Erik Benzelius the Elder
Encyclopedia
Erik Benzelius (16 December 1632 – 17 February 1709) was a Swedish theologian and Archbishop of Uppsala
.
Benzelius was born at the Bentseby farm in the parish of Luleå
in northern Sweden, son of the farmer and lay assessor (nämndeman) Henrik Jakobsson. He took a family name derived from his birthplace, rather than using the patronymic
as was common in the Swedish peasantry. He was raised by a relative who was a merchant in Uppsala
, and studied at Uppsala University
, where he completed his filosofie magister degree in 1661.
He was hired by Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
as a tutor for his sons in 1660 and accompanied one of them on a foreign journey stretching from 1663 to 1665, visiting Copenhagen
, the most important universities of Germany, and continuing to Paris, London, Oxford
, and Leiden.
Returning to Uppsala, he was appointed professor extraordinary of history and moral philosophy in 1665, of theology in 1666, and 1670 ordinary professor of theology. He became bishop of Strängnäs in 1687, but succeeded Olov Svebilius
in 1700 as Archbishop of Uppsala
.
He took an important part in the various ecclesiastical committees active during the reigns of Charles XI
and Charles XII
, such as that concerning the new Church Law of 1686, the new hymn book of 1695 and the new Bible translation. In the Bible translation committee, created on the initiative of Jesper Swedberg
, Benzelius was a conservative force, and is largely responsible for the fact that the so-called Charles XII's Bible ended up as nothing more than a revision of the Swedish Reformation Bible.
Benzelius was a typical representative of 17th century Swedish Lutheran orthodoxy
, was careful not to deviate from established theological principles, and lacked originality in his writing. Nevertheless, he was a productive author of works in theology, and his work on church history was used as a textbook for the following century.
Of the seven sons of Benzelius, three later were appointed archbishops of Uppsala, one after the other: Erik
(1675-1743, appointed 1742, but died before taking office), Jakob
(1683-1747, archbishop from 1744), and Henrik
(1689-1758, archbishop from 1747).
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
.
Benzelius was born at the Bentseby farm in the parish of Luleå
Luleå
- Transportation :Local buses are run by .A passenger train service is available from Luleå Centralstation on Sweden's national SJ railway service northbound to Narvik on the Norwegian coast, or southbound to Stockholm. See Rail transport in Sweden....
in northern Sweden, son of the farmer and lay assessor (nämndeman) Henrik Jakobsson. He took a family name derived from his birthplace, rather than using the patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
as was common in the Swedish peasantry. He was raised by a relative who was a merchant in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, and studied at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
, where he completed his filosofie magister degree in 1661.
He was hired by Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
as a tutor for his sons in 1660 and accompanied one of them on a foreign journey stretching from 1663 to 1665, visiting Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, the most important universities of Germany, and continuing to Paris, London, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, and Leiden.
Returning to Uppsala, he was appointed professor extraordinary of history and moral philosophy in 1665, of theology in 1666, and 1670 ordinary professor of theology. He became bishop of Strängnäs in 1687, but succeeded Olov Svebilius
Olov Svebilius
Olov Svebilius was Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1681-1700. He was born in Ljungby, close to Kalmar in Sweden, January 1, 1624 and died the 29 June 1700....
in 1700 as Archbishop of Uppsala
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
.
He took an important part in the various ecclesiastical committees active during the reigns of Charles XI
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
and Charles XII
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII also Carl of Sweden, , Latinized to Carolus Rex, Turkish: Demirbaş Şarl, also known as Charles the Habitué was the King of the Swedish Empire from 1697 to 1718...
, such as that concerning the new Church Law of 1686, the new hymn book of 1695 and the new Bible translation. In the Bible translation committee, created on the initiative of Jesper Swedberg
Jesper Swedberg
Jesper Swedberg was a bishop of Skara, Sweden. He was one of Sweden's most notable churchmen. He published the first edition ever of a Swedish book of hymns in 1694, and was the father of scientist and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg.- Early life :Jesper Swedberg was born as the son of a bergsman...
, Benzelius was a conservative force, and is largely responsible for the fact that the so-called Charles XII's Bible ended up as nothing more than a revision of the Swedish Reformation Bible.
Benzelius was a typical representative of 17th century Swedish Lutheran orthodoxy
Lutheran Orthodoxy
Lutheran orthodoxy was an era in the history of Lutheranism, which began in 1580 from the writing of the Book of Concord and ended at the Age of Enlightenment. Lutheran orthodoxy was paralleled by similar eras in Calvinism and tridentine Roman Catholicism after the...
, was careful not to deviate from established theological principles, and lacked originality in his writing. Nevertheless, he was a productive author of works in theology, and his work on church history was used as a textbook for the following century.
Of the seven sons of Benzelius, three later were appointed archbishops of Uppsala, one after the other: Erik
Erik Benzelius the younger
Erik Benzelius the younger was a priest, theologian, librarian, and Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1742–1743. He was a highly learned man and one of Sweden's important Enlightenment figures....
(1675-1743, appointed 1742, but died before taking office), Jakob
Jakob Benzelius
Jakob Benzelius was Archbishop of Uppsala in the Church of Sweden from 1744 to his death.Jakob Benzelius studied at Uppsala University, graduated as filosofie magister in 1703 and, after a few years teaching in Uppsala, spent several years traveling and visiting foreign universities...
(1683-1747, archbishop from 1744), and Henrik
Henrik Benzelius
Henrik Benzelius was Bishop of Lund from 1744 to 1747, and Archbishop of Uppsala in the Church of Sweden from 1747 to his death. Benzelius was one of the people sent by Charles XII of Sweden to the Middle East, travelling to Egypt and Syria...
(1689-1758, archbishop from 1747).