Johannes Piscator
Encyclopedia
Johannes Piscator (March 27, 1546 – July 26, 1625) was a German Reformed theologian, known as a Bible translator and textbook writer.
He was a prolific writer, and initially moved around as he held a number of positions. Some scholarly confusion as to whether there was more than one person of the name was addressed in a paper by Walter Ong.
, and educated at the University of Tübingen. He became professor of theology at Strasbourg in 1573. Elector Frederick III
experienced some resistance when he attempted to appoint him to the arts faculty at the University of Heidelberg in 1574, and Piscator eventually took a post at the preparatory Latin Paedagogium in Heidelberg
.
After a confessional change in Heidelberg, he briefly served as deputy rector at the court school in Dillenburg
in 1577 before being appointed professor of theology at the Casimirianum
in Neustadt in 1578. He later served as rector at Moers
in 1581 before settling into a productive career as professor at the Herborn Academy
, from 1584 to 1625, where he was able to advance his Ramist pedagogy fully. He died at Herborn.
He left a multitude of text-books in philosophy, philology, and theology, of which Aphorismi doctrinæ christianæ (1596) was much used.
In 2010 Piscator's Appendix to his Commentary on Exodus 21 - 23 has been translated and published under the title of Disputations on the Judicial Laws of Moses.
, Piscator became a pronounced Arminian.
He was a prolific writer, and initially moved around as he held a number of positions. Some scholarly confusion as to whether there was more than one person of the name was addressed in a paper by Walter Ong.
Life
He was born at StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, and educated at the University of Tübingen. He became professor of theology at Strasbourg in 1573. Elector Frederick III
Frederick III, Elector Palatine
Frederick III of Simmern, the Pious, Elector Palatine of the Rhine was a ruler from the house of Wittelsbach, branch Palatinate-Simmern-Sponheim. He was a son of John II of Simmern and inherited the Palatinate from the childless Elector Otto-Henry, Elector Palatine in 1559...
experienced some resistance when he attempted to appoint him to the arts faculty at the University of Heidelberg in 1574, and Piscator eventually took a post at the preparatory Latin Paedagogium in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
.
After a confessional change in Heidelberg, he briefly served as deputy rector at the court school in Dillenburg
Dillenburg
Dillenburg is a town in Hesse's Gießen region in Germany. The town was formerly the seat of the old Dillkreis district, which is now part of the Lahn-Dill-Kreis....
in 1577 before being appointed professor of theology at the Casimirianum
Casimirianum
The Casimirianum is a gymnasium in Coburg, Bavaria. It was founded in 1605 by John Casimir, Duke of Saxe-Coburg .-Notable alumni:Famous alumni include:* Hans Berger , neuroscientist...
in Neustadt in 1578. He later served as rector at Moers
Moers
Moers is a German city on the left bank of the Rhine. Moers belongs to the district of Wesel...
in 1581 before settling into a productive career as professor at the Herborn Academy
Herborn Academy
The Herborn Academy was a German institution of higher learning very similar to a university in Herborn, which existed from 1584 to 1817...
, from 1584 to 1625, where he was able to advance his Ramist pedagogy fully. He died at Herborn.
Works
Piscator prepared Latin commentaries collectively of the New Testament (Herborn, 1595–1609) and the Old Testament (1612, 1618), and a German translation of the Bible (1605–19). He followed with Anhang des herbonischen biblischen Wercks (1610), noted for its wealth of archeological, historical, and theological material.He left a multitude of text-books in philosophy, philology, and theology, of which Aphorismi doctrinæ christianæ (1596) was much used.
In 2010 Piscator's Appendix to his Commentary on Exodus 21 - 23 has been translated and published under the title of Disputations on the Judicial Laws of Moses.
Theologian
His significance for theology was his opposition to the doctrine of the active obedience of Christ. "Whoever denies that Christ was subject to the law, denies that he was man." If the imputation of the active obedience were sufficient man would be free from obedience as well as from the curse. From being an advocate of supralapsarianism in the most extreme form, as in his controversy with Conrad VorstiusConrad Vorstius
Conrad Vorstius was a German-Dutch Protestant Remonstrant theologian, and successor to Jacobus Arminius in the theology chair at Leiden.-Early life:...
, Piscator became a pronounced Arminian.