Johann Heinrich Alting
Encyclopedia
Johann Heinrich Alting German divine, was born at Emden
, where his father, Menso Alting
(1541–1612), was minister.
Johann studied with great success at the University of Groningen
and the Herborn Academy
. In 1608 he was appointed tutor
of Frederick, afterwards elector-palatine
, at Heidelberg
, and in 1612 accompanied him to England. Returning in 1613 to Heidelberg, after the marriage of the elector with Princess Elizabeth of England, he was appointed professor
of dogma
tics, and in 1616 director of the theological department in the Collegium Sapientiae
.
In 1618, along with Abraham Scultetus
, he represented the university in the Synod of Dort
. When Count Tilly took the city of Heidelberg (1622) and handed it over to plunder, Alting found great difficulty in escaping the fury of the soldiers. He first retired to Schorndorf
; but, offended by the "semi-Pelagianism
" of the Lutherans with whom he was brought in contact, he removed to Holland, where the unfortunate elector and "Winter King" Frederick
, in exile after his brief reign in Bohemia
, made him tutor to his eldest son.
In 1627, Alting was appointed to the chair of theology
at the Groningen University, where he continued to lecture, with increasing reputation, until his death
. Though an orthodox Calvinist, Alting laid little stress on the sterner side of his creed and, when at Dort he opposed the Remonstrants
, he did so mainly on the ground that they were "innovators."
Alting made a fundamental contribution to the historiography of German Reformed Protestantism
with his Historia de Ecclesiis Palatinis. Unfortunately the work included the doubtful assertion that Elector Frederick the Pious
jointly commissioned Zacharias Ursinus
and Caspar Olevianus to compose the Heidelberg Catechism
. This dual authorship thesis has been rejected by serious scholarship since the 1960s but remains common in reference works. While this attribution has been set aside, Alting's work remains a irreplaceable source for reconstructing the history of the Reformation of the Palatinate.
Among his works are:
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, where his father, Menso Alting
Menso Alting
Menso Alting was a Dutch preacher and reformer.Menso Alting was born in Eelde and was raised in a catholic family. After visiting several schools in the Netherlands and Germany, he studied theology at Cologne. In 1564 he was named vicar to Haren. A few months later he was named pastor of Sleen...
(1541–1612), was minister.
Johann studied with great success at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
and the Herborn Academy
Herborn Academy
The Herborn Academy was a German institution of higher learning very similar to a university in Herborn, which existed from 1584 to 1817...
. In 1608 he was appointed tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
of Frederick, afterwards elector-palatine
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine of the Rhine , only surviving son of Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse, called "Frederick the Righteous" .-Life:Born in Amberg, his father died in October 1583 and...
, at Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, and in 1612 accompanied him to England. Returning in 1613 to Heidelberg, after the marriage of the elector with Princess Elizabeth of England, he was appointed professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
tics, and in 1616 director of the theological department in the Collegium Sapientiae
Collegium Sapientiae
The Collegium Sapientiae was a preparatory academy and later theological seminary in Heidelberg in the early modern period....
.
In 1618, along with Abraham Scultetus
Abraham Scultetus
Abraham Scultetus was a German professor of theology, and the court preacher for the Elector of the Palatinate Frederick V.- Early life :...
, he represented the university in the Synod of Dort
Synod of Dort
The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618-1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy initiated by the rise of Arminianism. The first meeting was on November 13, 1618, and the final meeting, the 154th, was on May 9, 1619...
. When Count Tilly took the city of Heidelberg (1622) and handed it over to plunder, Alting found great difficulty in escaping the fury of the soldiers. He first retired to Schorndorf
Schorndorf
Schorndorf is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located c. 26 km east of Stuttgart. Its station is a the terminus of line S2 of the Stuttgart S-Bahn....
; but, offended by the "semi-Pelagianism
Pelagianism
Pelagianism is a theological theory named after Pelagius , although he denied, at least at some point in his life, many of the doctrines associated with his name. It is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without...
" of the Lutherans with whom he was brought in contact, he removed to Holland, where the unfortunate elector and "Winter King" Frederick
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
, in exile after his brief reign in Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, made him tutor to his eldest son.
In 1627, Alting was appointed to the chair of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Groningen University, where he continued to lecture, with increasing reputation, until his death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. Though an orthodox Calvinist, Alting laid little stress on the sterner side of his creed and, when at Dort he opposed the Remonstrants
Remonstrants
The Remonstrants are the Dutch Protestants who, after the death of Jacobus Arminius, maintained the views associated with his name. In 1610 they presented to the States of Holland and Friesland a remonstrance in five articles formulating their points of disagreement from Calvinism.-History:The five...
, he did so mainly on the ground that they were "innovators."
Alting made a fundamental contribution to the historiography of German Reformed Protestantism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
with his Historia de Ecclesiis Palatinis. Unfortunately the work included the doubtful assertion that Elector Frederick the Pious
Frederick III, Elector Palatine
Frederick III of Simmern, the Pious, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach, branch Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim. He was a son of John II of Simmern and inherited the Palatinate from the childless Elector Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine in 1559...
jointly commissioned Zacharias Ursinus
Zacharias Ursinus
Zacharias Ursinus was a sixteenth century German Reformed theologian, born Zacharias Baer in Breslau . He became the leading theologian of the Reformed Protestant movement of the Palatinate, serving both at the University of Heidelberg and the College of Wisdom...
and Caspar Olevianus to compose the Heidelberg Catechism
Heidelberg Catechism
The Heidelberg Catechism is a Protestant confessional document taking the form of a series of questions and answers, for use in teaching Reformed Christian doctrine...
. This dual authorship thesis has been rejected by serious scholarship since the 1960s but remains common in reference works. While this attribution has been set aside, Alting's work remains a irreplaceable source for reconstructing the history of the Reformation of the Palatinate.
Among his works are:
- Notae in Decadem Problematum Jacobi Behm (Heidelberg, 1618)
- Scripta Theologica Heidelbergensia (Amst., 1662)
- Exegesis Augustanae Confessionis (Amst., 1647).
- Historia de Ecclesiis Palatinis (Groningen, 1728; originally published 1644).