Paul Chevallier

Paulus Chevallier (born September 10, 1722 in Amsterdam , † March 7, 1796 in Groningen ) was a Dutch Reformed theologian.

Life

Paulus Chevallier was the son of the ship's captain Paulus Chevallier and Catharina van de Velde. He lost his father in early childhood. He received his first training in his hometown, where he developed into a bright boy from a very early age. These talents were further developed in 1739 at the Lingen grammar school . He then moved to the University of Leiden , where Albert Schultens (1686–1750), Johannes Alberti (1698–1762), Tiberius Hemsterhuis and Johannes Wesselius (1671–1745) were his teachers. On October 5, 1744 he became a theology candidate there and a year later he found a job as a preacher in the village of Sloten .

In 1747 he was called to Rijswijk near 's Gravenhage and four years later, on March 21, 1751, he was appointed professor of theology at the University of Groningen . He took up this office on September 8, 1752 with the speech De juste temperata cogitandi libertate , in which he lectured on the properly considered freedom of thought about theology and was at the same time appointed university preacher. In 1753 he married Margaretha Geertruida Alberthoma (1729–1779), who bore him six children, of which Pierre Chevallier and Robertus Alberthoma Chevallier also gained importance. After Daniël Gerdes' death (1698–1765), he was given the professorship of church history in 1765, which he held until the end of his life. He also participated in the organizational tasks of the university and was rector of the alma mater in 1764 and 1784.

His lectures on Hugo Grotius De veritate religionis christianae attracted a lot of attention at the time. Government members and other writers went to see them. In church historiography he therefore endeavored to convey more than just history. In addition to the many names, he also reflected feelings and regarded church history as a basis of theology. As a speaker he was agile and worked to improve the way of preaching. The accomplishments are also reflected in his students, which included Henricus Sypkens, Herman Muntinghe, Jodocus Heringa Elizazn and others.

Works (selection)

• Oratio de literis humanioribus, optimo religionis Christianae praesidio. Leiden 1764
• Zestal van kerkelijke redevoeringen over sommige algemeene gronden the cedar trees. Groningen 1770
• Twee Brieven aan den Hoogleeraar van der Marck. Groningen 1772
• Lijkrede ter Gedachtenisse van Th.A. Clarisse, benevens deszelfs made an empty speech. Groningen and Amsterdam 1782
• De Voetstappen der Godlijke Voorzienigheid in Nederlands Staatswisseling opengin, in a kerkrede over 1 Kon. XII. 15a. Groningen 1795

literature

• L. Knappert: Chevallier, Paulus . In: Petrus Johannes Blok, Philipp Christiaan Molhuysen: Nieuw Nederlands Biografisch Woordenboek. (NNBW) Instituut voor Nederlandse Geschiedenis (ING), AW Sijthoff, Leiden, 1918, Vol. 4, Col. 418-423, (Dutch)
• Abraham Jacob van der Aa : Biographical woordenboek der Nederlanden, bevattende levensbeschrijvingen van zoodanige people, who zich op eenigerlei wijze in ons vaderland vermaard made. Verlag JJ Van Brederode, Haarlem, 1858, vol. 3, p. 346 ff., ( Online , Dutch)
• Willem Jozef Andries Jonckbloet: memorial book of the Hoogeschool te Groningen, which is located in the hair vijfde halve Eeuwfeest. JB Wolterus, Groningen, 1864, p. 76, ( Online , Dutch)
• Barend Glasius: Biographical Woordenboek van Nederlandsche Godgeleerden. Verlag Gebr. Muller, s' Hertogenbosch, 1851, Vol. 1, p. 143 ( Online , Dutch) ( Online , Dutch)
• D. Nauta: Chevallier, Paulus . In: Biografisch lexicon voor de geschiedenis van het Nederlands protestantisme. Verlag JH Kok, Kampen, 1983, Vol. 2, pp. 122–123 (Dutch)
• Jacques Alexandre de Chalmot: Biographical woordenboek der Nederlanden. Johannes Allart, Amsterdam, 1799, Vol. 6, pp. 288 ff. ( Online , Dutch)