Johann Peter Spaeth
Encyclopedia
Johann Peter Spaeth, Moses Germanus or Moses Ashkenazi (1st half of the 17th century, Vienna
– April 27, 1701, Amsterdam
) was a German convert
to Judaism
and writer on religion.
. He was a pious Roman Catholic, and confided his son Peter to the Jesuits for his education. Peter later went to Vienna
and earned his living as a private tutor. Becoming dissatisfied with Catholic dogma, he embraced Lutheranism
(1680). On that occasion he wrote his first work: "Εκιαγραφια, Theologico-Philosophico Ænigmatica". The work found much favor with M. Spitzel, head of the board of theological studies at Augsburg, who recommended Spaeth to many influential personages in Strassburg and afterward to others in Frankfort-on-the-Main.
In 1683 Spaeth returned to Catholicism, which he defended and praised in a work entitled Judicium Amoris de Fundamentalibus Quibusdam, Qui Feruntur Erroribus Ecclesiæ Romanæ. But this reconciliation did not last. New doubts assailed his mind; and after having mingled with the members of certain dissident
sects, such as the Socinians and Mennonite
s, and after having taken up the study of Hebrew literature
and the cabalistic writings, he renounced Christianity and vehemently attacked it. Even the Sermon on the Mount
, as requiring an impossible ideality, did not escape his criticism. As for the Christian writings other than the New Testament
, he held that until Constantine I
founded Christianity they were all drawn from Jewish tradition.
to Judaism, and that his conversion
was brought about, as he himself relates, through the following incident: Once a crucifix dropped from his pocket, and it was picked up by a Jew, who said: "It is Israel
, the man of sorrow!" Says Spaeth:
Spaeth became converted at Cleves, taking the name Moses Germanus.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
– April 27, 1701, 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...
) was a German convert
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
and writer on religion.
Lutheran convert
Amid rumors of impending war, his father, a poor shoemaker, sought refuge between 1642 and 1645 at AugsburgAugsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
. He was a pious Roman Catholic, and confided his son Peter to the Jesuits for his education. Peter later went to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and earned his living as a private tutor. Becoming dissatisfied with Catholic dogma, he embraced Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism 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...
(1680). On that occasion he wrote his first work: "Εκιαγραφια, Theologico-Philosophico Ænigmatica". The work found much favor with M. Spitzel, head of the board of theological studies at Augsburg, who recommended Spaeth to many influential personages in Strassburg and afterward to others in Frankfort-on-the-Main.
In 1683 Spaeth returned to Catholicism, which he defended and praised in a work entitled Judicium Amoris de Fundamentalibus Quibusdam, Qui Feruntur Erroribus Ecclesiæ Romanæ. But this reconciliation did not last. New doubts assailed his mind; and after having mingled with the members of certain dissident
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
sects, such as the Socinians and Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
s, and after having taken up the study of Hebrew literature
Hebrew literature
Hebrew literature consists of ancient, medieval, and modern writings in the Hebrew language. It is one of the primary forms of Jewish literature, though there have been cases of literature written in Hebrew by non-Jews...
and the cabalistic writings, he renounced Christianity and vehemently attacked it. Even the Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
, as requiring an impossible ideality, did not escape his criticism. As for the Christian writings other than the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, he held that until Constantine I
Constantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
founded Christianity they were all drawn from Jewish tradition.
Convert to Judaism
It seems that Spaeth did not intend to become a proselyteProselyte
The biblical term "Proselyte", derives from the Koine Greek προσήλυτος/proselytos, as used in the Septuagint for "stranger", i.e. a "newcomer to Israel"; a "sojourner in the land", and in the New Testament for a convert to Judaism from Paganism...
to Judaism, and that his conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
was brought about, as he himself relates, through the following incident: Once a crucifix dropped from his pocket, and it was picked up by a Jew, who said: "It is Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the man of sorrow!" Says Spaeth:
Spaeth became converted at Cleves, taking the name Moses Germanus.
Literary works
Besides the above-mentioned works, Moses published the following:- A translationTranslationTranslation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
of Judah ha-Levi's poem "Mi Kamoka" into LatinLatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, with an introduction in Spanish; - "Geistiger Dreieckiger Spiegel der Lehre von dem Weiblichen Geschlechte" ;
- "Epistolæ ad Vindicandum Judaismum" (published by WachterWachterWachter or Wächter or Waechter is a surname, and may refer to:* Anita Wachter , Austrian professional alpine skier* Doug Waechter , Major League Baseball pitcher* Eberhard Waechter * Eberhard Wächter...
in his "Der Spinozismus in Jüdenthumb") ; - "A Groote Hosianna der Joden, te Verwellkommenden Messias" ;
- "Maran Ata", a Jewish Christian mystical writing ;
- "JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
Christi Ehre und Lebre, Gerettet Wider Alle Christen" ; - "Solus ex Judæis Contra Spinosam" ;
- "De Ortu et Progressu Medicinæ per Judæos Diatribe" ;