Jacob Heerbrand
Encyclopedia
Jacob Heerbrand was a German Protestant theologian and controversialist.
in Swabia
on August 12, 1521. He was educated at the school at
Ulm
, and at the universities of Wittenberg
(M.A., 1543) and Tübingen
(D.Theol., 1550). He was for five years (1538-43) the pupil of Martin Luther
and Philip Melanchthon.
In 1543 he entered the service of the Württemberg Church and accepted a diaconate at Tübingen, in order to continue his studies. For refusing to accept the Interim he was removed from his office, along with Erhard Schnepf
, on November 11, 1548, but remained in Tübingen to study Hebrew under Oswald Schreckenfuchs, in company with Jakob Andreä. On February 11, 1551, he became pastor at Herrenberg
, near Ehingen
, where Johann Brenz was then residing.
In June 1551 Heerbrand with other local theologians subscribed to the Confessio Wirtembergica, and in March 1552, with Brenz and Jakob Beurlin
he was sent to defend it at the Council of Trent
. Heerbrand cooperated with the Swabians in their efforts to allay the Osiandrian controversies (1552-53), and in May 1554 he was sent to a conference of theologians at Naumburg
. On the invitation of the Margrave of Baden-Pforzheim
he went to Pforzheim
in September 1556, as pastor and director of the State Church, which had just been reformed on the basis of the Württemberg agenda. In September 1557, he returned to Tübingen as professor of theology, a position which he retained for forty years, being the last pupil of the Wittenberg Reformers to occupy this chair. He was at the same time superintendent of the stipendium, and eight times rector of the university. In 1590 he succeeded
Andreä as chancellor of the university and provost of the cathedral church.
He was a frequent festival orator at great academic ceremonies, including the memorial service in honor of Melanchthon in 1560, and at the university jubilee in 1578. On January 5, 1599, he resigned his offices because of infirmity. He died at Tübingen on May 22, 1600.
, it was translated by Martin Crusius into Greek, and circulated to Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece, and Asia Minor.
Heerbrand as a controversialist engaged many Roman Catholic theologians: with the Dominican
Peter a Soto, in vindication of the Confessio Wirtembergica in 1561; with Melchior Zanger of Ehingen-Rottenburg; with E. Gotthard of Passau; with J. B. Fickler of Salzburg; with Wilhelm Lindanus, bishop of Ruremond; with the Polish Stanislas Socolocius; with the Freiburg professors F. Lorichius and Michael Hager, and especially with the Jesuits Heinrich Blissemius of Prague and Graz, Gregory of Valencia
at Ingolstadt
, Sigmund Emhofer of Vienna, and Georg Scherer
of Graz. Heerbrand claimed that the ultimate aim of the Jesuit party's literary activity was calumny of Protestantism, adulation of Roman Catholic princes, and subversion of religious peace (Refutatio crassissimorum errorum, ii. 17; Apologia explicationis, p. 55).
Life
He was born at GiengenGiengen
Giengen is a historic city in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is situated in the district of Heidenheim, north-east of Ulm, at the southern foot of the Swabian Alb....
in Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
on August 12, 1521. He was educated at the school at
Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
, and at the universities of Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
(M.A., 1543) and Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
(D.Theol., 1550). He was for five years (1538-43) the pupil of 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...
and Philip Melanchthon.
In 1543 he entered the service of the Württemberg Church and accepted a diaconate at Tübingen, in order to continue his studies. For refusing to accept the Interim he was removed from his office, along with Erhard Schnepf
Erhard Schnepf
Erhard Schnepf was a German Lutheran Theologian, Pastor, and Reformer.- Life :...
, on November 11, 1548, but remained in Tübingen to study Hebrew under Oswald Schreckenfuchs, in company with Jakob Andreä. On February 11, 1551, he became pastor at Herrenberg
Herrenberg
Herrenberg is a town in the middle of Baden-Württemberg, about 30 kmsouth of Stuttgart and 20 km from Tübingen. After Sindelfingen, Böblingen, and Leonberg, it is the fourth largest town in the district of Böblingen...
, near Ehingen
Ehingen
Ehingen is a town in the Alb-Donau district in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, situated on the left bank of the Danube, approx. 25 km southwest of Ulm and 67 km southeast of Stuttgart.-Statistics:...
, where Johann Brenz was then residing.
In June 1551 Heerbrand with other local theologians subscribed to the Confessio Wirtembergica, and in March 1552, with Brenz and Jakob Beurlin
Jakob Beurlin
Jakob Beurlin was a German Lutheran theologian.-Life:In November 1533, he entered the university of Tübingen. When the Protestant Reformation was introduced there in 1534, he remained faithful to Catholicism, diligently studying philosophy and the writings of the Church Fathers...
he was sent to defend it at the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
. Heerbrand cooperated with the Swabians in their efforts to allay the Osiandrian controversies (1552-53), and in May 1554 he was sent to a conference of theologians at Naumburg
Naumburg
Naumburg is a town in Germany, on the Saale River. It is in the district Burgenlandkreis in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. It is approximately southwest of Leipzig, south-southwest of Halle, and north-northeast of Jena....
. On the invitation of the Margrave of Baden-Pforzheim
Philibert, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Margrave Philibert of Baden ruled the Margraviate of Baden-Baden from 1554 to 1569. Philibert was the son of the Margrave Bernhard III, Margrave of Baden-Baden and Franziska of Luxembourg....
he went to Pforzheim
Pforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
in September 1556, as pastor and director of the State Church, which had just been reformed on the basis of the Württemberg agenda. In September 1557, he returned to Tübingen as professor of theology, a position which he retained for forty years, being the last pupil of the Wittenberg Reformers to occupy this chair. He was at the same time superintendent of the stipendium, and eight times rector of the university. In 1590 he succeeded
Andreä as chancellor of the university and provost of the cathedral church.
He was a frequent festival orator at great academic ceremonies, including the memorial service in honor of Melanchthon in 1560, and at the university jubilee in 1578. On January 5, 1599, he resigned his offices because of infirmity. He died at Tübingen on May 22, 1600.
Works
As a dogmatician he exerted influence through his disputations and his Compendium theologicae methodi quaestionibus tradatum (Tübingen, 1573). During the negotiations of the Tübingen theologians with Patriarch Jeremias II of ConstantinoplePatriarch Jeremias II of Constantinople
-External links:**...
, it was translated by Martin Crusius into Greek, and circulated to Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece, and Asia Minor.
Heerbrand as a controversialist engaged many Roman Catholic theologians: with the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Peter a Soto, in vindication of the Confessio Wirtembergica in 1561; with Melchior Zanger of Ehingen-Rottenburg; with E. Gotthard of Passau; with J. B. Fickler of Salzburg; with Wilhelm Lindanus, bishop of Ruremond; with the Polish Stanislas Socolocius; with the Freiburg professors F. Lorichius and Michael Hager, and especially with the Jesuits Heinrich Blissemius of Prague and Graz, Gregory of Valencia
Gregory of Valencia
Gregory of Valencia was a Spanish humanist and scholar who was a professor at the University of Ingolstadt. Born at Medina, he entered the newly-founded Jesuit order in 1565 after studying philosophy and jurisprudence at the University of Salamanca.In 1571, he was called by St...
at Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt is a city in the Free State of Bavaria, in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is located along the banks of the Danube River, in the center of Bavaria. As at 31 March 2011, Ingolstadt had 125.407 residents...
, Sigmund Emhofer of Vienna, and Georg Scherer
Georg Scherer
Georg Scherer was a Roman Catholic pulpit orator and controversialist.Born at Schwaz, in Tyrol, Scherer entered the Society of Jesus in 1559. Even before his ordination he was famed for his preaching powers. For over forty years he labored in the Archduchy of Austria. To Scherer, in part, it owes...
of Graz. Heerbrand claimed that the ultimate aim of the Jesuit party's literary activity was calumny of Protestantism, adulation of Roman Catholic princes, and subversion of religious peace (Refutatio crassissimorum errorum, ii. 17; Apologia explicationis, p. 55).