Erhard Schnepf
Encyclopedia
Erhard Schnepf was a German Lutheran Theologian, Pastor, and Reformer.
in 1509 before moving to the University of Heidelberg in 1511, where he took his Master's degree in 1513. He switched from legal to theological studies. Schnepf was one of the young masters who encountered Martin Luther
at the famous Heidelberg Disputation
. Schnepf soon became a committed follower of Luther.
He took over the preacher's office in the Württemberg territory of Weinsberg
, as the successor of Johannes Oecolampadius
, and preached the evangelical message there. When the duchy of Württemberg came under direct Habsburg control, Schnepf was driven from his post and took refuge with the more Protestant-minded Dietrich von Gemmingen. He worked first in Neckarmühlbach (near Castle Guttenberg) in the Kraichgau
, and from 1523 in the imperial city of Bad Wimpfen
, where he married the mayor's daughter Margaretha Wurzelmann.
Upon the request of Count Philip III of Nassau-Weilburg, he introduced the Reformation in 1525/26 at Weilburg
. Landgrave Philip I the Magnanimous
of Hesse invited him to become theology professor at his newly founded University of Marburg. Schnepf only reluctantly accepted the offer and finally took up the post on 19 August 1528. He was rector of the University in 1532 and 1534 and served as Philip's advisor at the imperial diets of Speyer
(1529) and Augsburg
(1530). In 1532 he turned down the offer to become the second pastor of Heilbronn after Johann Lachmann.
After the restoration of Duke Ulrich, Schnepf returned to Württemberg at his request to take part in the introduction of the Reformation there in 1534 working in concert with Ambrosius Blarer
. Schnepf was named court preacher in Stuttgart and general superintendent of all of the Württemberg Protestant Church in 1535. He resigned this position in 1544 to become theology professor at the University of Tübingen simultaneously maintaining preaching duties. His resistance to the Augsburg Interim
led to his dismissal from Württemberg service by Duke Ulrich in 1548. He received chair of Hebrew at the newly founded University of Jena and also became pastor and superintendent in Jena
, where he died in 1558.
Life
Schnepf was born into a prominent Heilbronn Family. He began his studies at the University of ErfurtUniversity of Erfurt
The University of Erfurt is a public university located in Erfurt, Germany. Originally founded in 1379, the university was closed in 1816 for the next 177 years...
in 1509 before moving to the University of Heidelberg in 1511, where he took his Master's degree in 1513. He switched from legal to theological studies. Schnepf was one of the young masters who encountered Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
at the famous Heidelberg Disputation
Heidelberg Disputation
The Heidelberg Disputation was held at the Meeting of the Augustianian order on April 26, 1518. It was here that Martin Luther, as a delegate for his order, began to have occasion to articulate his views. In the defense of his theses, Luther defended the doctrine of the depravity of man and the...
. Schnepf soon became a committed follower of Luther.
He took over the preacher's office in the Württemberg territory of Weinsberg
Weinsberg
Weinsberg is a town in the north of the German state Baden-Württemberg. It was founded ca. 1200 and is situated in the Heilbronn district. The town has about 11,800 inhabitants. It is noted for its wine...
, as the successor of Johannes Oecolampadius
Johannes Oecolampadius
Johannes Œcolampadius was a German religious reformer. His real name was Hussgen or Heussgen .-Life:He was born in Weinsberg, then part of the Electoral Palatinate...
, and preached the evangelical message there. When the duchy of Württemberg came under direct Habsburg control, Schnepf was driven from his post and took refuge with the more Protestant-minded Dietrich von Gemmingen. He worked first in Neckarmühlbach (near Castle Guttenberg) in the Kraichgau
Kraichgau
The Kraichgau is a hilly region in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Odenwald and the Neckar to the North, the Black Forest to the South, and the Upper Rhine Plain to the West. To the east, its boundary is considered to be the Stromberg, the Hardt, and the...
, and from 1523 in the imperial city of Bad Wimpfen
Bad Wimpfen
Bad Wimpfen is an historic spa town in the district of Heilbronn in the Baden-Württemberg region of southern Germany. It lies north of the city of Heilbronn, on the river Neckar.-Geography:...
, where he married the mayor's daughter Margaretha Wurzelmann.
Upon the request of Count Philip III of Nassau-Weilburg, he introduced the Reformation in 1525/26 at Weilburg
Weilburg
Weilburg is, with just under 14,000 inhabitants, the third biggest town in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany, after Limburg an der Lahn and Bad Camberg.- Location :...
. Landgrave Philip I the Magnanimous
Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse
Philip I of Hesse, , nicknamed der Großmütige was a leading champion of the Protestant Reformation and one of the most important of the early Protestant rulers in Germany....
of Hesse invited him to become theology professor at his newly founded University of Marburg. Schnepf only reluctantly accepted the offer and finally took up the post on 19 August 1528. He was rector of the University in 1532 and 1534 and served as Philip's advisor at the imperial diets of Speyer
Second Diet of Speyer
The Diet of Speyer or the Diet of Spires was a diet of the Holy Roman Empire in 1529 in the Imperial City of Speyer . The diet condemned the results of the Diet of Speyer of 1526 and prohibited future reformation...
(1529) and Augsburg
Diet of Augsburg
The Diet of Augsburg were the meetings of the Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Empire in the German city of Augsburg. There were many such sessions, but the three meetings during the Reformation and the ensuing religious wars between the Roman Catholic emperor Charles V and the Protestant...
(1530). In 1532 he turned down the offer to become the second pastor of Heilbronn after Johann Lachmann.
After the restoration of Duke Ulrich, Schnepf returned to Württemberg at his request to take part in the introduction of the Reformation there in 1534 working in concert with Ambrosius Blarer
Ambrosius Blarer
Ambrosius Blarer was an influential reformer in southern Germany and north-eastern Switzerland.-Early life:...
. Schnepf was named court preacher in Stuttgart and general superintendent of all of the Württemberg Protestant Church in 1535. He resigned this position in 1544 to become theology professor at the University of Tübingen simultaneously maintaining preaching duties. His resistance to the Augsburg Interim
Augsburg Interim
The Augsburg Interim is the general term given to an imperial decree ordered on May 15, 1548, at the 1548 Diet of Augsburg, after Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, had defeated the forces of the Schmalkaldic League in the Schmalkaldic War of 1546/47...
led to his dismissal from Württemberg service by Duke Ulrich in 1548. He received chair of Hebrew at the newly founded University of Jena and also became pastor and superintendent in Jena
Jena
Jena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
, where he died in 1558.
Further reading
- Karin Brinkmann Brown (1996), "Erhard Schnepf," in Hans J. Hillerbrand, ed., The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation, vol 4, pp. 16-17. ISBN 0195064933
- Hermann Ehmer (1987), Erhard Schnepf. Ein Lebensbild, in Blätter für württembergische Kirchengeschichte. no. 87, pp. 72–126
- Johannes Günther (1858), Lebensskizzen der Professoren der Universität Jena seit 1558 bis 1858. Eine Festgabe zur dreihundertjährigen Säcularfeier der Universität am 15., 16. und 17. August 1858. Mauke, Jena.
- Robert Stupperich (1984), Reformatorenlexikon. Verlag Max Mohn, Gütersloh, ISBN 3-579-00123-X. p. 190