EBER, e'ber, PAUL: German theologian and
Reformer; b. at Kitzingen (11 m. e.s.e, of
Würzburg) Nov. 8, 1511; d. at Wittenberg Dec. 10, 1569.
He received his first education at home,
and
attended the schools of Nuremberg, then entered the
University of Wittenberg on June I, 1532, where
his teachers were Luther and Melanchthon, and in 1537
was made a member of the faculty, being appointed
regular professor four years later, first of Latin
and then of physics. His lectures comprised the
wide range of the liberal arts, although his chief
attention was devoted to Latin, history, natural
science, and even to anatomy. A versatile literary
activity was the result. With the aid of Melanchthon
he wrote his Contexta populi Judaici historia
a reditu ex Babylonico ezilio argue ad ultimum excidium Hierosolymce
(Wittenberg, 1548), and with Kasper Peucer he prepared his V
ocabula rei nummaria . . vohicrum et pistrium
appellationea (1b49). His most famous work is his
Calendarium histortcum (1550), written in collaboration with Melanchthon
and containing a reformed calendar of the saints
with a historical calendar.
Eber's firm attitude during the Schmalkald War
of 1548-47 won him the admiration of his colleagues,
and on June 21, 1557, he succeeded Johann
Forster as professor of the Old Testament and
preacher at
the
Schlosekirche.
He accompanied Mehtnchthon to the Colloquy of Worms and acted
as secretary, but returned from Worms at Christmas,
and succeeded Bugenhagen as municipal preacher
and general superintendent of the electoral circuit,
Sept. 4, .1558. When Melanchthon died in 1560, his
course of lectures was completed by Eber, who, as
professor of the Old Testament, was invited by the
Elector August to revise the Vulgate of the Old Tes
tament for the
BtTilia Gernxanico-Latina
(1565). He was obliged, however, to complete his work in a year
and a half, and he was little pleased with his results.
As a preacher he is best known by two volumes
published after his death by his pupils, the
Evan geliorum dominicalium explicatip
(ed. J. Cellarius, Frankfort, 1576) and the
Kateehiamusluredigten (ed. T. Feureliue, Nuremberg, 1b77). His most
bitter struggles were connected with the controver
sies on the nature of the Eucharist. Like Melanch
thon, he rejected the ubiquitarianism of Brenz, and
frequently approximated the Calvinistic view.
Peucer later said in reproach of him that he had
been convinced of the truth of the Swiss doctrine
as early as 1561, but had suddenly become an
opponent of the crypto-Calvinists of Wittenberg
after the Dresden conference of Mar. 25, 1561. It
is indisputable that on that occasion he advocated
a confession which harked back to the Wittenberg
Concordia, and henceforth taught a modified Lu
theranism which he regarded as the true interpre
tation of the Augsburg Confession, defending his
views in his Vom
heiligen Sakrament des Letba and
Bluta unsers Herrn Jean Christi
(Wittenberg, 1582), although his course contented neither the Lutherans
nor the Reformed. Eber is also famous as an au
thor of hymns, of which the best-known are
Herr Jesu Christ, taahr'r Mensch urtd Gott ("
Lord Jesus Christ, true Man and God") and
Wenn uwr in hSchaten NSthen sein ("
When in the hour of utmost need ").
(F. Kawerau.)
Bibliography:
Sources of value for s life are in CR.iii., i:., and in J. Voigt, Briehaachsal der barflhmteakn (iekhrten mit Hsraop AlbrocTK pp. 234 sqq., Königsberg, 1841.
Consult also: C. H.
Sixt. Dr. Paul E6ar, Heidelberg,
1843; idem, Paul Ebsr. Ein Stuck Witlsnbxpar Lebena,
Anebsc6, 1857; T. Preeael, in Lcban and ausgawdAlte
Sdvrifkn der Yaw . . . der lutheriaehan Kirche, vol.
viii., Elberfeld, 1882; G. Buchwald, Paul Eber, Leipsic,
1897; J. W. Richard. Philip Melaudttrwn, passim, New
York, 1898; Julian, Hymndopy, 318, 9.
