Jerome Emser facts for kids

Jerome Emser (born March 20, 1477 – died November 8, 1527) was a German religious scholar. He was known for disagreeing with Martin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation. Emser was born into a good family in Ulm, Germany.

Early Life and Studies

Emser studied Greek at the University of Tübingen and law at Basel. For three years, he worked as a helper and secretary for Raymond Peraudi, a church leader. In 1504, he started teaching classical subjects in Erfurt. It's possible that Martin Luther was one of his students there.

Working for Duke George

In the same year, Emser became secretary to Duke George of Saxony. Duke George was a strong supporter of the Catholic Church. He was different from his cousin, Frederick the Wise, who supported Luther.

Duke George wanted Bishop Benno of Meissen to be made a saint. Emser traveled through Saxony and Bohemia to find information for a book about Benno. He published this book in both German and Latin. In 1510, he even visited Rome for the same reason, but he wasn't successful.

Meanwhile, Emser also taught classical subjects at the University of Leipzig. Over time, he became more interested in theology (the study of religion) and church law. He received church positions in Dresden and Meissen, which gave him time to study.

Changing Views and Disagreements

At first, Emser supported some of the ideas of the reformers. However, like Duke George, he wanted to improve the church without completely breaking away from its old teachings. His ideas were similar to those of Erasmus, who also disagreed with Luther later on.

In 1519, Luther still referred to Emser as "our Emser." But after a big debate in Leipzig that year, their friendship ended.

Emser warned his friends in Bohemia about Luther's ideas. Luther responded with very harsh writings against Emser. Emser, who was also upset by attacks from students in Leipzig, used strong words back. He claimed that Luther's whole fight was just because he disliked another religious group called the Dominicans. In response, Luther burned Emser's books along with a special order from Pope Leo X that kicked Luther out of the church.

Later Work and Death

In 1521, Emser wrote against Luther's book, Appeal to the German Nobility. He wrote eight more books in this argument. In these books, he defended the Catholic teachings about the Mass and the idea that the Pope is the most important church leader.

At Duke George's request, Emser translated a book by Henry VIII of England in 1523. This book was called Assertio Septem Sacramentorum contra Lutherum (which means "Defense of the Seven Sacraments against Luther"). Emser also criticized Luther's translation of the New Testament. He also had arguments with another reformer named Huldrych Zwingli.

Emser played an active role in trying to organize a reformed Catholic Church in Germany. In 1527, he published his own German version of the New Testament. This was meant to be an alternative to Luther's version.

Emser died on November 8, 1527, and was buried in Dresden.

Legacy

Emser was a strong debater. He was one of the most important German religious scholars who stayed loyal to the old church, along with Eck. However, he wasn't considered a great scholar. The mistakes he found in Luther's New Testament were mostly just differences from the Latin Bible (the Vulgate). Emser's own version of the New Testament was mainly Luther's version changed to match the Vulgate.

Emser's family crest had a goat's head. Because of this, Luther often called him "Bock-Emser" (which means "Goat-Emser") and "Ægoceros" (a Greek word for goat).

Works

• De disputatione Lipsicensi, quantum ad Boemos obiter deflexa est, (1519) - Corpus Catholicorum, Vol. 4, Dr. Franz Xaver Thurnhofer, ed., Munster in Westfalen, 1921 - HathiTrust.
• A Venatione Luteriana Aegocerotis Assertio, (1519) - Corpus Catholicorum, Vol. 4.

Images for kids

• 

  Jerome (or Hieronymus) Emser

See also

In Spanish: Jerónimo Emser para niños