Johann Funck
Encyclopedia
Johann Funck, Funk or Funccius (7 February 1518- 28 October 1566, Königsberg, East Prussia, now Kaliningrad, Russia) was a German Lutheran theologian. He was beheaded after a court intrigue.
, and went to Königsberg
in 1547. He was made court preacher in 1549.
In the Osiandrian controversy, Funck sided with Andreas Osiander
and Andreas Aurifaber
who was physician in ordinary to the duke; when Osiander died in 1552, Funck delivered the eulogy. Joachim Mörlin
, his main opponent, was obliged to leave Prussia in 1553. and Funck became the dominant representative of Osiander's theology. Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg, son-in-law of Duke Albert and a Lutheran, intrigued against Funck, who had to retract certain "heresies" at a synod held at Riesenburg in 1556 and to promise to abide by the Augsburg Confession
and the Loci Theologici
of Melanchthon.
Funck still enjoyed favour at court, however. Aurifaber died in 1559, and Funck married his widow, Osiander's daughter; Funck was both the confessor and counsellor of the duke and treasurer of the duchess, but his position was exposed. An adventurer, Paul Skalich, took advantage of the aging duke: councillors belonging to the nobility were pushed aside. The estates, feeling that their rights were infringed, appealed to the suzerain of the country. Sigismund II of Poland, who sent a commission in August 1566 to Königsberg to investigate the matter, Funck, together with the councillors Horst, Schell, and Steinbach, was charged with opposition to the ecclesiastical and political governance of the state. The Polish commission directed that the case be tried by the court in the Kneiphof
, Königsberg. Funck, Horst, and Schell were condemned and executed in the Kneiphof market-place at Kanigsberg, on 28 October 28 1566. Steinbach had to leave the country: and Paul Skalich escaped.
Attribution
Life
He was born in Wöhrd, now part of Nuremburg. After obtaining an M.A. at the University of Wittenberg and preaching in several places, he was recommended to Duke Albert of Prussia by Veit DietrichVeit Dietrich
Veit Dietrich, also Vitus Theodorus or Vitus Diterichus, was a German theologian, writer and reformer.- Life and work :Veit Dietrich was born on 8 December 1506 in Nuremberg; his father was a shoemaker...
, and went to Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
in 1547. He was made court preacher in 1549.
In the Osiandrian controversy, Funck sided with Andreas Osiander
Andreas Osiander
Andreas Osiander was a German Lutheran theologian.- Career :Born at Gunzenhausen in Franconia, Osiander studied at the University of Ingolstadt before being ordained as a priest in 1520. In the same year he began work at an Augustinian convent in Nuremberg as a Hebrew tutor. In 1522, he was...
and Andreas Aurifaber
Andreas Aurifaber
Andreas Aurifaber was a German physician of some repute, but through his influence with Albert of Brandenburg, last grand-master of the Teutonic Knights, and first Protestant duke of Prussia, became an outstanding figure in the controversy associated with Andreas Osiander whose daughter he had...
who was physician in ordinary to the duke; when Osiander died in 1552, Funck delivered the eulogy. Joachim Mörlin
Joachim Mörlin
Joachim Mörlin was a Lutheran theologian and an important figure in the controversies following Martin Luther's death.-Early life:...
, his main opponent, was obliged to leave Prussia in 1553. and Funck became the dominant representative of Osiander's theology. Duke John Albert of Mecklenburg, son-in-law of Duke Albert and a Lutheran, intrigued against Funck, who had to retract certain "heresies" at a synod held at Riesenburg in 1556 and to promise to abide by the Augsburg Confession
Augsburg Confession
The Augsburg Confession, also known as the "Augustana" from its Latin name, Confessio Augustana, is the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran reformation...
and the Loci Theologici
Loci Theologici
Loci Theologici was a term applied by Melanchthon to Evangelical systems of dogmatics and retained by many as late as the seventeenth century....
of Melanchthon.
Funck still enjoyed favour at court, however. Aurifaber died in 1559, and Funck married his widow, Osiander's daughter; Funck was both the confessor and counsellor of the duke and treasurer of the duchess, but his position was exposed. An adventurer, Paul Skalich, took advantage of the aging duke: councillors belonging to the nobility were pushed aside. The estates, feeling that their rights were infringed, appealed to the suzerain of the country. Sigismund II of Poland, who sent a commission in August 1566 to Königsberg to investigate the matter, Funck, together with the councillors Horst, Schell, and Steinbach, was charged with opposition to the ecclesiastical and political governance of the state. The Polish commission directed that the case be tried by the court in the Kneiphof
Kneiphof
Kneiphof was one of three towns in the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights that became the city of Königsberg . Kneiphof was originally Knypabe , meaning 'area flushed by water' in Old Prussian.As other members of the Prussian Confederation, Kneiphof rebelled against the Teutonic Knights in...
, Königsberg. Funck, Horst, and Schell were condemned and executed in the Kneiphof market-place at Kanigsberg, on 28 October 28 1566. Steinbach had to leave the country: and Paul Skalich escaped.
Works
The works of Funck are:- Chronologia ab urbe condita (2 vols., Königsberg, 1545-52);
- expositions of Psalms xlvi. (1548), ciii. (1549), and ix. (1551);
- Auszug und kurzer Bericht von der Gerechtigkeit der Christen für Gott (1552);
- Wahrhaftiger und grundlicher Bericht wie und was Gestalt die ägerliche Spaltung von der Gerechtigkeit des Glaubens sich anfänglich im Lande Preussen erhoben (1553);
- Der Patriarchen Lehre und Glauben (1554);
- Vier Predigten von der Rechtfertigung des Sünders durch den Glauben für Gott. Item: Kurtze Bekenntnis (1563).
External links
Attribution