Justus Gesenius
Encyclopedia
Justus Gesenius Lutheran theologian of the seventeenth century, known for his catechisms.
His father was preacher at Esbeck. Having received his early education at the Adreanum in Hildesheim
, he went in his eighteenth year to Helmstedt, where he studied under Georg Calixtus
and Conrad Horneius. In 1628 he took his degree of master of philosophy in Jena
and was called as pastor to the church of St. Magnus in Brunswick
. After seven years of beneficent activity there, he received a call to Hildesheim, the seat of George, duke of Brunswick
, as court chaplain and preacher in
the cathedral. After the duke's death (1641), he, as well as the whole
consistory, removed to Hanover
, where he became chief court chaplain and general superintendent of the principality of Kalenberg; later (1665) he
was general superintendent of Grubenhagen as well. He received the degree of doctor of divinity in 1643 for a dissertation, De igne purgatorio.
Gesenius' importance lies chiefly in the services he rendered in the production of good hymnals and catechism
s. With his friend David Denicke, he brought out a hymnal containing 222 hymns (Hanover, 1646), which was later enlarged and arranged for use in the churches. The compilers did not confine themselves to collecting and arranging the hymns, but also adapted many of the older ones and probably added a few of their own composition. To correct the prevailing ignorance in regard to Christian doctrine, Gesenius, in 1631, brought out his Kleine Katechismusschule, or " Brief Instruction as to how the Catechism Should be Taught to the Young and the Simple " (often reprinted). Later, by order of Duke George and of the consistory, he issued an abridgment of this work under the title Kleine Catechismusfragen über den kleinen Catechismum Lutheri (1639 and manytimes republished). This work constitutes the celebrated catechism of Gesenius, which was introduced into all the schools of the principality of Kalenberg and gained great repute in many parts of Lower Saxony. Notwithstanding the praise which was accorded the author, he was violently
attacked, especially by Statius Buscher in his Cryptopapismus novae theologiae Helmstadiensis
(Hamburg, 1638). Although Gesenius justified himself in a Grundliche Widerlegung (Lüneburg,
1641) and although his innocence was established through an investigation by impartial theologians, it must be admitted that, carried away by his zeal for a lively faith and for better knowledge, he allowed himself to wander from the straight path of Lutheran doctrine. Of the charge that he was secretly a Roman Catholic he clears himself in his last important work, Warum willst du nicht römisch-katholisch werden, wie deine Vorfahren waren? (4 parts, Hanover, 1669 72). The strife concerning his Catechismusfragen was renewed in the eighteenth
century, when King George I
., in 1723, sought vainly to introduce Gesenius's catechism into the duchies of Bremen and Verden
(cf. Unschuldige Nachrichten, 1724). In addition to the other services rendered by Gesenius to the cause of religious education, he published, in 1656, a manual of instruction in Biblical history, Biblische Historien Alten and Neuen Testaments.
His father was preacher at Esbeck. Having received his early education at the Adreanum in Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
, he went in his eighteenth year to Helmstedt, where he studied under Georg Calixtus
Georg Calixtus
Georg Calixtus, Kallisøn/Kallisön, or Callisen was a German Lutheran theologian who looked to reconcile all Christendom by removing all unimportant differences.-Biography:...
and Conrad Horneius. In 1628 he took his degree of master of philosophy in Jena
and was called as pastor to the church of St. Magnus in Brunswick
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
. After seven years of beneficent activity there, he received a call to Hildesheim, the seat of George, duke of Brunswick
George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
George, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg ruled as Prince of Calenberg from 1635.He was a son of William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Dorothea of Denmark . His mother was daughter to Christian III of Denmark and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg...
, as court chaplain and preacher in
the cathedral. After the duke's death (1641), he, as well as the whole
consistory, removed to Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, where he became chief court chaplain and general superintendent of the principality of Kalenberg; later (1665) he
was general superintendent of Grubenhagen as well. He received the degree of doctor of divinity in 1643 for a dissertation, De igne purgatorio.
Gesenius' importance lies chiefly in the services he rendered in the production of good hymnals and catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
s. With his friend David Denicke, he brought out a hymnal containing 222 hymns (Hanover, 1646), which was later enlarged and arranged for use in the churches. The compilers did not confine themselves to collecting and arranging the hymns, but also adapted many of the older ones and probably added a few of their own composition. To correct the prevailing ignorance in regard to Christian doctrine, Gesenius, in 1631, brought out his Kleine Katechismusschule, or " Brief Instruction as to how the Catechism Should be Taught to the Young and the Simple " (often reprinted). Later, by order of Duke George and of the consistory, he issued an abridgment of this work under the title Kleine Catechismusfragen über den kleinen Catechismum Lutheri (1639 and manytimes republished). This work constitutes the celebrated catechism of Gesenius, which was introduced into all the schools of the principality of Kalenberg and gained great repute in many parts of Lower Saxony. Notwithstanding the praise which was accorded the author, he was violently
attacked, especially by Statius Buscher in his Cryptopapismus novae theologiae Helmstadiensis
(Hamburg, 1638). Although Gesenius justified himself in a Grundliche Widerlegung (Lüneburg,
1641) and although his innocence was established through an investigation by impartial theologians, it must be admitted that, carried away by his zeal for a lively faith and for better knowledge, he allowed himself to wander from the straight path of Lutheran doctrine. Of the charge that he was secretly a Roman Catholic he clears himself in his last important work, Warum willst du nicht römisch-katholisch werden, wie deine Vorfahren waren? (4 parts, Hanover, 1669 72). The strife concerning his Catechismusfragen was renewed in the eighteenth
century, when King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
., in 1723, sought vainly to introduce Gesenius's catechism into the duchies of Bremen and Verden
Bremen-Verden
Bremen-Verden, formally the Duchies of Bremen and Verden , were two territories and immediate fiefs of the Holy Roman Empire, which emerged and gained Imperial immediacy in 1180...
(cf. Unschuldige Nachrichten, 1724). In addition to the other services rendered by Gesenius to the cause of religious education, he published, in 1656, a manual of instruction in Biblical history, Biblische Historien Alten and Neuen Testaments.