Jacobus Arminius

See also: Arminius

Jacobus Arminius (towards 1560 - October 19th 1609) (Latinized name of Jacob Hermans or Jacob Harmensen ) theologist protesting Dutch is a . He was Minister for the reformed Church Dutch recognized by the State.

Its life

Jacobus Arminius was born in 1559 or 1560, with Oudewater. At the time of his birth, his/her father, who was manufacturer of weapons, was already deceased. The child was raised by Theodorus Aemilius, a priest who leant for Protestantism. Towards 1572 (the year when Oudewater was conquered by revolted), Arminius settled with Utrecht with Aemilius and it made its studies there, probably with the Hieronymusschool. After the death of Aemilius (1574 or 1575), Arminius also entered in relation to the mathematician Rudolphus Snellius, come him from Oudewater, which made it study with Marbourg, where he was professor with the university. In 1576, Arminius was made record as a student in Liberal arts and theology with the Université of Leyde which had just been open. During its studies, it was pointed out so much that it obtained to a purse of the Guilde merchants of Amsterdam to go to study then with Geneva, where it followed the courses of the successor of Calvin, Theodore de Bèze. Its stay with Geneva finished, it travelled in 1586 to Italy. In 1587, it was destined for Amsterdam as preacher.

In 1588, Arminius was ordered as preacher of the Vieille Church and, in 1590, he married in Amsterdam Elisabeth Reael (1569-1648). As from 1591, it was attacked by his colleague Petrus Plancius, owing to the fact that it interpreted too freely the Prédestination. In 1593, their quarrel calmed down.

In 1603, Arminius became professor with the faculty of theology of Leyde. His/her colleague with faculty, Franciscus Gomarus, protested highly against this nomination and, in 1604, the other professors entered the quarrel. The debate related to predestination. For Gomarus, it is at the beginning of the Création that it had been established which would be damné and which would be saved, which Arminius did not admit. Plancius, a preacher of Amsterdam entered in string, fascinating party for Gomarus. Soon the religious dissension was transformed into political struggle on a country scale. In 1607, one created a commission to regulate the conflict, but it is only in 1618, during the Synode of Dordrecht, which one decided that the doctrines of Gomarus would be that of the reformed Church.

Its doctrines

Founder of the concept of Arminianisme which will bring to the foundation of the Fraternité remonstrante, it claims, against the doctrines of Calvin on the predestination, which the determination of the destiny of the man by God is not absolute. The acceptance or the refusal of the grace by the man plays also his part in the justification.

It defends the Libre examination like superior with the doctrines of the established Churches. In that, it shows a precursor of the theological Libéralisme. Initially named arminiens , its partisans submitted a Remonstrance to the governments and the assemblies of Plank and Holland in order to obtain more tolerance in their connection, in particular on behalf of the gomarists (of the name of François Gomar). From where the name of Remonstrants .