Jens Jonas Jansen
Encyclopedia
Jens Jonas Elstrand Jansen (8 March 1844 – 1 August 1912) was a Norwegian priest.
He was born in Hobøl
as a son of priest David Middelthon Jansen and his wife Eleonore Cathrine Elstrand. In May 1883 he married twenty-year-old Jenny Therese Schroeter from Drammen
, a sister of professor Jens Fredrik Schroeter
. Their son Einar Jansen
became a notable historian, genealogist and archivist.
He finished
his secondary education in 1861, and graduated with the cand.theol.
degree in 1869. He first worked as a teacher, at the same time editing the magazines Børnenes Blad and Hjemmet, but was hired as a curate
in Skjeberg
in 1873. He became vicar
in Varteig
in 1883 and in Røyken
in 1890, and retired due to bad health in January 1898.
Bishop Eivind Berggrav
described his effort for the Church of Norway
, on which he had a "qualitative influence", as "unusual". He was especially known for his sermons, as well as the lectures Kristendom og Videnskab (1882) and Hvor meget tror vi? (1887), which were both printed in 1903. Several of his sermons were later printed, as well as the memoirs Oplevet og tænkt (1909). He was also a columnist and literary critic in Morgenbladet
.
His aim was to induce a personal and rational Lutheran
faith. He saw the influence of Orthodox theologian Gisle Johnson
as unpassable, under a certain influence from free-thinkers Søren Kierkegaard
and Georg Brandes
. Johnson disciple and bishop Johan Christian Heuch
in 1902 declared Jansen as a "dangerous" man, citing that his liberal tendencies could open Christendom for "Muhammedans and pagans".
Jansen died while vacationing at Ringebu
in 1912.
He was born in Hobøl
Hobøl
Hobøl is a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Elvestad. Hobøl is situated about southeast of Oslo. The parish of Haabøl was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 .The largest village in Hobøl is Tomter, whose train...
as a son of priest David Middelthon Jansen and his wife Eleonore Cathrine Elstrand. In May 1883 he married twenty-year-old Jenny Therese Schroeter from Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
, a sister of professor Jens Fredrik Schroeter
Jens Fredrik Schroeter
Jens Fredrik Wilhelm Schroeter was a Norwegian astronomer.He was born in Drammen as a son of sea captain Fredrik Julius Bech Schroeter and his wife Julie Schroeter. His paternal family had migrated into Norway from Langeland, Denmark in 1787...
. Their son Einar Jansen
Einar Jansen
Einar Jansen was a Norwegian historian, genealogist and archivist.He was born in Røyken as the son of priest Jens Jonas Jansen and Jenny Therese Schroeter . He was a nephew of Jens Fredrik Schroeter...
became a notable historian, genealogist and archivist.
He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1861, and graduated with the cand.theol.
Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in 1869. He first worked as a teacher, at the same time editing the magazines Børnenes Blad and Hjemmet, but was hired as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Skjeberg
Skjeberg
Skjeberg is a former municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The last administrative centre was Borgenhaugen.The parish of Skjeberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838...
in 1873. He became vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in Varteig
Varteig
Varteig is a village in Sarpsborg and was formerly a municipality in Østfold County, Norway.Varteig is located north of Sarpsborg and east of Glomma. Varteig was part of the Tune municipality until 1861. It was designated to be a municipality by a split from Tune in 1861. At that time Varteig had...
in 1883 and in Røyken
Røyken
Røyken is a village and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Midtbygda. The parish of Røken was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 ....
in 1890, and retired due to bad health in January 1898.
Bishop Eivind Berggrav
Eivind Berggrav
Eivind Josef Berggrav was a Norwegian Lutheran bishop, primarily known as Primate of the Church of Norway and remembered for his unyielding resistance against the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II.-Background:Berggrav was born in Stavanger, Norway...
described his effort for the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
, on which he had a "qualitative influence", as "unusual". He was especially known for his sermons, as well as the lectures Kristendom og Videnskab (1882) and Hvor meget tror vi? (1887), which were both printed in 1903. Several of his sermons were later printed, as well as the memoirs Oplevet og tænkt (1909). He was also a columnist and literary critic in Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly newspaper. It was founded in 1819 by the book printer Niels Wulfsberg, and was the country's first daily newspaper. For a long time, it was also the country's biggest newspaper. It was closed down by the German Wehrmacht during World War II...
.
His aim was to induce a personal and rational Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
faith. He saw the influence of Orthodox theologian Gisle Johnson
Gisle Johnson
Gisle Christian Johnson was a Norwegian theologian.He grew up in Kristiansand, and studied theology until 1845. In 1849 he became a lecturer at the University of Christiana, and in 1860 became a professor, first in systematic theology and dogmatic history, and from 1875 in church history...
as unpassable, under a certain influence from free-thinkers Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish Christian philosopher, theologian and religious author. He was a critic of idealist intellectuals and philosophers of his time, such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling and Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel...
and Georg Brandes
Georg Brandes
Georg Morris Cohen Brandes was a Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the "Modern Breakthrough" of Scandinavian culture...
. Johnson disciple and bishop Johan Christian Heuch
Johan Christian Heuch
Johan Christian Heuch, often referred to as J. C. Heuch was a Norwegian bishop and politician for the Conservative Party.-Personal life:...
in 1902 declared Jansen as a "dangerous" man, citing that his liberal tendencies could open Christendom for "Muhammedans and pagans".
Jansen died while vacationing at Ringebu
Ringebu
is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vålebru.The municipality of Ringebu was established on 1 January 1838...
in 1912.