Matthias Nethenus

Matthias Nethenus (born October 27, 1618 in Süchteln , † October 9, 1686 in Herborn ) was a German Reformed theologian and professor . His half-brother was the theologian Samuel Nethenus .

Life

Born in 1618 as the son of a Reformed pastor , Nethenus attended grammar school in Wesel from 1632 and studied philosophy and theology in 1639/40 in Harderwijk , from 1640 to 1642 in Deventer and from 1642 to 1644 in Utrecht . From 1646 Nethenus was active as a pastor of the Reformed community in Kleve and from 1648 also took over the management of the Latin school there . In 1654 he was appointed professor of theology in Utrecht. When he took part in the existing dispute over the chapter property and insulted an adversary, he was removed from office on April 10, 1662. Nethenus stayed as a private teacher in Utrecht until 1669, after which he was appointed to the theological faculty of the high school and as a pastor in Herborn. Shortly before his decision to move to the high school in Hanau , Nethenus died in Herborn in 1686.

Nethenus is one of the advocates of the Dordrecht Synod of 1618/19 and a staunch opponent of the Arminians , whose work exerted a strong influence on Pietism .

Works (selection)

• Accoordt der t'samentlicke Dienaren des Goddelicken Woordts, in de Gemeente Jesu Christi dead Utrecht (1660)
• Necessaria defensio concordiae (1661)
• Apologia ofte Klare Verdedinge (1662)
• De Interpretatione Scripturae, sive Judicium De libro Ludovici Wolzogii (1675)
• Disputatio Theologica de descensu Jesu Christi ad inferos (1676)
• Disputatio Theologica de dubitatione, quam cum Corollariis (1679);
• Christian funeral sermon. About the premature death of Zweyer Nassawischen Printzen, H. Georg Ludwigen and H. Friedrich Heinrichen (1682)

literature

• Wilhelm Schneemelcher: Matthias Nethenus: life and work . Bochum 1972
• Friedrich Wilhelm Cuno:  Nethenus, Matthias . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 23, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1886, p. 455.
• Erich Wenneker:  Nethenus, Matthias. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 6, Bautz, Herzberg 1993, ISBN 3-88309-044-1 , Sp. 633-635.

Web links

• Publications by and about Matthias Nethenus in VD 17 .