German Lutheran theologian
Johann Habermann, also Johannes Avenarius (1516–1590) was a German Lutheran theologian.
Also known as Johannes Avenarius. He was born at Eger (92 m. w. of Prague) on August 10, 1516. He went over to the Lutheran Church about 1540, studied theology, and filled a number of pastorates. After a brief academic activity at Jena and Wittenberg, in 1575, he accepted a call as superintendent of Naumburg-Zeitz. He died at Zeitz (23 m. s.w. of Leipzig) December 5, 1590.
Though praised by his contemporaries as an Old Testament exegete, his significance lies in the practical field. He published a number of sermons, a Trostbüchlein, a life of Christ, and above all the prayer-book, Christliche Gebett für allerley Not und Stende der gantzen Christenheit (Wittenberg, 1567), in which, for the first time, the prayers for various Christian needs were apportioned among the several days of the week. With a few exceptions the prayers are written in plain Biblical language, without ornament. The work was translated into Latin, English (as The Enimie of Securitie, London, 1580), and French, and was widely circulated in Protestant circles. Despite its occasional crudities of expression the book is still used; and some of the prayers have passed into church books.
Works by Johann Habermann
Habermann, praised by his contemporaries as a talented Old Testament exegete, joined the Lutheran church in 1540, just after Martin Luther catalyzed the Protestant movement. In 1565, Habermann published his most important work, Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week, a prayer-book that assigned prayers for various Christian needs to the days of the week. Within fifteen years after its publication, the book had become widely circulated in Protestant circles, and was available in Latin, English, and French translations. Many contemporary Protestant prayer-books still include some of adapted versions of Habermann’s prayers.
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