GOMARUS, Francis, Dutch theologian and the most eminent opponent of Arminius: b. Bruges, 13 Jan. 1563; d. Groningen, 11 Jan. 1641. His parents, upon embracing the Re formed faith, removed to the Palatinate in 1578 and Francis was sent to be educated at Strassburg. In 1580 he removed to Neustadt where he studied theology under Ursinus, Zan chius and Tossanus. He visited England in 1582 and attended lectures at Oxford and Cam bridge, being graduated from the latter univer sity in 1584. From 1587 to 1593 he was pastor of a Reformed Dutch church at Frankfort and in 1594 became professor of theology at Leyden where he remained until 1603, when Arminius joined the faculty and disseminated Pelagianism. Gomarus opposed him with con siderable success and was aided by Bogermann. Gomarus now became the recognized leader of the opponents of Arminius, who after him came to be known as Gomarists. In 1608 he engaged
in personal debate with Arminius before the Assembly of the Estates of Holland and in the following year, in the same place, with four colleagues met five Arminians in debate. When Vorstius succeeded Arminius, on the latter's death, Gomarus resigned his chair and became preacher at Middleburgh in 1611, where he also taught theology and Hebrew in the new Illustre Schule. In 1614 he was made professor of theology at Saumur and in 1618 removed to Groningen as professor of theology and He brew, at which post he remained until his death. He took part in the revision of the Dutch ver sion of the Old Testament in 1633. His works were issued in a single volume (Amsterdam 1645). Consult Dorner, J. S.,