Johannes Cocceius
Encyclopedia
Johannes Cocceius (August 9, 1603 – November 4, 1669), Dutch
theologian, was born at Bremen.
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. In 1636 he was transferred to Franeker
, where he held the chair of Hebrew
, and from 1643 the chair of theology also, until 1650, when he succeeded the elder Friedrich Spanheim
as professor of theology at the University of Leiden.
His chief services as an oriental scholar were in the department of Hebrew
philology
and exegesis
. As one of the leading exponents of the covenant or federal theology
, he spiritualized the Hebrew scriptures
to such an extent that it was said that Cocceius found Christ everywhere in the Old Testament
and Hugo Grotius
found him nowhere.
He taught that before as much as after the fall of man, the relation between God and man was a covenant
. The first covenant was a Covenant of Works. For this was substituted, after the Fall, the Covenant of Grace, necessitating the coming of Jesus
for its fulfillment. He held millenarian views, and was the founder of a school of theologians who were called Cocceians. His most distinguished pupil was Campeius Vitringa
.
, and he encouraged the study of the original text. In one of his essays he contends that the observance of the Sabbath, though expedient, is not binding upon Christians, since it was a Jewish institution.
His major was his Lexicon et commentarius sermonis hebraici et chaldaici (Leiden, 1669), which has been frequently republished. His theology is fully expounded in his Summa Doctrinae de Foedere et Testamento Dei (1648). As an exponent of federal theology he was tacitly influenced by his teachers in Bremen, Matthias Martinius
and Ludwig Crocius
.
His collected works were published in 12 folio volumes (Amsterdam
, 1673-1675).
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
theologian, was born at Bremen.
Life
After studying at HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and the University of Franeker
University of Franeker
The University of Franeker was a university in Franeker, Friesland, presently part of the Netherlands. It was the second oldest university of the Netherlands, founded shortly after Leiden University....
, where Sixtinus Amama
Sixtinus Amama
Sixtinus Amama was a Dutch Reformed theologian and orientalist. Amama was among the first to advocate a thorough knowledge of the original languages of the Bible as indispensable to theologians.-Life:...
was one of his teachers, he became in 1630 professor of biblical philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
at the Gymnasium illustre in his native town. In 1636 he was transferred to Franeker
Franeker
Franeker is one of the eleven historical cities of Friesland and capital of the municipality of Franekeradeel. It is located about 20 km west of Leeuwarden on the Van Harinxma Canal. As of 1 January 2006, it had 12,996 inhabitants. The city is famous for the Eisinga Planetarium from around...
, where he held the chair 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 from 1643 the chair of theology also, until 1650, when he succeeded the elder Friedrich Spanheim
Friedrich Spanheim
Friedrich Spanheim the elder was a Calvinistic theology professor at the University of Leiden.-Life:He entered in 1614 the University of Heidelberg where he studied philology and philosophy, and in 1619 removed to Geneva to study theology...
as professor of theology at the University of Leiden.
His chief services as an oriental scholar were in the department 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...
philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
. As one of the leading exponents of the covenant or federal theology
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is a conceptual overview and interpretive framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible...
, he spiritualized the Hebrew scriptures
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
to such an extent that it was said that Cocceius found Christ everywhere in the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius , also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law...
found him nowhere.
He taught that before as much as after the fall of man, the relation between God and man was a covenant
Covenant (religion)
In Abrahamic religions, a covenant is a formal alliance or agreement made by God with that religious community or with humanity in general. This sort of covenant is an important concept in Judaism and Christianity, derived in the first instance from the biblical covenant tradition.An example of a...
. The first covenant was a Covenant of Works. For this was substituted, after the Fall, the Covenant of Grace, necessitating the coming of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
for its fulfillment. He held millenarian views, and was the founder of a school of theologians who were called Cocceians. His most distinguished pupil was Campeius Vitringa
Campeius Vitringa
Campegius Vitringa Sr., or Kempe Vitringa was a Dutch Protestant theologian and Hebraist. His youngest of four children was Campeius Vitringa ....
.
Works
His theology was founded entirely on the BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, and he encouraged the study of the original text. In one of his essays he contends that the observance of the Sabbath, though expedient, is not binding upon Christians, since it was a Jewish institution.
His major was his Lexicon et commentarius sermonis hebraici et chaldaici (Leiden, 1669), which has been frequently republished. His theology is fully expounded in his Summa Doctrinae de Foedere et Testamento Dei (1648). As an exponent of federal theology he was tacitly influenced by his teachers in Bremen, Matthias Martinius
Matthias Martinius
Matthias Martinius was a German Calvinist theologian and educator.-Life:He was born in Freienhagen, Waldeck and educated at Herborn Academy. He became court preacher at Dillenburg, and then taught at Herborn before moving to Emden in 1607.From 1610 Martinius was the founding rector of the...
and Ludwig Crocius
Ludwig Crocius
Ludwig Crocius was a German Calvinist minister. He was a delegate at the Synod of Dort and professor of theology and philosophy in Bremen.-Background and career:...
.
His collected works were published in 12 folio volumes (Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, 1673-1675).
Literature
- Heiner Faulenbach: Coccejus, Johannes. In: Theologische RealenzyklopädieTheologische RealenzyklopädieThe Theologische Realenzyklopädie is a German encyclopedia of theology and religious studies. It contains some 2000 articles in 36 volumes...
8 (1981), pp. 132-140. - Reinhard Breymayer: Auktionskataloge deutscher PietistenbibliothekenPietismPietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
. Die beiden neuentdeckten Auktionskataloge für die Privatbibliothek des Vorpietisten Johannes Coccejus, des bedeutendsten reformierten Theologen des 17. Jahrhunderts. [...] In: Bücherkataloge als buchgeschichtliche Quellen in der frühen Neuzeit. Ed. by Reinhard Wittmann. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1985 (Wolfenbütteler Schriften zur Geschichte des Buchwesens, vol. 10), pp. 113-208.