Franciscus Gomarus

Franciscus Gomarus, born January 30, 1563 in Bruges, died 1641, was a Dutch theologian, a strict Calvinist and opponent of the teaching of James Arminius (and his followers) which was formally judged at the Synod of Dordrecht (1618-1619).

Theology

He taught quietly at Leiden until 1603, when Jacobus Arminius came to be one of his colleagues in the theological faculty, and began to teach Pelagian doctrines and to create a new party in the university. Gomarus immediately set himself earnestly to oppose these views 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 (J. A. Dorner, History of Protestant Theology, i. p. 417). Gomarus then became the leader of the opponents of Arminius, who from that circumstance came to be known as Gomarists (dutch: contra-remonstranten). He engaged twice in personal disputation with Arminius in the assembly of the estates 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 (1569-1622), who sympathized with his views, was appointed to succeed him, in spite of the keen opposition of Gomarus and his friends; and Gomarus took his defeat so ill that he resigned his post, and went to Middleburg in 1611, where he became preacher at the Reformed church, and taught theology and Hebrew in the newly founded Illustre Schule. From this place he was called in 1614 to a chair of theology at Saumur, where he remained four years, and then accepted a call as professor of theology and Hebrew to Groningen where he stayed till his death on the 11th of January 1641.

Related Topics:
Jacobus Arminius - Pelagian - New party - Johann B. Bogermann - Predestination - Gomarist - 1608 - 1609 - Konrad Vorstius - 1569 - 1622 - 1611 - 1614 - Saumur - Groningen - 1641

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