EP'ISCO'PIUS (Neo-Lat.. from Lat. episeo pus, Gk. ealcxozros, episkopos,biAop; a translation. of his Dutch name. Bisschop, Bishop), Snaox (1583-1643). A Dutch theologian, after the death of Arminius the head of the Arminian party. He was born in Amsterdam, studied at Leyden. took his degree of M.A. ill 1606, and was ordained pas tor of the village of Bleyswyek near Rotterdam in 1610. In the following year the States-Gen eral, with the intention of putting an end to the agitations created by the controversies between the Gomarists or Calvinistic party and the Ar n•inians Remonstrants, ordered a conference to be held in their pre-ence at The Hague between ix ministers of each party. Episeopius was one of the -ix charged with ti e advocacy of Arminian ism, and distinguished himself by his good temper, ability and learning. In 1613 the cura tors of the University of Leyden appointed hint professor of theology in the place of Gomarus, who hail gone to Zeeland : this enraged the lead ers of the orthodox party, who unscrupulously accused him of Soeinianism. In 1618-19 was held
the famous Synod of Dort (q.v.). Episcopius was presrmt. along with several other Arminians; but the Calvinists, who happened to be in an over majority, would not allow him to speak. Ire was expelled from the ('hureh and banished from the country. Episcopius betook himself rirst to Antwerp, and afterwards to Rouen and Paris, but in 1626 returned to Rotter dam. In 16'34 he was made professor of divinity in the newly established seminary of the Remon strants in Amsterdam. His works were published in Amsterdam 1650-65. The chief are the Con fessio llcmonstrantiam (1621) and the Apologia pro Conf•ssion• (1629). consult Calder, Mem oirs of Simon Episcopius (London, 1838). See GONIARUS; ARMINICS.