Theodore Beza

Theodore Beza (Theodore de Beze or de Besze) (June 24, 1519 - October 13, 1605) was a French Protestant Christian theologian and scholar who played an important role in the early Reformation. He was closely associated with Calvinism. He lived most of his adult life in Switzerland.

Teacher at Lausanne

He was heartily received by John Calvin, who had

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met him already in Wolmar's house, and was at

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once publicly and solemnly married in the church.

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Beza was at a loss for immediate occupation, so

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he went to Tübingen to see his former teacher

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Wolmar. On his way home he visited Viret

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at Lausanne, who at once detained

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him and brought about his appointment

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as professor of Greek at the

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academy there (Nov., 1549).

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In spite

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of the arduous work which fell to his lot, Beza

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found time to write a Biblical drama, Abraham

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Sacrifiant (published at Geneva, 1550; Eng.

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transl. by Arthur Golding, London, 1577, ed.,

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with introduction, notes, and the French text of

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the original, M. W. Wallace, Toronto, 1906), in

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which he contrasted Catholicism with

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Protestantism, and the work was well received. In June,

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1551, he added a few psalms to the French version

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of the Psalms begun by Marot, which was also very

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successful.

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About the same time he published his

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Passavantius, a satire directed against Pierre Lizet of

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ill repute, formerly president of the Parliament of

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Paris, and principal originator of the "fiery chamber"

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(chambre ardente), who, being at the time

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(1551) abbot of St. Victor near Paris, was eager

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to acquire the fame of a subduer of heresy by

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publishing a number of polemical writings.

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Of a more

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serious character were two controversies in which

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Beza was involved at this time. The first

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concerned the doctrine of predestination and the

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controversy of Calvin with Jerome Hermes Bolsec.

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The second referred

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to the burning of Michael Servetus at

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Geneva Oct. 27, 1553. In defense of Calvin and

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the Genevan magistrates, Beza published in 1554

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the work De haereticis a civili magistratu puniendis

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(translated into French in 1560).

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