Justus Jonas

Justus Jonas (5 June 1493 – 9 October 1555) was a German Lutheran theologian and reformer. He was a Jurist, Professor and Hymn writer. He is best known for his translations of the writings of Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon. He accompanied Martin Luther in his final moments.

Jonas was born at Nordhausen in present-day Thuringia where he was the son of the burgermeister. His birth name was Jodokus (Jobst) Koch, which he changed according to the common custom of German scholars in the sixteenth century, when at the University of Erfurt. He entered that university in 1506, studied law and the humanities, and became Master of Arts in 1510. In 1511 he went to University of Wittenberg, where he took his bachelor's degree in law. He returned to Erfurt in Thuringia during 1514 or 1515 was ordained priest

In 1518, he was appointed Canon of St. Severus Church (Severikirche) in Erfurt which was a collegiate church. In 1519, he became Rector of the University of Erfurt. In 1521, he was appointed Probst of All Saints' Church (Schlosskirche) at Wittenberg and Professor of Church Law in the University of Wittenberg. From 1541 to 1546, he served as superintendent and chief pastor at Halle.

His great admiration for Erasmus first led him to Greek, Hebrew and Biblical studies, and his election in May 1519 as rector of the university was regarded as a triumph for the partisans of the New Learning. It was not, however, until after the Leipzig Disputation with Johann Eck that Martin Luther won his allegiance. He accompanied Luther to the Diet of Worms in 1521, and there was appointed professor of canon law at Wittenberg.

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