16th century . Universitätsverlag, Potsdam 2009 ( PDF; 4.15 MB of the University of Potsdam).
6. ^ Zacharias Praetorius et al. a. (Ed.): Confessio Ecclesiae, quae est in ditione comitum Mansfeltiorum, qui juniores vocantur, adversus praecipuas haereses, errores & sectas eorum, qui hactenus a Verbo Dei, & Confessione Augustana, sive repurgata per Lutherum doctrina disced . Urban Gaubisch, Eisleben 1560 ( Google Books ).
7. ↑ Confession of the preachers in the Graffschaff Mansfelt, sat among the young gentlemen against all sects, groups and false lectures against God's word, the pure lecture of D. Luther and the Augsburg Confession . Urban Gaubisch, Eisleben 1560 ( digital copy from the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
8. ↑ Kurtzer report, Wes die Prediger, In der Graff, and Herrschetzt Mansfelt, in their Synodo to Eisleben of this 1562. Jares, February 24th… of… half of the Confession against all sects… have compared . Urban Gaubisch, Eisleben 1562 ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
9. ↑ From Eger, pastor in Sylda and Harkerode in 1562 and court preacher at Arnstein Castle , expelled from Chemnitz in 1566, preacher in Klagenfurt, also expelled from there together with Haubold.
10. ↑ Confessio et sententia ministrorum verbi in Comitatu Mansfeldensi, de dogmatis quorundam proximo triennio publice editis . Urban Gaubisch, Eisleben 1565 ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
11. ↑ Joachim Magdeburg a. a .: Confessio or: Christian confession of the faith of other evangelical preachers in Austria . o. O. [Johann Burger, Regensburg] 1566. Grafenwörth was a castle of Hans Rueber zu Pixendorf (1529–1584), who served as his garrison preacher in Raab Magdeburg.
12. ↑ Confessie Oft Bekentenisse of the Dienaren Jesu Christi inde Kerke in Antwerp the wilt of the Confessie [n] van Ausborch toeghedaen is . Beter ouersien ende gheemendeert nae de latijnsche copije [with a prologue by Cyriacus Spangenberg], o. O. 1567 ( Google Books ).
13. ↑ From Rochlitz , * around 1515, rector in Rochlitz 1540, ordained in Wittenberg 1543, pastor in 1545, court preacher and superintendent in Colditz in 1547 , arrested in 1553 after a sermon on the orders of Elector August of Saxony and sentenced to death, deposed, pastor in Gößnitz , 1559 superintendent in Kahla , deposed in 1562 and pastor in Helfta , sent to Antwerp in 1566/67, recalled to Kahla in 1568, expelled again, pastor in the Liechtenstein patronage Lichtenwarth and 1576 Dobermannsdorf , † after 1585.
14. ↑ Simon Musaeus , Georg Autumnus a. a .: Confession script. Several predicants in the rulers of Graitz, Geraw, Schonburg and others who were written afterwards . Put to necessary rejection of many established Calumnia and Lesterungen and against it to declare and promote the truth ... Anno Domini 1567, Mense Martio. Andreas Petri, Eisleben 1567 ( Google Books ); the denomination served in Reuss as the basis of the confession even after the introduction of the Concord Book . Cf. also Johann Gottfried Hauptmann: Message from the preachers who signed the Reussian conference document before it was first printed . Heinrich Gottlieb Rothen, Gera o. J. [1769] ( urn : nbn: de: gbv: 3: 1-118341-p0003-7 digitized version of the University and State Library of Saxony-Anhalt).
15. ↑ Report Burgermeister vnd Rhat der Statt Lindaw I. From because of many predicants on leave there. II. Sampt the conversation from the article of original sin ... III. Purely Christian Churches of the Augsburg Confession, pronouncements and acknowledgments that have been dealt with and about them. IIII. Also whole process like dealt with the young predicants ... Georg Gruppenbach , Tübingen 1576 ( digital copy from the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
16. ^ Georg Karo: The Lindau Conversation. A contribution to the history of the Concordia formula . In: Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Theologie 45 (1902), pp. 513-564.
17. ↑ Peter Peck, Philipp Barbatus Gerlich a. a: Einfeltig Bedencken and a brief report from a number of purely Evangelical and Lutheran preachers in Austria. whether one ... deß ... arguing about original sin ... can with a clear conscience keep quiet or not. o. O. 1580.
18. ↑ From Spier ( Niederspier and Oberspier ) near Sondershausen , * 1536, 1562 pastor in Sand , 1567 to 1578 in Rheinbischofsheim , 1580 deposed as a Flacian because he was the only one of the 66 pastors in the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg to refuse to sign the concord formula , 1582 pastor in Zelking .
19. ^ Repetition. This is a repetition of the Norma Christian Lere , in addition to which the pure Evangelical Churches in Lower Austria have, through God's grace, confessed and still confess. Sampt the necessary reminder of the correct, warranted lore and confession, of man and of sin or original sin…. o. O. 1581.
20. ^ Formula veritatis. A thorough and thorough exposition of the high and important religious controversy about original sin. Sampt a previous supplication and offer to all Christian high and low resistance of the Augsp. Conference related persons , from several theologians, so pre-assigned conference. Psalm 119 ... o. O. 1582 ( Google Books ).
21. ↑ Comparison of the dispute of the complete and essential final creation of original sin . O. O. 1582 ( Google Books ).
22. ↑ Christian confession, unanimous consensus, bedencken and advice: As in the most important faith article of the original sin, the beings of the prophets and apostles from the time, in the Christian churches bit on our time ... Raising the ... status of Lord and knighthood in Austria vnter der Enß, By several ... theologians and preachers, written in 1582. o. O. 1586.
23. ↑ Cyriacus Spangenberg: Proba Der Efferdingischen comparison vber the dispute of the final creation of original sin . o. O. 1583 ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library in Munich).
24. ↑ Josias Udenius: Christliche, Bestendige, in holy writings and thewren man of God D. Martin Luther's books well founded, by the weyland venerable and Wolgelerten Mr. Josiam Udenium blessed refutation of M. Cyriaci Spangenberg's false probation against the Efferdingian Christian comparison of the disputed parties over the leash of the essential real final creation of original sin . o. O. 1584, unpaginated ( digitized version of the Bavarian State Library in Munich).