Theodore Beza

Theodore Beza

Theodore Beza (June 24, 1519 – October 13, 1605) was a French Reformer, scholar and pastor who is best known for succeeding John Calvin in leading the Reformation in Geneva.

Beza was born on June 24, 1519 in the town of Vézelay in modern-day central France.^[1]

Beza studied law in Orleans from 1535-39.^[1] After receiving his degree, he set up his own law practice.^[1] During this time, in 1548, Beza published Juvenilia, "a volume of amorous verse" which gave him a reputation as a leader in Latin poetry.^[1]

After falling seriously ill, Beza was saved and became a Protestant Christian.^[1] In 1548 he travelled to Geneva, joined John Calvin, and became very involved in the Reformation in the area.^[1] Beza served as a professor of Greek in Lausanne from 1549–58, and one of his more notable actions during time was to write De haereticis a civili magistratu puniendis in 1554, which defended the conduct of Calvin and the Geneva government in the burning of the Michael Servetus, a heretic who denied the Trinity.^[2]

After travelling around Europe to defend the Reformation, Beza became a professor of Greek in Geneva.^[2] In 1559, he founded the Geneva Academy with Calvin.^[1]

Reformation Wall in Geneva. From left to right are William Farel, John Calvin, Beza, and John Knox.

After Calvin died in 1564, Beza succeeded him as the leader of the Reformation in the city.^[1][2] Beza became the chief pastor^[1] and the chair of theology,^[2] positions he would hold for the rest of his life.

During this time, Beza wrote numerous sermons, commentaries, and other texts.^[1] Beza played a large role in the formation of Calvinist theology; while he agreed with John Calvin on the vast majority of issues, he changed Calvinist theological doctrine, after the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, from being obedient to every civil authority to being able to justly revolt if that authority was tyrannical.^[1]

Other notable actions of Beza include his Greek and Latin editions of the New Testament,^[1][2] which played a large role in the writing of the Geneva Bible and the King James Version.^[1] Additionally, Beza donated the Codex Bezae, an important 5th Century Greek and Latin manuscript of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, to the University of Cambridge.^[1][2]

While Beza is known for his role as a scholar, he, like many other Reformers, also worked hard as a pastor, pastoring for almost 40 years and giving biblically sound sermons.^[3]

Beza was one of the most important figures of the Protestant Reformation and Reformed theology.^[1] He died on October 13, 1605 in Geneva.^[1]