Franciscus
Gomarus
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Born
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30 January 1563 |
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Died
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11 January 1641 (aged 77)
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Theological
work
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Franciscus Gomarus
(François Gomaer; 30 January 1563, Bruges – 11
January 1641, Groningen) was a Dutch theologian, a
strict Calvinist
and an opponent of the teaching of Jacobus
Arminius (and his followers), whose theological disputes were addressed at
the Synod of Dort (or Dordrecht) (1618–19).
Life
His
parents, having embraced the principles of the Reformation, emigrated from Bruges to the Electorate of the Palatinate in 1578,
in order to enjoy freedom to profess their new faith, and they sent their son
to be educated at Strasbourg under Johann
Sturm. He remained there three years, and then went in 1580 to Neustadt, from which the professors of Heidelberg had been driven
by the elector-palatine because they were not Lutherans.
Here his teachers in theology were Zacharius
Ursinus (1534–83), Hieronymus Zanchius (1560–90), and Daniel
Tossanus (1541–1602). Crossing to England towards
the end of 1582, he attended the lectures of John
Rainolds (1549–1607) at Oxford, and those of William Whitaker at Cambridge.
He graduated from Cambridge in 1584, and then went to Heidelberg, where the faculty had been re-established by this
time. He was pastor
of a Dutch Reformed Church in Frankfurt
from 1587 until 1593, when the congregation was dispersed by persecution.
In 1594 he was appointed professor of theology at
the University of Leiden, and before going there
received the degree
of doctor from the University of Heidelberg.
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Franciscus
Gomarus
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Theology
Gomarus
taught quietly at Leiden until 1603, when Jacobus
Arminius came to be one of his colleagues in the theological faculty, and
began to teach what Gomarus viewed as essentially Pelagian
doctrines and to create a new school of theology within the university. Gomarus
immediately set himself earnestly to oppose these beliefs in his classes at
college, and was supported by Johann B. Bogermann (1570–1637), who afterwards
became professor of theology at Franeker. Arminius sought to make election dependent upon
faith, whilst they sought to enforce absolute predestination
as the rule of faith, according to which the whole Scriptures are to be
interpreted. Gomarus then became the leader of the opponents of Arminius, who
came to be known as Gomarists (Dutch: contra-remonstranten).
He
engaged twice in personal disputation with Arminius in the assembly of the States
of Holland in 1608, and was one of five Gomarists who met five Arminians or
Remonstrants in the same assembly of 1609. On the death of Arminius shortly
after this time, Konrad Vorstius, who sympathized with Arminius's
views, was appointed to succeed him, in spite of the opposition of Gomarus and
his friends. Gomarus took this defeat badly, resigned his post, and went to Middelburg
in 1611, where he became preacher at the Reformed church, and taught theology
and Hebrew in the newly founded Illustre Schule.
He
was then called in 1614 to a chair of theology at the Academy
of Saumur, where he remained four years, and then accepted a call as
professor of theology and Hebrew at Groningen,
where he stayed until his death on 11 January 1641. Gomarus, despite his
position as a professor of Hebrew, urged that restrictions be placed on the
Jews.
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| Synod of Dort |
Synod
of Dort
Gomarus
took a leading part in the Synod of Dort (or Dordrecht), assembled in 1618 to
judge of the doctrines of Arminius. He was a man of ability, enthusiasm and
learning, a considerable Oriental scholar, and also a keen controversialist. He
took part in revising the Dutch translation of the Old
Testament in 1633. After his death, the Lyra Davidis was published,
in which he sought to explain the principles of Hebrew metre, and which created
some controversy at the time, having been opposed by Louis
Cappel. His works were collected and published in a one volume folio, in
Amsterdam in 1645. He was succeeded at Groningen in 1643 by his pupil Samuel
Maresius (1599–1673).
OTHER
LINKS:
- Works by Franciscus Gomarus at Post-Reformation Digital Library
- Treatise, "Of God's Predestination" in English translation.
- Article on his life, ministry and controversy with Arminius.
- Treatise, "An Examination of the Controversy Regarding Christ's Genealogy in the original Latin.
- "David's Harp," a work on the poetical portions of Old Testament Scripture, in the original Latin. An alternative copy is also available.
- Accoort Vande Recht-sinnige Leere der Voorsienicheyt Gods (in Dutch)
God's
Predestination - by Franciscus Gomarus (1563-1641)
Calvinistic Articles on the Christian Faith
Calvinistic Articles on the Christian Faith
Francis
Gomarus and the Synod of Dordt
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