Quenstedt, Johan Andreas

Quenstedt, Johan Andreas a German theologian, was born at Quedlinburg in 1617, studied at Helmstbidt under Calixtus and Hornejus, and in Wittenberg under Leyser. Won to the theology of the latter highschool, he became in 1646 theological adjunct, in 1649 extraordinary, and in 1660 ordinary professor of theology at Wittenberg, and always distinguished himself as a most ardent Lutheran. He died in 1688. His most celebrated work, Theologia Didactico-polemica, s. Systema Theologicum (Wittenb. 1685), is a most elaborate treatise of Lutheran scholasticism, and constitutes one of the best polemics of its distinguishing dogmas. Other works of his of note are, De Sepultura Veterum (ibid. 1648, 8vo, and later): — Dialogus de Patriis Illustrium Doctrina et Scriptis Viroruem (ibid. 1654, 4to): — Disputationes Exeqeticce in Epistolm ad Colossenses (ibid. 1664, 4to): — Ethica Pastoralis (ibid. 1678, 8vo, and later): — Antiquitates Biblicce et Ecclesiasticce (ibid. 1688, 4to, and later). Personally Quenstedt was a mild, unpretentious character, and even his polemics is nothing less than zealotical. He appeared on the stage when the period of dissolution had touched Lutheranism and rejuvenated the old orthodox spirit, and gave it new and attractive form. His power was not only with his pen, but in the university. See Hagenbach, Hist. of Doctr. (see Index); Jocher, Allgem. Gelehrten Lexikon, s.v.; Tholuck, Wittenberger Theologen, p, 214 sq.; Gass, Geschichte der protest. Dogmatik, i, 357 sq. (J. H.W.)