Sixtinus Amama (also Sextinus) (13 October 1593 – 9 November 1629) was a Dutch Reformed theologian and orientalist. Amama was among the first to advocate a thorough knowledge of the original languages of the Bible as indispensable to theologians.

Life

He was born in Franeker, in the Dutch province of

Friesland Friesland ( ; ; official ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia (), named after the Frisians, is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen (p ...

. He studied oriental languages from 1610 at the University of Franeker and then at the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

, attracted there by John Prideaux. In 1614 he took up also the study of

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

at the University of Leyden where he made the acquaintance of Thomas Erpenius. In 1616 he became professor of literature and oriental languages at Franeker. Subsequently, however, he was suspected of

Arianism Arianism (, ) is a Christology, Christological doctrine which rejects the traditional notion of the Trinity and considers Jesus to be a creation of God, and therefore distinct from God. It is named after its major proponent, Arius (). It is co ...

, and underwent an investigation by Sibrandus Lubbertus and Johannes Bogerman (1576-1637). Bogerman was a Calvinist theologian who was the Ecclesiastical President of the

Synod of Dort The Synod of Dort (also known as the Synod of Dordt or the Synod of Dordrecht) was a European transnational Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618–1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy caused by the rise of Arminianism. ...

(1618-1619). When Erpenius died in 1625, Amama was called to take his place, however the Estates of Friesland refused permission for him to leave, but did increase his remuneration. He died in Franeker.

Works

* ''Dissertatio, qua ostenditur praecipuos Papismi errores ex ignorantia Hebraismis ortum sumsisse'' (Franeker 1618) * ''Censura vulgatae versionis quinque librorum Mosis'' (1620) * ''Bybelsche conferentie, in welke de Nederl. overzetting beproeft wordt'' (Amsterdam 1623) * ''Biblia in ’t Nederduitsch'' (Amsterdam 1625) * ''Antibarbarus biblicus'' (1628) * ''Hebreouwsch Woordenboek'' (1628)

Family

He married Meine van Adelen van Cronenburg; the natural philosopher Nicolaus ab Amama (1628-1656) was their son.

References

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Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Amama, Sixtinus 1593 births 1639 deaths Dutch members of the Dutch Reformed Church Dutch Calvinist and Reformed theologians 17th-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians Dutch orientalists People from Franekeradeel University of Franeker alumni Academic staff of the University of Franeker