The Probert Encyclopaedia of People

JACOBUS ARMINIUS

Jacobus Arminius (Jacob Harmensen) was a Dutch theologian. He was born in 1560 at Oderwater and died in 1609 following persecution by the clergy. He was the founder of the sect of Arminians or Remonstrants. He studied at Utrecht, in the University of Leyden, and at Geneva, where his chief preceptor in theology was Theodore Beza. On his return to Holland he was appointed minister of one of the churches in Amsterdam, and chosen to undertake the refutation of a work which strongly controverted Beza's doctrine of predestination; but he happened to be convinced by the work which he had undertaken to refute. Elected in 1603 professor of divinity at Leyden, he openly declared his opinions, and was involved in harassing controversies, especially with his fellow professor Gomarus. These contests, with the continual attacks on his reputation, at length impaired his health and brought on a complicated disease, of which he died.
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