Girolamo Zanchi (Latin "Hieronymus Zanchius," thus Anglicized to "Jerome Zanchi/Zanchius"; February 2, 1516 – November 19, 1590) was an Italian Protestant Reformationclergyman and educator who influenced the development of Reformed theology during the years following John Calvin's death.[1]
He was born the son of a noble lawyer and historian, in Alzano Lombardo near Bergamo. His father died in the plague of 1528 and his mother died only three years later. At age 15 he entered the monastery of the Augustinian Order of Regular Canons, where he studied Aristotle, languages and divinity. After completing his studies, he went to Lucca, and there under the influence of Peter Martyr Vermigli he opted for a theological career, being especially impressed by Vermigli's lectures on Romans. In addition to works of the Fathers, he became aware of Martin Bucer and Philipp Melanchthon, also read Martin Luther's writings and the Swiss reformers. John Calvin, however, had the greatest influence on him.
Even after Vermigli’s forced flight in 1542, Zanchi remained as a teacher of Greek at the monastery school.[2] In 1551, however, he also was forced into exile. After a brief stay in Geneva, he wanted to go to England, but was called to Strasbourg and worked there as a professor of the Old Testament at the college of St. Thomas. His style is legalistic, and he interpreted with meticulous accuracy. In his overall theological orientation, he has been described as "a Calvinist in terms of theological content, and a Thomist in terms of philosophy and methodology."[3] He was one of the most learned theologians of the second half of the 16th Century, if he is not considered to be an especially original thinker. He was regarded an excellent teacher. He married a daughter of Caelius Secundus Curio.
The demand for Strasbourg faculty and pastors to commit themselves to the Augsburg Confession created difficulties for him. He had previously declined offers to move to Geneva and Lausanne because he was committed to Strasbourg. However, he could not remain after the controversy with the Lutheran superintendent Johann Marbach. Zanchi had described the differences in the doctrine of the Eucharist between the Lutheran and Reformed as being relatively minor and also taught a strict Calvinist doctrine of predestination. After receiving many consultations from theologians outside of Strasbourg, the disputing parties were able to reach an agreement in constructing a formula of unity (The Strasbourg Consensus) signed by all the city's preachers and professors.
When Calvin chided him for his equivocation, Zanchi went public with his views again causing the controversy to erupt anew. He consequently left from Strasbourg to become the pastor of the Italian Protestant congregation in the Graubünden in Chiavenna. In 1568 he received a call to the University of Heidelberg,[4] where he took over the chair of Dogmatics formerly occupied by Zacharias Ursinus. Here he wrote important works which tend to bear either an apologetic or polemical character. His method of presentation is quite scholastic. After the Electorate of the Palatinate returned to Lutheranism during the reign of Elector Ludwig VI, Zanchi moved with many other Reformed professors to the Casmirianum, a Reformed academy in Neustadt in the dominions of Count Palatine Johann Casimir. He died during a return visit to Heidelberg and was buried in the University Church.
Thought
Zanchius was a voluminous writer whose works include Confession of the Christian Religion and Observation on the Divine Attributes. His The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination is still in publication today. His Operum theologicorum has also been extremely influential. One chapter from this work has been called "the Protestant equivalent of Aquinas'sTreatise on Law,"[5] and has recently been translated into English and published as On the Law in General (2012). In this work, Zanchius repeatedly references natural law, arguing that its authority is equal to that of the Decalogue: "Because the Decalogue defines and describes the same things that are called natural law, the Ten Commandments themselves are often called 'natural law.'. . . It must be mentioned that just as Christ is the fulfillment of the entire Mosaic law, so, too, is he the fulfillment of natural law because, as human beings are convicted of sin through the law, they flee to Christ for forgiveness."[6] While his debt to Aquinas is evident throughout the Operum theologicorum, he parts with Aquinas's conception of natural law due to disagreement in interpreting Romans 2:14-15. Zanchi argues that natural law should be seen as moral knowledge that God has universally and directly “reinscribed” on the human mind after the Fall, rather than as a "relic of the original image of God” or some “essential part of human nature."[7]
Epitaph
The following is a translation of the inscription on the headstone of Zanchius' grave:
Here Zanchius rests, whom love of truth constrained to quit his own and seek a foreign land. How good and great he was, how formed to shine, How fraught with science human and divine; Sufficient proof his numerous writings give, And those who heard him teach and saw him live. Earth still enjoys him, though his soul has fled: His name is deathless, though his dust is dead.
References
^Girolamo Zanchi, On the Law in General. CLP Academic, 2012, pxix.
^Girolamo Zanchi, On the Law in General. CLP Academic, 2012, p.xxiii.
^Girolamo Zanchi, On the Law in General. CLP Academic, 2012, p.xxii.
^Farthing, John L (2007). "Zanchi, Jerome". In McKim, Donald K (ed.). Dictionary of major biblical interpreters (2nd ed.). Downers Grove, Il: IVP Academic. pp. 1076–80. ISBN978-0-83082927-9.
^Girolamo Zanchi, On the Law in General 2017-07-06 at the Wayback Machine. CLP Academic, 2012, p.xxv.
^Girolamo Zanchi, On the Law in General. CLP Academic, 2012, pp.24-25.
^Girolamo Zanchi, On the Law in General. CLP Academic, 2012, p.17.
Burchill, Christopher J. “Girolamo Zanchi: Portrait of a Reformed Theologian and his Work.” Sixteenth Century Journal 15 (1984): 185–205.
Burnett, Amy Nelson. "Simon Sulzer and the Consequences of the 1563 Strasbourg Consensus in Switzerland," Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte, 88 (1992): 154–79
Cuno (1898), "Zanchius, Hieronymus", Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB) (in German), vol. 44, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, pp. 679–683
Kittelson, James. “Marbach vs. Zanchi: the Resolution of Controversy in Later Reformation Strasbourg.” Sixteenth Century Journal 7 (1977): 31–44.
Lindholm, Stefan. 2016. Jerome Zanchi (1516-90) and the Analysis of Reformed Scholastic Christology. (Reformed Historical Theology, 37.) V & R Academic.
Erich Wenneker (1998). "Girolamo Zanchi". In Bautz, Traugott (ed.). Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL) (in German). Vol. 14. Herzberg: Bautz. ISBN3-88309-073-5.
Zanchi, Girolamo. . CLP Academic, 2012.
Zanchius, Jerom. "The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination" translated by Augustus M. Toplady. Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, 1977. ISBN0-8010-9927-7.
Zanchi, Girolamo. "The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and the Church and Every One of the Faithful" translated and introduced by Patrick J. O'Banion. Reformation Heritage Books, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, 2021 ISBN9781601789044
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Girolamo Zanchi Latin Hieronymus Zanchius thus Anglicized to Jerome Zanchi Zanchius February 2 1516 November 19 1590 was an Italian Protestant Reformation clergyman and educator who influenced the development of Reformed theology during the years following John Calvin s death 1 Portrait by Hendrik Hondius I Contents 1 Life 2 Thought 3 Epitaph 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife EditHe was born the son of a noble lawyer and historian in Alzano Lombardo near Bergamo His father died in the plague of 1528 and his mother died only three years later At age 15 he entered the monastery of the Augustinian Order of Regular Canons where he studied Aristotle languages and divinity After completing his studies he went to Lucca and there under the influence of Peter Martyr Vermigli he opted for a theological career being especially impressed by Vermigli s lectures on Romans In addition to works of the Fathers he became aware of Martin Bucer and Philipp Melanchthon also read Martin Luther s writings and the Swiss reformers John Calvin however had the greatest influence on him Even after Vermigli s forced flight in 1542 Zanchi remained as a teacher of Greek at the monastery school 2 In 1551 however he also was forced into exile After a brief stay in Geneva he wanted to go to England but was called to Strasbourg and worked there as a professor of the Old Testament at the college of St Thomas His style is legalistic and he interpreted with meticulous accuracy In his overall theological orientation he has been described as a Calvinist in terms of theological content and a Thomist in terms of philosophy and methodology 3 He was one of the most learned theologians of the second half of the 16th Century if he is not considered to be an especially original thinker He was regarded an excellent teacher He married a daughter of Caelius Secundus Curio The demand for Strasbourg faculty and pastors to commit themselves to the Augsburg Confession created difficulties for him He had previously declined offers to move to Geneva and Lausanne because he was committed to Strasbourg However he could not remain after the controversy with the Lutheran superintendent Johann Marbach Zanchi had described the differences in the doctrine of the Eucharist between the Lutheran and Reformed as being relatively minor and also taught a strict Calvinist doctrine of predestination After receiving many consultations from theologians outside of Strasbourg the disputing parties were able to reach an agreement in constructing a formula of unity The Strasbourg Consensus signed by all the city s preachers and professors When Calvin chided him for his equivocation Zanchi went public with his views again causing the controversy to erupt anew He consequently left from Strasbourg to become the pastor of the Italian Protestant congregation in the Graubunden in Chiavenna In 1568 he received a call to the University of Heidelberg 4 where he took over the chair of Dogmatics formerly occupied by Zacharias Ursinus Here he wrote important works which tend to bear either an apologetic or polemical character His method of presentation is quite scholastic After the Electorate of the Palatinate returned to Lutheranism during the reign of Elector Ludwig VI Zanchi moved with many other Reformed professors to the Casmirianum a Reformed academy in Neustadt in the dominions of Count Palatine Johann Casimir He died during a return visit to Heidelberg and was buried in the University Church Thought EditZanchius was a voluminous writer whose works include Confession of the Christian Religion and Observation on the Divine Attributes His The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination is still in publication today His Operum theologicorum has also been extremely influential One chapter from this work has been called the Protestant equivalent of Aquinas s Treatise on Law 5 and has recently been translated into English and published as On the Law in General 2012 In this work Zanchius repeatedly references natural law arguing that its authority is equal to that of the Decalogue Because the Decalogue defines and describes the same things that are called natural law the Ten Commandments themselves are often called natural law It must be mentioned that just as Christ is the fulfillment of the entire Mosaic law so too is he the fulfillment of natural law because as human beings are convicted of sin through the law they flee to Christ for forgiveness 6 While his debt to Aquinas is evident throughout the Operum theologicorum he parts with Aquinas s conception of natural law due to disagreement in interpreting Romans 2 14 15 Zanchi argues that natural law should be seen as moral knowledge that God has universally and directly reinscribed on the human mind after the Fall rather than as a relic of the original image of God or some essential part of human nature 7 Epitaph EditThe following is a translation of the inscription on the headstone of Zanchius grave Here Zanchius rests whom love of truth constrained to quit his own and seek a foreign land How good and great he was how formed to shine How fraught with science human and divine Sufficient proof his numerous writings give And those who heard him teach and saw him live Earth still enjoys him though his soul has fled His name is deathless though his dust is dead References Edit Girolamo Zanchi On the Law in General CLP Academic 2012 pxix Girolamo Zanchi On the Law in General CLP Academic 2012 p xxiii Girolamo Zanchi On the Law in General CLP Academic 2012 p xxii Farthing John L 2007 Zanchi Jerome In McKim Donald K ed Dictionary of major biblical interpreters 2nd ed Downers Grove Il IVP Academic pp 1076 80 ISBN 978 0 83082927 9 Girolamo Zanchi On the Law in General Archived 2017 07 06 at the Wayback Machine CLP Academic 2012 p xxv Girolamo Zanchi On the Law in General CLP Academic 2012 pp 24 25 Girolamo Zanchi On the Law in General CLP Academic 2012 p 17 Further reading EditTheologische Realenzyklopadie volume 36 pp 482 85 Burchill Christopher J Girolamo Zanchi Portrait of a Reformed Theologian and his Work Sixteenth Century Journal 15 1984 185 205 Burnett Amy Nelson Simon Sulzer and the Consequences of the 1563 Strasbourg Consensus in Switzerland Archiv fur Reformationsgeschichte 88 1992 154 79 Cuno 1898 Zanchius Hieronymus Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie ADB in German vol 44 Leipzig Duncker amp Humblot pp 679 683 Kittelson James Marbach vs Zanchi the Resolution of Controversy in Later Reformation Strasbourg Sixteenth Century Journal 7 1977 31 44 Lindholm Stefan 2016 Jerome Zanchi 1516 90 and the Analysis of Reformed Scholastic Christology Reformed Historical Theology 37 V amp R Academic Erich Wenneker 1998 Girolamo Zanchi In Bautz Traugott ed Biographisch Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon BBKL in German Vol 14 Herzberg Bautz ISBN 3 88309 073 5 Zanchi Girolamo On the Law in General CLP Academic 2012 Zanchius Jerom The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination translated by Augustus M Toplady Baker Book House Grand Rapids Michigan USA 1977 ISBN 0 8010 9927 7 Zanchi Girolamo The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and the Church and Every One of the Faithful translated and introduced by Patrick J O Banion Reformation Heritage Books Grand Rapids Michigan USA 2021 ISBN 9781601789044External links EditWorks by Girolamo Zanchi at Post Reformation Digital Library Zanchi s De Tribus Elohim English translation Wenden House Project Girolamo Zanchi 1516 1590 Confession of the Christian Religion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Girolamo Zanchi amp oldid 1125344331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
