Johannes Maccovius
Encyclopedia
Johannes Maccovius also known as Jan Makowski, was a Polish
Reformed theologian. The first of his three wives was Antje van Uylenburgh, a sister of painter Rembrandt's wife Saskia van Uylenburgh, who, around the time she and Rembrandt married in 1634, helped him out after Antje's death.
After visiting various universities (in 1607 in Danzig, in 1610 in Marburg, 1611 in Heidelberg) and as the tutor of young Polish nobles, holding disputations with Jesuits and Socinians, Maccovius entered into the University of Franeker
in 1613. There he became privat-docent in 1614 and professor of theology in 1615. In later years, the fame of Maccovius attracted many students to Franeker.
Theologically, Maccovius was a Calvinist, of the supralapsarian school, and possessed theses of a corresponding nature, defended in 1616 by one of his pupils, involved him in a controversy with his colleague Sibrandus Lubbartus which was settled only by the Synod of Dort
in 1619. The synod, while neither approving or condemning his supralapsarianism, acquitted Maccovius of the charges of heresy
brought against him, but advised him to be more cautious and peaceable.
Nevertheless, he became involved in another controversy at Dort with his subsequent colleague William Ames
by asserting that all things that must be believed are not necessarily true, that no impulse toward regeneration and effecting it exists in the unregenerate, and that Christ is the object of faith because of whom, but not in whom, man must believe.
Maccovius' theory of Scripture was very free, and he distinguished sharply between scholarship and beliefs essential to salvation.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Reformed theologian. The first of his three wives was Antje van Uylenburgh, a sister of painter Rembrandt's wife Saskia van Uylenburgh, who, around the time she and Rembrandt married in 1634, helped him out after Antje's death.
After visiting various universities (in 1607 in Danzig, in 1610 in Marburg, 1611 in Heidelberg) and as the tutor of young Polish nobles, holding disputations with Jesuits and Socinians, Maccovius entered into 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....
in 1613. There he became privat-docent in 1614 and professor of theology in 1615. In later years, the fame of Maccovius attracted many students to Franeker.
Theologically, Maccovius was a Calvinist, of the supralapsarian school, and possessed theses of a corresponding nature, defended in 1616 by one of his pupils, involved him in a controversy with his colleague Sibrandus Lubbartus which was settled only by the Synod of Dort
Synod of Dort
The Synod of Dort was a National Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618-1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy initiated by the rise of Arminianism. The first meeting was on November 13, 1618, and the final meeting, the 154th, was on May 9, 1619...
in 1619. The synod, while neither approving or condemning his supralapsarianism, acquitted Maccovius of the charges of heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
brought against him, but advised him to be more cautious and peaceable.
Nevertheless, he became involved in another controversy at Dort with his subsequent colleague William Ames
William Ames
William Ames was an English Protestant divine, philosopher, and controversialist...
by asserting that all things that must be believed are not necessarily true, that no impulse toward regeneration and effecting it exists in the unregenerate, and that Christ is the object of faith because of whom, but not in whom, man must believe.
Maccovius' theory of Scripture was very free, and he distinguished sharply between scholarship and beliefs essential to salvation.
Chief Works
- Collegia theologica. Amsterdam, 1623.
- Maccovius redivivus sive manuscripta euis typis exscripta. Franeker, 1647, published posthumously.
- Loci communes theologici. Franeker, 1650.
- Distinctiones et regulae theologicae ac philosophicae" Franeker 1652, 1656
- Opuscula philosophica" Amsterdam 1660
Further reading
- A. Kuyper, Jr., Johannes Maccovius, Leyden, 1899.
- E. L. Briemoet, Athenarum Frisiacarum libri, pp. 151-160, Leeuwarden, 1758.
- J. Heringa Ez, in Archief voor Kerkelijke Geschiedenis, 1831, iii. 503-564.
- W. B. S. Boeles, Frieslands Hoogeschool en het Rijks Athenarum te Franeker, ii. 90-94, Leeuwarden, 1889.