Calixtus

Calixtus, GEORG (properly Callisen), an eminent theologian of the Lutheran Church, born 14th December 1586, at Medelbye in Sleswick, studied philosophy and theology at Helmstedt from 1602 to 1609, and, after travelling for four years in Germany, Belgium, England, and France, became professor of theology in that university in 1614. His genius, the depth of his knowledge, and the large experience of the world and of men which he had acquired in his travels, developed in him a spirit of great tolerance towards all who held their religious opinions honestly, whatever these might be. Although acknowledged by learned Catholics to be one of the ablest of their opponents, he was, on account of some statements in his work De Præcipuis Reliqtonis Christianæ Capitibus (1613) which seemed favourable to Catholic dogmas, and of others in his Epitome Theologiæ Moralis (1634) and De Tolerantia Reformatorum (1658) which approached too near to the Reformed or Calvinistic standpoint, declared guilty of abominable heresy by the orthodox and dogmatically rigid Lutherans. Calixtus felt keenly that the polemical harshness of Lutheranism was a serious obstacle in the way of a great Catholic Christianity, and that Protestantism must assume another form before it could hope to become the religion of Europe. Under this conviction, Calixtus endeavoured to show that the oldest and most fundamental articles of the Christian faith—viz. the facts embodied in the 'Apostles' Creed'—were common to all Christian sects. Having stated in subsequent dissertations that the doctrine of the Trinity was less distinctly taught in the Old than in the New Testament, and that good works were necessary to salvation; and finally, at the religious conference of Thorn, in 1645, whither he was sent as a mediator by the Elector of Brandenburg, having been on more intimate terms with the Calvinistic than the Lutheran theologians, Calixtus was accused of apostasy. His friends in Brunswick, however, stood firmly by him, and he retained his professorial chair till his death on 19th March 1656. See Henke, Georg Calixtus und seine Zeit (1853-60).