ARMINIUS, JACOBUS or JACOB HARMENSEN, commonly called ARMINIUS (1560:1009). One of the most influential of the Dutch theologians of the Reformed Church, and founder of the theological system which hears his name. He was born in Oudewater-an-der-Yssel, October 10, 1560, and died in Leyden, October 19, 1609. His father, a cutler by trade, died when Jacob was a child, and the boy was brought up by friends in Utrecht and Marburg. He spent several years (1575-82) at the newly founded University of Leyden, where he imbibed a distaste for the Aristotelian philosophy, which still had great power. Proceeding to Geneva, the Mecca of the Reformed Church, Arminius studied for nearly six years under Beza (15S2-87), with the inter ruption of a few months' stay in Basel (I5S3), whore he heard Gryincus, who became very fond of his gifted pupil. In Basel, Arminius delivered some lectures on his own account, as was the custom with especially promising students, and he would have been rewarded with the degree of doctor, had he not modestly declared himself too young to receive this distinction. At the close of his period of study, Arminins made a trip to Italy, visiting Padua and Rome (1587). During most of his student lift- he had been supported by the city of Amsterdam, which rec ognized his promise, and, knowing him to be dependent, had extended to him a sort of munici pal patronage.
In 158S Arminins became preacher of the Reformed Church in Amsterdam, where he re mained for fifteen years, with growing fame and influence. His orthodoxy was as unquestioned as his ability, and we find that appeal was sev eral times made to him to defend the Calvinis tic system against attacks. In its influence upon Arminins himself, the most important of these controversies was with one Koornheert, of Haar lem, who had attacked Calvin's doctrine of pre destination. While studying the question. Ar minius began to incline toward himself. and this tendency appeared in his public sermons on Saint Paul's Epistle to the Romans, especially chapters vii.-ix. Yet he always main
tained that his opinions were not inconsistent with the doctrinal standards of his Church, the Belgic Confession, and the Heidelberg Catechism. In spite of some opposition on the part of the conservatives, Arminius, in 1003. was appointed professor at the 'University of Leyden, the great training-school for ministers of the Reformed Church in Holland. His collet Gomarus (q.v.), was a stanch Calvinist, and controversy soon broke out between them, which continued throughout the remainder of Arminius's life. This was by no means a mere academic dispute, but rather one in which the whole of Dutch Protestantism was engaged. The chief points on which Arminins differed from the orthodox majority were the doctrines of divine grace and of election. Arminius taught that grace was universal and election conditional. t4unarus taught that grace was confined to the elect, and that their election was not dependent upon God's foreknowledge of their faith or good works, but was merely from God's good pleasure. Dispu tations Were held, but without result. Arminius was charged with holding Pelagian and Socinian views, which latter charge he denied with espe cial vigor. His position at the university re mained secure, for the authorities declined to permit clerical interference. Nevertheless. he was constantly under fire, and repeated attempts were made to bring hint to trial before a synod. The struggle was still going on when Arminius died, worn out by the strain of theological strife. His influence, however, was never greater than after his death, and his followers, under the leadership of his pupil Episcopius (q.v.). pro longed the struggle, even through temporary de feat at the Synod of Dort, until religious tolera tion was secured under Prince Frederick Henry. The details may be found under ARMINIAN1S.M.
The works of Arminius are accessible in Latin and English. Consult: J. Ar»tin ii Opera Theo. logiea (Leyden. 1629) The Works of Armin/us, English translation, reprinted from the London edition 1S53).