Joachim Lütkemann
Encyclopedia
Joachim Lütkemann was a German theologian and writer of devotional literature
.
, where he was especially influeced by the teachings of Johann Conrad Dannhauer
and Johann Schmidt, and later by those of Philipp Jakob Spener. After a study-trip to France and Italy, he joined the University of Rostock
in November 1637, graduating from it in 1638 as a magister
legens.
In 1639 he became a deacon
in the Jakobikirche in Rostock and later that year was elected to replace the lately-deceased Zacharias Deutsch as archdeacon
, also marrying Deutsch's widow Dorothea. In 1643 he became the Professor of Metaphysics and Physics in the University of Rostock. In 1646 he disputed
on De viribus naturae et gratiae at the University of Greifswald pro licentia
. From November 1646 he taught theology classes in Rostock and was chosen as the university's recotr. In 1648 in Greifswald he was promoted De baptismo to Doctor of Theology.
In 1649 Lütkemann presented his thesis that during his three days in the tomb (tempore mortis) Jesus Christ was not truly human, since there was the soul had left the body and so there was not the human connection between the soul and body that there had been in life. Lütkemann's true intention was to say that the death of the son of God
was real, but this led to a controversy with the Rostock theologian Johann Cothmann
. Lütkemann was then denounced as a heretic and dismissed by Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg. Lütkemann asked for the suspension to be lifted but this was conditional on signing a recantation, which Lütkemann was unwilling to do, so he left the country.
Lütkemann then followed the court of Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, where he became court-preacher and Generalsuperintendent. There, in 1651, he set up a new education policy introducing compulsory schooling. From 1650 to 1653 he led a general visitation. In 1653 he was made abbot of Riddagshausen Abbey
.
in Greifswald.
, Christian Scriver
and Theophil Großgebauer
.
Devotional literature
Devotional literature is religious writing that is neither doctrinal nor theological, but designed for individuals to read for their personal edification and spiritual formation....
.
Life
Joachim Lütkemann was the son of Samuel Lütkemann, an apothecary from Demmin who had become mayor, and his wife Katharina, née Zander. After attending school in Demmin, he went to university in Greifswald in 1624, then in 1626 to the Marienstiftsgymnasium in Stettin. From 1629–1634he then studied philosophy and theology at the University of StrasbourgUniversity of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
, where he was especially influeced by the teachings of Johann Conrad Dannhauer
Johann Conrad Dannhauer
Johann Conrad Dannhauer Orthodox Lutheran theologian and teacher of Spener....
and Johann Schmidt, and later by those of Philipp Jakob Spener. After a study-trip to France and Italy, he joined the University of Rostock
University of Rostock
The University of Rostock is the university of the city Rostock, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area...
in November 1637, graduating from it in 1638 as a magister
Magister (degree)
Magister is an academic degree used in various systems of higher education.-Argentina:...
legens.
In 1639 he became a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in the Jakobikirche in Rostock and later that year was elected to replace the lately-deceased Zacharias Deutsch as archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
, also marrying Deutsch's widow Dorothea. In 1643 he became the Professor of Metaphysics and Physics in the University of Rostock. In 1646 he disputed
Disputation
In the scholastic system of education of the Middle Ages, disputations offered a formalized method of debate designed to uncover and establish truths in theology and in sciences...
on De viribus naturae et gratiae at the University of Greifswald pro licentia
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
. From November 1646 he taught theology classes in Rostock and was chosen as the university's recotr. In 1648 in Greifswald he was promoted De baptismo to Doctor of Theology.
In 1649 Lütkemann presented his thesis that during his three days in the tomb (tempore mortis) Jesus Christ was not truly human, since there was the soul had left the body and so there was not the human connection between the soul and body that there had been in life. Lütkemann's true intention was to say that the death of the son of God
Son of God
"Son of God" is a phrase which according to most Christian denominations, Trinitarian in belief, refers to the relationship between Jesus and God, specifically as "God the Son"...
was real, but this led to a controversy with the Rostock theologian Johann Cothmann
Johann Cothmann
Johann Cothmann was a German jurist and diplomat. He was also a member of the Fruitbearing Society....
. Lütkemann was then denounced as a heretic and dismissed by Adolf Frederick I, Duke of Mecklenburg. Lütkemann asked for the suspension to be lifted but this was conditional on signing a recantation, which Lütkemann was unwilling to do, so he left the country.
Lütkemann then followed the court of Augustus the Younger, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, where he became court-preacher and Generalsuperintendent. There, in 1651, he set up a new education policy introducing compulsory schooling. From 1650 to 1653 he led a general visitation. In 1653 he was made abbot of Riddagshausen Abbey
Riddagshausen Abbey
Riddagshausen Abbey was a Cistercian monastery just outside the city of Brunswick in Germany.It was founded as Marienzelle by Ludolf the Wend, a ministerialis of Henry the Lion and steward of Brunswick, and settled in 1145 by monks from Amelungsborn Abbey...
.
Family
In 1639 Joachim Lütkemann married Dorothea von Levetzow (1612–1666), the widow of Zacharias Deutsch. They had twelve children, of which five died in infancy. In 1734 his great-nephew Timotheus Lütkemann became GeneralsuperintendentSuperintendent (ecclesiastical)
Superintendent is the head of an administrative division of a Protestant church, largely historical but still in use in Germany.- Superintendents in Sweden :...
in Greifswald.
Works
His literary work was very prolific and, though his writings on philosophical and dogmatic themes were of little importance, they influenced the devotional writers Heinrich MüllerHeinrich Müller (theologian)
Heinrich Müller was a German devotional author, Protestant author of hymns and Lutheran theologian at the University of Rostock....
, Christian Scriver
Christian Scriver
Christian Scriver was a German Lutheran devotional writer.Scriver was born at Rendsburg and entered the University of Rostock in 1647, and in 1653 was appointed archdeacon at Stendal, whence he was called in 1667 to Magdeburg as pastor of St. James's...
and Theophil Großgebauer
Theophil Großgebauer
Theophil Großgebauer was a German theologian active at the University of Rostock, most notable for his work Wächterstimme aus dem verwüsteten Zion.-Sources:*http://www.theologie.uni-rostock.de/index.php?id=3551...
.
- Der Vorschmack göttlicher Güte. 1653, 1673. - His first work, whose title translates as Foretaste of divine goodness. It became one of the most popular devotional works in LutheranismLutheranismLutheranism 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...
. Lütkemann's approach in that work was mystical spiritualism, though he also tried to distance himself from that approach at the same time, describing the necessary connection between inner faith and outer words. It was influenced by Johann ArndtJohann ArndtJohann Arndt was a German Lutheran theologian who wrote several influential books of devotional Christianity...
's work Vier Bücher vom wahren Christentum and was highly esteemed by Philipp Jacob Spener, who made it compulsory reading in his first collegia pietatis. - Regenten Predigt (von der höchsten Tugend hoher Obrigkeit, über Psalm 37 V. 34). 1655. - A sermon first pronounced in September 1655, in which he criticised contemporary rulers' notions of absolutism and contrasted them with the notions of piety.
- Harpffe von zehen Seyten, Das ist: Gründliche Erklärung Zehen Psalmen Davids. 1658. - A work on the PsalmsPsalmsThe Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
of David.