Early Life and Education

Sixteen-year-old Martin served as a weaver's apprentice in 1538; he attended school in Magdeburg from 1539 - 1542, and attended the Universities of Frankfurt (1543 - 1544), Wittenberg (1545 - 1547) where he studied under Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon, and the University of Königsberg (1547 – 1548). He taught school at Calbe (1542 - 1543), Wrietzen an der Oder (1544 - 1545), and the Kneiphof School in Königsberg (1548–1549). Chemnitz served as castle librarian to Duke Albrecht of Prussia (1550 - 1552). It was during these years that his interest shifted from astrology, which he had studied in Magdeburg, to theology. Chemnitz moved to Wittenberg in 1553 as a guest of Melanchthon.

His Vocation as Reformer, Churchman, and Theologian

In January 1554 he joined the Wittenberg University faculty. He lectured on Melanchthon's Loci Communes from which lectures he compiled his own Loci Theologici, a system of theology. He was ordained into the office of the holy ministry on November 25, 1554 by Johannes Bugenhagen, and became co-adjutor of Joachim Mörlin, who was ecclesiastical superintendent for the city of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. When Mörlin resigned in 1567, Martin Chemnitz became his successor in a post he held for the rest of his life.

Through his leadership Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was won to Lutheranism. There he helped his prince, Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, establish the University of Helmstedt (1575 - 1576). With Jakob Andreä, David Chytraeus, Nicholas Selnecker, Andrew Musculus, et. al. Chemnitz took part in a centrist movement that brought about concord among the German Lutherans in the writing and publication of the Formula of Concord (1577), of which Chemnitz is one of the primary authors. He was instrumental in the publication of the definitive Book of Concord in 1580, the doctrinal standard of the Lutheran Church. Other major works are Examen Concilii Tridentini and De Duabis Naturis in Christo . These works demonstrate Martin Chemnitz's genius as a biblical, doctrinal, and historical theologian. His Examination remains unrefuted to this day in the view of many scholars,

Translation of the German entry

Source:

Martin Chemnitz (born, November 9, 1522 in Treuenbrietzen, Brandenburg Marches; died, April 8, 1586 in Braunschweig) was a Lutheran theologian. The son of a cloth maker, he had to break off the study of mathematics and astrology for financial reasons three times through choice of a school location. When he had to leave Königsberg — where he had devoted himself to theology in 1549—because of his partisanship against Andreas Osiander, he moved over to Wittenberg in 1553, became a pastor in 1554, and Superintendent in Braunschweig in 1567. His chief theological work is the Examen concilii Tridentini (1565-73), a critical analysis of the Council of Trent. He supplied a substantial contribution to the development of Lutheran Orthodoxy. In Königsberg he drew up the Corpus doctrinae Pruthenicum with Joachim Mörlin, in Wittenberg his Loci theologici , and in Braunschweig the Corpus doctrinae Julium in 1569; likewise he was involved in the drafting of the Formula of Concord.

Works

• Acta formulae concordiae in Bergensi coenobio prope Magdeburgum . 1707 with Nicholas Selnecker. (The deliberations of the writers of the Formula of Concord to finalize that document).
• Anatome Propositionum Alberti Hardenbergii de Coena Domini . 1561.
• Andächtige Gebete wider die Teuffel in den armen besessen Leuten . 1596.
• Eine andere Predigt von auffrichtung Christlicher Schulen . 1573.
• Apologia libri Christianae concordiae . with Timothy Kirchner, 1583. (known as The Apology of the Formula of Concord)
• An Autobiography of Martin Chemnitz. A.L. Graebner, trans. Theological Quarterly, vol. 3, no. 4 (1899).
• Bedencken der Theologen zu Braunschwiegk/von dem newen Wittenbergischen Catchismo gestallet/der gantzen Christenheit zur Warnung ausgengen . 1571. (This document helped Elector August of Saxony uncover a plot to undermine the Lutheran faith of his duchy on the part of Crypto-Calvinist ministers and teachers.)
• Bedencken: An justum sit, fures punire suspendie .
• Bedencken: Ob die Worte der Einsetzung notwendig müssen recitiret werden? .
• Bedencken von Beruff und Enterlaubung der Predigter .
• Bekäntnitz von der ubiquität . 1623. (A document that presents Chemnitz's position on the doctrine of the omnipresence of Christ's human nature)
• Bericht von Gelegenheit und Unterschiedt der Herzogstümer Schleswig und Holtzstein . 1629.
• Bericht vom newen Baptischen Gregoriano Calendario, an den Landgraffen zu Hessen . 1584. (Chemnitz had been trained as an astrologer, and he was consulted on the advisability of adopting the new 1582 Gregorian calendar in place of the old Julian calendar.)
• Christliches Bedenken auf Doct. Majors Repetitio und endliche Erklärung belangend den Streit . 1568.
• Consilium de vitandis Calvinianis . 1623.
• Confessio ministeri Saxoni Konfession und Erklärung . 1571. (Text in German).
• Consilium .. de lectione patrum . 1616.
• Corpus doctrinae Prutenicum . 1568. (An Anthology of Lutheran Statements of Faith
  
  
  
  for the German domain of Prussia)
• Corpus doctrinae Julium . 1576. (An Anthology of Lutheran Statements of Faith for Duke Julius's Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel).
• De coelibatu judicium . 1623.
• De incarnatione filii Dei item de officio et maiestate Christi tractus . 1865.
• De orgine Jeswitarum, et quo concilio secta illa recens instituta sit . 1611.
• Disputatio Theologica de Beneficiis Filii Dei, Domini, & Redemptoris nostri JESU CHRISTI, pro summis in Theologia honoribus consequendis habita . 1568 (A theological disputation qualifying someone for a doctorate in theology).
• Echt evangelische aulegung de Sonn- und Festtags-evangelien des kirchenjahrs . 1872-1878.
• Epistola de coena Domini in tertiam Apologiam Bezae .
• Epistolae Martini Chemnitii ad Matthiam Ritterum .
• Examination of the Council of Trent. Fred Kramer, trans. 4 vols. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971-86 (Originally published in 1565-73 as Examen Concilii Tridentini.)
• Harmoniae Evangelicae . 1593.
• Historia der Passion Christi . 1590.
• Judicium von der Nohtwehre . 1623.
• Judicium de Calendario Gregoriano .
• Judicium de Controversiis qvibusdam circa qvosdam A.C. articulos . 1594. Also known as: De Controversiis quibusdam, quae superiori tempore circa quosdam Augustanae Confessionis articulos motae agitatae sunt, Iudicium d. Martini Chemnitii, Polycarp Leyser, ed. Wittenberg, 1594.
• Kirchen-Ordnung, wie es mit Lehr und Ceremonien des Fürstenthums-Braunschweig . 1569.
• Leich-Pred., Herrn Victor Beseken, gewessen Bürgemeisters in Bremen 1612.
• Leich-Predigt, in funere Christoph von Blanckenburg, anno 1573 gethan . 1578.
• Loci Theologici. J. A. O. Preus, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989; Justification: The Chief Article of Christian Doctrine as Expoiunded in Loci Theologici. J.A.O Preus, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1985 (Originally published in 1591 as Loci Theologici.)
• The Lord's Prayer. Georg Williams, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999 (Originally published in English translation as A Svbstantial and godly exposition of the praier commonly called the Lords prayer. Cambridge, 1598; the original Latin text, never published, has been lost).
• The Lord's Supper. J. A. O. Preus, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1979. (Originally published in 1561 as Repititio sanae doctrinae de vera praesentia corporis et sangvinis Domini in Coena.)
• Martin Chemnitii einhändige Lebens-Beschreibung. Nebst denen ihm zu Braunschweig gesetzen Epitaphiis . 1719.
• Martini Kemnitinii Von der Jesuwiten ankunfft unnd ursprung . 1586.
• Ministry, Word, and Sacraments: An Enchiridion. Luther Poellot, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1981. (Originally published in 1593 and 1603 as Enchiridion D. Martini Chemnitii.)
• Monita Chemnitiana oder heilsame Erinnerungen ehmals von D. Martino Chemnitio bey solenner Einführung der Julius-Universität . 1716.
• Ob ein: Prediger am Ältare sich selbst communiciren möge . 1623.
• Oratio de Lectione Patrum, habita . 1554.
• Oratio habita in Introductione Universitatis Juliae . 1576
• Oratio panegyrica, das ist, Trost- und Ehren-Predigt bey des weyland .. M. Chemnitii .. Leichbestätigung . 1627.
• Postille, oder Erklärung der ordentlichen Sonn- und Fest-Tags Evangelien . 1594.
• Postilla: oder Auslegung der Euangelien welche auff die Sontage, auch die fürnembste Fest und Apostel Tage in der Gemeine Gottes abgelesen und erkläret werden . 1593.
• Predigt am Sonntag Septuagesima . 1866.
• Eine Predigt bey der Einführung der Julius-Universität zu Helmstedt . 1576.
• Eine Predigt über das Evangelion Matthew 22 . 1573.
• Ein Predigt .. über John 3:1-15 (über Luke 18:9-14) . 1856-1886.
• Prefatio Doctoris M. Chemnitij Heinrich Büting's Itineranium et Chronicon ecclesiasticum totius Sacrae Scriptureae . 1581.
• Richtige und inn H. Schrifft wolgegründte Erklarung / entlicher hochwichtiger und nötiger Artickel unser Christlichen Religion / in sonderliche Tractat und Predigten gefasset . 1592.
• Ein Schone vnnd richtige Form zu beichten . 1603.
• Solida ac vera Confessionis Augustanae historie .. with Timothy Kirchner and Nicholas Selnecker, 1585.
• Theologiæ Jesuitarum Brevis ac Nervosa Descriptio et Delineatio: Ex Præcipuis Capitibus Censuræ ipsorum, quæ Anno MDLX. Coloniæ edita est . 1560.
• Theses quaedam de unione duarum naturarum in Christo hypostatica: item de officiis et maiestate Christi Mediatoris . 1558.
• The Two Natures of Christ. J. A. O. Preus, trans. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971. (Originally published in 1561 as De Duabus Naturis in Christo: De hypostatica earum unione: De communicatione idiomaticum.)
• Tract. de Imagine DEI in homine . 1570.
• Veritas religionis Lutheranae defensa . (Text in German).
• Von der ewigen gnadenwahl . 1892.
• Wiederholte Christi gemeine Confession der Sächischen Kirchen .

Biographies and other related works

• Antiqvitates Ecclestiaticae inclytae urbiz Braunsvigae, oder: Der Beruhmten Stadt Braunschweig Kirchenhistorie. by Philippo Julio Rehtmeyer. Braunschweig: Gedruckt Verlagt von Christoph Friedrich Zilligers, 1710.
• Formulators of the Formula of Concord. by Theodore R. Jungkuntz. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1977.
• Grundlinien der Theolgie des Martin Chemnitz by G. Noth, 1930.
• Loci Theologici; De Coena Domini; De Duabus Naturis in Christo; Theologiae Jesuitarum. Chelsea, Michigan: Sheridan Books, 2000. .
• Martin Chemnitz nach seinem Leben und Wirken by H. Hachfeld, 1867.
• "Martin Chemnitz' Views on Trent: The Genesis and the Genius of the Examen Concilii Tridentini" by Arthur C. Piepkorn, Concordia Theological Monthly XXXVII (January 1966):5–37.
• Die Polemik des Martin Chemnitz gegen das Konzil von Trent by R. Mumm, Leipzig, 1905.
• The Second Martin: The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz. by J. A. O. Preus. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1994.
• "The Works of Martin Chemnitz," by D. Georg Williams. Concordia Theological Quarterly. Vol. 42, 1978.
• Der Zweite Martin der Lutherischen Kirche, Festschrift zum 400. Todestag von Martin Chemnitz The Second Martin of the Lutheran Church, Jubilee Writing for the 400th of Martin Chemnitz edited by W.A. Jünke, Braunschweig, 1986.

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopaedia. Martin Chemnitz