Johann Heinrich Heidegger
Encyclopedia
Johann Heinrich Heidegger (July 1, 1633 – July 18, 1698), Swiss
theologian, was born at Bäretswil
, in the Canton of Zürich
.
He studied at Marburg and at Heidelberg, where he became the friend of Johann Friedrich Fabriciuss, and was appointed professor extraordinarius of Hebrew
and later of philosophy
. In 1659, he was called to Steinfurt
to fill the chair of dogma
tics and ecclesiastical history, and in the same year he became doctor of theology of Heidelberg.
In 1660 he revisited Switzerland and, after marrying, he travelled in the following year to Holland, where he made the acquaintance of Johannes Cocceius
. He returned in 1665 to Zürich, where he was elected professor of moral philosophy. Two years later he succeeded Johann Heinrich Hottinger
in the chair of theology, which he occupied until his death, having declined an invitation in 1669 to succeed Cocceius at Leiden, as well as a call to Groningen.
Heidegger was the principal author of the Formula Consensus Helvetica
in 1675, which was designed to unite the Swiss Reformed churches, but had an opposite effect. Wilhelm Gass
describes him as the most notable of the Swiss theologians of the time.
His writings are largely controversial, though without being bitter, and are in great part levelled against the Roman Catholic Church
.
His autobiography appeared in 1698, under the title Historia vitae J. H. Heideggeri.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
theologian, was born at Bäretswil
Bäretswil
Bäretswil is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-History:Bäretswil is first mentioned in 741 as Berofovilare. In 745 it was mentioned as Perolfeswilari.-Geography:...
, in the Canton of Zürich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
.
He studied at Marburg and at Heidelberg, where he became the friend of Johann Friedrich Fabriciuss, and was appointed professor extraordinarius of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and later of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. In 1659, he was called to Steinfurt
Steinfurt
Steinfurt is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Steinfurt.-Geography:Steinfurt is situated north-west of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia. Its name came into being in 1975 when the two – up to then independent – parts of the city – Borghorst and...
to fill the chair of dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
tics and ecclesiastical history, and in the same year he became doctor of theology of Heidelberg.
In 1660 he revisited Switzerland and, after marrying, he travelled in the following year to Holland, where he made the acquaintance of Johannes Cocceius
Johannes Cocceius
Johannes Cocceius , Dutch theologian, was born at Bremen.-Life:After studying at Hamburg and the University of Franeker, where Sixtinus Amama was one of his teachers, he became in 1630 professor of biblical philology at the Gymnasium illustre in his native town...
. He returned in 1665 to Zürich, where he was elected professor of moral philosophy. Two years later he succeeded Johann Heinrich Hottinger
Johann Heinrich Hottinger
Johann Heinrich Hottinger was a Swiss philologist and theologian.- Life and works :Hottinger studied at Geneva, Groningen and Leiden. After visiting France and England he was appointed professor of church history in his native town of Zürich in 1642...
in the chair of theology, which he occupied until his death, having declined an invitation in 1669 to succeed Cocceius at Leiden, as well as a call to Groningen.
Heidegger was the principal author of the Formula Consensus Helvetica
Helvetic Consensus
The Helvetic Consensus is a Swiss Reformed symbol drawn up in 1675 to guard against doctrines taught at the French Academy of Saumur, especially Amyraldism.-Origin:...
in 1675, which was designed to unite the Swiss Reformed churches, but had an opposite effect. Wilhelm Gass
Wilhelm Gass
Wilhelm Gass was a German theologian born in Breslau. He was the son of theologian Joachim Christian Gass ....
describes him as the most notable of the Swiss theologians of the time.
His writings are largely controversial, though without being bitter, and are in great part levelled against the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
Major works
- De historia sacra patriarcharum exercitationes selectae (1667–1671)
- Dissertatio de Peregrinationibus religiosis (1670)
- De ratione studiorum, opuscula aurea, &c. (1670)
- Historia papatus (1684; under the name Nicander von Hohenegg)
- Manuductio in viam concordiae Protestantium ecclesiasticae (1686)
- Tumulus concilii Tridentini (1690)
- Exercitationes biblicae (1700), with a life of the author prefixed
- Corpus theologiae Christianae (1700, edited by JH Schweizer)
- Ethicae Christianae elementa (1711)
- life of JH Hottinger (1667)
- life of JL Fabricius (1698)
His autobiography appeared in 1698, under the title Historia vitae J. H. Heideggeri.