Spanheim, Friedrich

Spanheim, Friedrich (1), theological professor at Geneva and Leyden, was born Jan. 1, 1600, at Amberg, in the Palatinate. After completing his studies at Heidelberg and Geneva, he accepted the place of tutor in the family of the viscount de Vitrolles, in order that he might contribute towards the financial relief of his father, then suffering from the misfortunes which had come upon the country. He afterwards journeyed to England, in 1625, and on his return to Geneva was appointed to the chair of philosophy. The departments of logic and physics were assigned to him. In 1629 he received the freedom of the city, and in 1631 he became the successor of the famous theological professor Turretin (q.v.). During the years 1633-37, he officiated as rector of the academy, and in that capacity delivered the jubilee oration in connection with the centenary of the Genevan Reformation (1635). A call to the theological chair in the University of Leyden was extended to him in 1641, and the earnest request of the States-General, supported by that of the queen of Bohemia, induced the Genevan authorities to consent to his dismissal. He removed to Leyden in October 1642, and in his new position took active part in the controversy with Amyraut (q.v.). He died April 30, 1648, leaving two sons, Ezekiel and Friedrich (q.v.). The works of Spanheim include: against Amyraut, Disputatio de Gratia Universali (Lugd. Bat. 1644): — Exercitat. de Gratia Universali (ibid. 1646): — Epist. ad Matthew Cottier. de Gratia Universali (ibid. 1648): — Vindicic Exercitationum, etc. (Amst. 1649); see Schweizer, Prot. Central-Dogmen, 2, 340. His other theological writings are, Dubia Evangelica Discussa et Vindicata (Genesis 1634-39), a work of vast learning and great acuteness: — Disput. Anabaptisticoe (Lugd. Bat. 1643): — Diatriba Hist. de Origine, Progressu, et Sectis Anabaptistarum (Franeker, 1645), appended to Joan. Cloppenburgii Gangroena Theologies Anabaptist. translated into English (Lond. 1646): — Epist. ad Dav. Buchanan super Controvers. quibusdam quoe in Ecclesus Anglicanis agitantur (Lugd. Bat. 1645), in vol. 2 of his son Friedrich's Works: — Disput. Theolog. Syntagma (Geneva, 1652), falsely ascribed to his son: — three sermons, Les Trones de Grace, de Jugement, et de Gloire (Leyden, 1644; Geneva, 1649). See Regist. de la Vener ab. Compagnie des Pasteurs de Genève; Grenus, Fragm. Biogr. et Hist. Extraits des Registres du Conseil d'Etat (Geneva, 1815); Senebier, Jist. Litteraire de Genève (ibid. 1786), 2, 191-195; Schweizer, Moses Amyraldus, in Baur u. Zeller's Theol. Jahrbücher, 1852, Nos. 1 and 2.