Georg Calixtus, Kallisøn/Kallisön, or Callisen (14 December 1586 – 19 March 1656) was a German

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...

who looked to reconcile all Christendom by removing all differences that he deemed "unimportant".

Biography

Calixtus was born in Medelby, Schleswig. After studying philology, philosophy and theology at Helmstedt, Jena, Giessen, Tübingen and Heidelberg, he travelled through Holland,

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and

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, where he became acquainted with the leading reformers. On his return in 1614, he was appointed professor of theology at Helmstedt by the duke of Brunswick, who had admired the ability he displayed when a young man in a dispute with the

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Augustine Turrianus. Learning different

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

and

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teachings, he tried to create a "unifying theology". In 1613 he published a book, ''Disputationes de Praecipuis Religionis Christianae Capitibus'', which provoked the hostile criticism of orthodox Lutheran scholars; in 1619 he published his ''Epitome theologiae'', and some years later his ''Theologia Moralis'' (1634) and ''De Arte Nova Nihusii''.

Roman Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

felt them to be aimed at their own system, but they gave so great offence to Lutherans as to induce Statius Buscher to charge the author with a secret leaning to

Catholicism The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

. Scarcely had he refuted the accusation of Buscher, when, on account of his intimacy with the Reformed divines at the conference of Thorn (1645), and his desire to effect a reconciliation between them and the Lutherans, a new charge was leveled against him, principally by Abraham Calovius (1612-1686), of a secret attachment to

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

. Thus the great aim of his life to reconcile Christendom by removing all unimportant differences, resulted in him being accused of

syncretism Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various school of thought, schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or religious assimilation, assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the ...

for the ecumenical spirit in which he treated both

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

s and

Calvinist Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Protestantism, Continenta ...

s, and for considering the Apostles' Creed a broad enough basis for Christian union and communion, which might embrace both. The disputes to which his attitude gave rise lasted during his whole lifetime. His friends, however, stood by him, and he retained the position he held in the Lutheran Church, teaching

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

at the University of Helmstedt until his death. For all of the legitimate controversy surrounding him, he continues to be recognized for his emphasis on the desire for the unity of Christianity. Calixtus died in Helmstedt. The term '' Consensus Quinquesaecularis'', initially a contemptuous reference to the high value which Calixtus placed on an alleged consensus of the Church Fathers of the first five centuries of Christendom, and certainly a key aspect of his "unifying theology", later became popular with various old High Church divines such as some

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

Latitudinarians.Consensus Quinquesaecularis
article in Christian Cyclopedia

Works

Modern editions of selected works are available in Georg Calixt, ''Werke in Auswahl'', 4 vols, ed. Inge Mager (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1970–82). *''De praecipuis Christianae religionis capitibus hodie controversis disputationes XV'' Helmstedt, 1613 *''Epitome Theologiae'' Goslar, 1619 *''De vera christiana religione et ecclesia'' Helmstedt, 1633

Biography

Works

See also

References

Further reading