# Andreas Hyperius

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{{Short description|Protestant theologian and reformer (1511-1564)}}thumb|right|Andreas Hyperius
'''Andreas Gerhard Hyperius''' (1511–1564), real name Andreas Gheeraerdts, was a Protestant theologian and [Protestant reformer](/source/Protestant_reformer). He was [Flemish](/source/Flanders), born at [Ypres](/source/Ypres), which is signified by the name 'Hyperius'.

==Life==

He had a humanist education, and studied at [Tournai](/source/Tournai) and Paris.<ref name = SH>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc05/Page_432.html |title = Philip Schaff: Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia Vol. : 0448=432 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library}}</ref> He was resident in England from 1536 to 1540, and in 1542 was appointed professor of theology at [Marburg](/source/Marburg).<ref>Heinrich F. Plett, ''Rhetoric and Renaissance Culture'' (2004), p. 27.</ref>

==Work==
Hyperius's theology lies between [Lutheran](/source/Lutheran) and Reformed beliefs. Influenced by [Martin Bucer](/source/Martin_Bucer), he was not a strict Lutheran.<ref name = SH/> [Jean Calvin](/source/Jean_Calvin) endorsed his erudition.<ref>Christopher Mattinson Dent, ''Protestant Reformers in Elizabethan Oxford'' (1983), p. 90.</ref>  His work ''De formandis concionibus sacris'' (On the Making of Sacred Discourses) was the first Protestant text solely devoted to systematic homiletics, that is, to [preaching](/source/preaching) considered as a branch of [rhetoric](/source/rhetoric).<ref>Larissa Taylor, ''Preachers and People in the Reformations and Early Modern Period'' (2001), p. 51.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.mtio.com/articles/bissar30.htm |title=The Contribution of the Reformation to Preaching - by Carl C. Fickenscher II |access-date= 2008-11-06 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120213174128/http://www.mtio.com/articles/bissar30.htm |archive-date= 2012-02-13 |url-status= dead}}</ref>  The ''Methodus theologiae'' is a selection from, and method for reading, the [Church Fathers](/source/Church_Fathers).<ref>Irena Backus, ''Historical Method and Confessional Identity in the Era of the Reformation (1378–1615)'' (2003), pp. 197–203.</ref> 

In his overall approach, Hyperius sought a firm basis in the Bible, rigidly, and held that before practical theology can be put in force, it must be made a part of systematic theological study, and must not be taught fragmentarily. Demanding an immense amount of preliminary reading on the part of the student, covering all practical theology except missions, he held that such reading would involve preparation for the practical work of the ministry. All must be squared with the Bible, or, where the Bible did not contain specific data, with the commandments of love for God and one's neighbor.

In addition, he urged the preparation of a work on church government, including the data of the New Testament, relevant portions of church history, excerpts from the councils, papal decrees, Church Fathers, and works on dogmatics, liturgics, and related materials.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc09/htm/iv.iii.lxxii.htm | title=Power, Frederick Dunglison}}</ref>

His English translator, John Ludham (vicar of [Wethersfield, Essex](/source/Wethersfield%2C_Essex), 1570–1613),<ref>A. Hessayon and N. Keene, ''Scripture and Scholarship in Early Modern England'' (Ashgate Publishing, 2006), [https://books.google.com/books?id=P0bObTmMazAC&pg=PA63 p. 63].</ref> published the ''De formandis'' as ''The Practise of Preaching, otherwise called the Pathway to the Pulpet'' (London 1577).<ref>Andreas Hyperius, ''The practise of preaching, otherwise called the Pathway to the pulpet: conteyning an excellent method how to frame divine sermons, & to interpret the holy Scriptures according to the capacitie of the vulgar people. First written in Latin by the learned pastor of Christes Church, D. Andreas Hyperius: and now lately (to the profit of the same Church) Englished by Iohn Ludham, vicar of Wethersfeld'' (Thomas East, London 1577).</ref>  Ludham went on to translate Hyperius's posthumously published ''De Sacrae Scripturae lectione ac meditatione quotidiana'' (Basle, 1569) as ''The Course of Christianity: or, as touching the dayly reading and meditation of the holy Scriptures'' (London 1579):<ref>Andreas Hyperius, ''The course of Christianitie: or, As touching the dayly reading and meditation of the holy Scriptures: very requisite and necessary for all Christians of what estate or condition soeuer: two bookes. Translated out of Latine into English, by Iohn Ludham vicar of Wethersfeld'' (Henry Bynneman, London 1579).</ref> he then turned to the homilies of [Rudolf Gwalther](/source/Rudolf_Gwalther) on the prophet [Joel](/source/Joel_(prophet)) (London 1582)<ref>Rudolf Gwalther, ''The homilies or familiar sermons of M. Rodolph Gualther Tigurine vpon the prophet Ioel. Translated from Latine into Englishe, by Iohn Ludham vicar of Withersfielde'' (Thomas Dawson for William Ponsonnby, London 1582).</ref> before returning to Hyperius for ''A Speciall Treatise of Gods Providence'' (c. 1588), which included an exposition upon Psalm 107. To this was added an appendix of the Cambridge sermons and disquisitions of [Peter Baro](/source/Peter_Baro).<ref>Andreas Gerardus, Hyperius, ''A speciall Treatise of Gods Providence, and of comforts against all kinde of crosses & calamities to be fetched from the same. With an exposition of the 107 Psalme. Heerunto is added an appendix of certaine Sermons & Questions… as they were uttered and disputed ad Clerum in Cambridge. By P. Baro…  Englished by I. L(udham), Vicar of Wethersfielde'' (John Wolfe [London, ?1588]).</ref>

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](/source/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer) emphasised the role Hyperius had played in early Protestantism.<ref>David L. Larsen, ''The Company of the Preachers: A History of Biblical Preaching from the Old Testament to the Modern Era: Volume 2'' (1998), p. 803.</ref>

==Works==

*''De formandis concionibus sacris'' (1553, enlarged 1562)
*''De theologo, seu de ratione studii theologici, libri IIII'' (1556) 
*''Elementa christianae religionis'' (1563) 
*''Methodi theologiae, sive praecipuorum christianae religionis locorum conmunium, libri tres'' (1568).
*''De Sacrae Scripturae lectione ac meditatione quotidiana'' (1579).

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Citation | title = Hyperius, Andreas Gerhard | publisher = LCMS | url = http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=H&word=HYPERIUS.ANDREASGERHARD | work = Christian Cyclopedia}}.
*{{BBKL|h/hyperius_a|band=2|autor= Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz|artikel= Hyperius (eigentl. Gheeraerdts, Gerhard), Andreas|spalten=1233–35}}

{{Schaff-Herzog}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyperius, Andreas}}
Category:1511 births
Category:1564 deaths
Category:People from the Habsburg Netherlands
Category:16th-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians
Category:People from Ypres

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Andreas Hyperius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Hyperius) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Hyperius?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.