Bogermann, Jan

Bogermann, Jan a Dutch theologian, noted as president of the Synod of Dort, was born in- 1576, at Oplewert, in Friesland. " He took a violent part in the religious controversies which inflamed, with unwonted fire, the Dutch mind at the beginning of the seventeenth century. His hatred of Arminianism extended itself (as theological hatred generally does) to the persons who upheld it, and his zeal was on various occasions gratified by securing the punishment of those who had the misfortune to differ in opinion from him." He translated Beza's book, De la Punition des Heretiques (Punishment of Heretics), and assailed Grotius in a polemical treatise, Annotationes contra H. Grotium. In 1618 he was elected president of the Synod of Dort; "but his conduct there does not seem to have given satisfaction to the Frieslanders who had delegated him, for he was accused on his return of having exceeded his instructions." His most useful work was the translation of the Bible. Four other persons were associated with him in the task, but the translation of the Old Testament is chiefly his work, and is characterized by taste, fidelity, and purity of language. It is still used in the Dutch churches. He died Sept. 11, 1637, at Franeker, in the university of which he was professor of divinity.-Hoefer, Biographie Generale, 6:379; Chambers, Encyclopedia, s.v.