Hafenreffer, Matthias

Hafenreffer, Matthias (also Haffenreffer), a Lutheran theologian, was born June 24, 1561, at Lorch, in Wirtemberg, and died Oct. 22,1619. at Tübingen. He studied philosophy and theology at the last-named place, and in 1590 was made court-preacher and counselor of the Consistory at Stuttgart; in 1592 became professor of theology, and in 1617 chancellor and provost at Tübingen. To a profound and comprehensive learning, he united a sweet and peace-loving disposition, which led him to keep aloof for the most part from the theological strifes of his age, and to find his pleasures in directing and stimulating the studies of his pupils, to whose affectionate appreciation of him Val. Andreti and others bear testimony. His chief work, Loci theologici certa methodo ac ratione in tres libros tributi (Tübingen, 1600; an improved and enlarged ed; 1603), published at the request of Frederick, duke of Würtemberg, for the use of prince John Frederick was regarded as a model not only of Lutheran orthodoxy, but also of clearness and definiteness in conception, and expression and simplicity in style. It was the textbook of theology at Tübingen up to the end of the 17th century, supplanting Heerbrand's Cosfenditus, which had long been of almost symbolical authority there. By royal decree it was, in 1612, made the official textbook of dogmatics in the University of Upsala and other Swedish institutions of learning. Charles XII is said to have almost known it by heart. Hafelnreffer wrote also some controversial works against the Romanists and Calvinists, and a work entitled Templum Ezechielis (Tübingen, 1613, foi.). — Herzog, Real-Encyklopadie, 5, 469. (J. W. M.)