Theobald Billicanus

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Theobald Billicanus , also Theobald Gerlacher or Diepold Gerlacher (* around 1493 in Billigheim ; † August 8, 1554 in Marburg ) was a German theologian, lawyer and reformer.

Live and act

Development path

Gerlacher was born the son of a weaver. He was enrolled at Heidelberg University on September 5, 1510 and studied with Philipp Melanchthon , Martin Bucer , Johannes Brenz and Johann Schwebel . On May 29, 1512 he became a Baccalaureus and on October 18, 1515 he earned the degree of master's degree . During this time he latinized his name (after his native city) to Theobald Billicanus (Billican for short) and built a long-lasting friendship with Melanchthon. After completing his studies, he stayed as a teacher of dialectics at the artistic faculty in Heidelberg and in 1520 advanced to the position of head of the artistic college.

When Martin Luther published his 95 theses in 1517 , the Heidelberg disputation on the foundations of his demands took place on April 26, 1518 at the university, which made a decisive impression on Billicanus. Therefore, he went to Wittenberg with his above-mentioned fellow students to have Luther's views explained in more detail. From then on Billicanus devoted himself to the study of theology and graduated as a Licentiate .

First he became a preacher with Johannes Brenz at the Heidelberg Church of the Holy Spirit and preached the Gospel in Luther's spirit. Therefore they were accused of heresy; In order to avoid being stalked by Prince Elector Ludwig V of the Palatinate , both left Heidelberg. Billicanus became a preacher in Weil . There, too, he represented the Reformation idea, criticized the Catholic Church and again had to leave his church post.

Nördlinger time

The council of Nördlingen offered him on October 31, 1522 a contract as a pastor for ten years. There Billicanus began, after initial reluctance, to further reform the school and church system. He introduced the sermon in German, performed the Lord's Supper in both forms and in 1525 wrote a church ordinance for Nördlingen ( Renovatio ecclesiae Nordlingiacensis ). Furthermore, he was in correspondence with the reformers in Wittenberg , Zurich , Basel and Augsburg and theologically wavered between the views.

Nevertheless, he steadfastly represented the basic idea of ​​the Reformation. It is therefore not surprising that Billicanus was closer to his community during the Peasants' War movement and thus actively participated in the decision-making processes of the peasants as an arbitrator. Influenced by Andreas Bodenstein , he represented the symbolic understanding of the Lord's Supper in his church order and therefore had to justify himself.

On the other hand, he was very generous on the question of the sacrament. Although he continued to advocate the Lutheran view, he became increasingly estranged from the Lutherans in the course of the conflict. When he applied to Heidelberg University in 1529 to obtain a doctorate in theology, he denied his Reformation creed and declared that he was a member of the Roman Catholic faith. However, the confession was not taken seriously and his application for a doctorate was rejected. He then turned to Melanchthon to do his doctorate in Wittenberg. However, this refused.

As a result, the Nördlinger community got excited about Billican's confession. But since he stuck to his reformed church order, he was able to calm the angry people. Although the city council of Nördlingen extended his contract for another five years in 1532, Billican asked for his dismissal in the spring of 1535. The request for dismissal was granted on May 19, 1535 by the council.

Post-Nordling time

From 1535 he studied law in Heidelberg , did his doctorate , which allowed him to give legal lectures, became head of the Realist Bureau in 1539 and even applied for a professorship in 1543. When Frederick II became Elector Palatinate in 1544 , Billican was deposed, imprisoned and expelled because he was the favorite of a mistress who had fallen into princely disgrace.

He therefore fled to Marburg, where he received his doctorate in both rights in 1546 and a professorship at the law faculty in 1548. In the same year he was also the rector of the university. In 1547/48 he advised the Count Palatine Ottheinrich when he started the Reformation in Neuburg . When in 1550 a Catholic "espionage offer" to Billicanus was announced at the Protestant University of Marburg, he was dismissed from the professorship for history that he had held in the meantime.

Selection of works

  • From the Mess Gemein Schlußred, preached in Nördlingen, 1524
  • Come on z. Prophet Micah, 1524
  • Renovatio ecclesiae Nordlingiacensis, 1525
  • De verbis coenae dominicae et opinionum varietate, 1526
  • De partium orationis inflexionibus, 1526
  • Apologia de commento revocationis per aemulos vulgato, 1539

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Billicanus, Theobald
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gerlacher, Diepold; Gernolt, Diepold; Billican, Theobald
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German theologian, lawyer and reformer
DATE OF BIRTH around 1493
PLACE OF BIRTH Cheap home
DATE OF DEATH August 8, 1554
Place of death Marburg