THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
digung iiber den cliristl ichen Vorsehungsglauben (Halle, 1889); Erkenntnisspfade zu Christo (1889); Die evangel ische Kirche als Bundesgenossin wider die Socialdemokratic (Berlin, 1890); N eutestamentliche Thcologie (2 vols., 1891-92, 2d ed., 1896; Eng. transl., -Yew Testament Theology, 2 vcls., Edinburgh, 1895, 2d ed., 1896); Christenlehre (Halle, 3d ed., 1903).
Bibliography: Consult his autobiography, Aus meinem Leben, 2 vols., Halle, 1896-98; K. H. Pahncke, Wjllibald Beyschlag, ein Gedenkblatt, Tubingen, 1905.
BEZA, bi'za, THEODORE.
Early Life (§ 1).
Teacher at Lausanne (§ 2).
Journeys in behalf of the Protestants (§ 3).
Settles in Geneva (§ 4).
Events of 1560-63 (§ 5).
Calvin's Successor (§ 6).
Course of Events after 1564 (§7).
The Colloquy of Miimpelgart (§ 8).
Last Days (§ 9).
Humanistic and Historical Writings (§ 10).
Theological Works (§11).
Beza's Greek New Testament (§ 12).
Theodore Beza (Theodore de Beze or de Besze), Genevan Reformer, was born at Vezelay (8 m. w.s.w. of Avallon), in Burgundy, June 24, 1519; d. at Geneva Oct. 13, 1605. His father, Pierre de Beze, royal governor of Vezelay, descended from a Burgundian family of distinction; his mother, Marie Bourdelot, was known for her generosity. Theodore's father had two brothers; one, Nicholas, was member of Parliament at Paris; the other, Claude, was abbot of the Cistercian monastery Froimont in the diocese of Beauvais. Nicholas, who was
i. Early unmarried, on a visit to Vezelay was Life. so pleased with Theodore that, with the permission of the parents, he took him to Paris to educate him there. From Paris Theodore was sent to Orleans (Dec, 1528) to enjoy the instruction of the famous German teacher Melchior Wolmar. He was received into Wolmar's house, and the day on which this took place was afterward celebrated as a second birthday. Young Beza soon followed his teacher to Bourges, whither the latter was called by the duchess Margaret of Angouleme, sister of Francis I. Bourges was one of the places in France in which the heart of the Reformation beat the strongest. When, in 1534, Francis I issued his edict against ecclesiastical innovations, Wolmar returned to Germany, and, in accordance with the wish of his father, Beza went back to Orleans to study law, and spent four years there (1535-39). This pursuit had little attraction for him; he enjoyed more the reading of the ancient classics, especially Ovid, Catullus, and Tibullus. He received the degree of licentiate in law Aug. 11, 1539, and, as his father desired, went to Paris, where he began practise. His relatives had obtained for him two benefices, the proceeds of which amounted to 700 golden crowns a year; and his uncle had promised to make him his successor.
Beza spent two happy years at Paris and soon gained a prominent position in literary circles. To escape the many temptations to which he was exposed, with the knowledge of two friends, he became engaged in the year 1544 to a young girl of humble descent, Claudine Denosse, promising to
make this engagement public as soon as his circumstances would allow it. He published a collection of Latin poems, Juvenilia, which made him famous, and he was everywhere considered one of the best Latin poets of his time. But he fell ill and his distress of body revealed to him his spiritual needs Gradually he came to the knowledge of salvation in Christ, which he apprehended with a joyous faith He then resolved to sever his connections of the time, and went to Geneva, the French city of refuge for the Evangelicals, where he arrived with Claudine Oct. 23, 1548.
He was heartily received by Calvin, who had met him already in Wolmar's house, and was at once publicly and solemnly married in the church. Beza was at a loss for immediate occupation, so he went to Tubingen to see his former teacher Wolmar. On his way home he visited Viret at Lausanne, who at once detained
2. Teacher him and brought about his appointat Lausanne, ment as professor of Greek at the
academy there (Nov., 1549). In spite of the arduous work which fell to his lot, Beza found time to write a Biblical drama, Abraham Sacrifiant (published at Geneva, 1550; Eng. transl. by Arthur Golding, London, 1577, ed., with introduction, notes, and the French text of the original, M. W Wallace, Toronto, 1906), in which he contrasted Catholicism with Protestantism, and the work was well received. In June, 1551, he added a few psalms to the French version of the Psalms begun by Marot, which was also very successful. About the same time he published his Passavantius , a satire directed against Pierre Lizet of ill repute, formerly president of the Parliament of Paris, and principal originator of the " fiery chamber " (chambre ardente), who, being at the time (1551) abbot of St. Victor near Paris, was eager to acquire the fame of a subduer of heresy by publishing a number of polemical writings. Of a more serious character were two controversies in which Beza was involved at this time. The first concerned the doctrine of predestination and the controversy of Calvin with Bolsec (see Calvin, John; Bolsec, Jerome Hermes). The second referred to the burning of Michael Servetus (q.v.) at Geneva Oct. 27, 1553. In defense of Calvin and the Genevan magistrates, Beza published in 1554 the work De hwreticis a civili magistratu -puniendis (translated into French in 1560).
In 1557 Beza took a special interest in the Waldensians of Piedmont, who were harassed by the French government, and in their behalf went witli Farel to Bern, Zurich, Basel, Schaffhausen, thence to Strasburg, Miimpelgart, Baden, and Goppingen. In Baden and Goppingen, Beza and Farel had to declare themselves concerning their own
3. Journeys and the Waldensians' views on the in behalf of sacrament, and on May 14, 1557, they the Protes- presented a written declaration in
tants. which they clearly stated their position. This declaration was well received by the Lutheran theologians, but was strongly disapproved in Bern and Zurich. In the autumn of 1557 Beza undertook a second journey with Farel to Worms by way of Strasburg to bring