Joel Beeke on Jeremias Bastingius (1551–1595)

This post is meant to supplement the Calvin and Calvinism entry on Bastingius.

Bastingius, Jeremias (Dutch, Bastinck; 1551–1595), Dutch Reformed theologian best known for his exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism. Bastingius was trained by several prominent second-generation Reformers. He studied in Heidelberg under Zacharius Ursinus in 1573, where Peter Dathenus was his roommate, and in Geneva under Théodore de Bèze in 1574, where he boarded with Lambert Daneau. He also received instruction from Kaspar Olevianus and was graduated under Girolamo Zanchi as doctor in theology in Heidelberg (1575–1576).

His reputation was such that he was called in 1578 to Antwerp, the most prominent of the Low Countries' Reformed churches at the time. During his Antwerp pastorate (1578–1585) Bastingius enjoyed the confidence of the Dutch churches. When the provinces of Holland and Zeeland drafted a church order without involving the Reformed churches officially, Bastingius was still consulted privately by the provinces. With Jean Taffin he gave counsel to the Walloon ministers concerning this matter. Bastingius was consulted by Gaspar van der Heyden prior to his publication of a revised version of the Heidelberg Catechism in 1580. Consequently, the National Synod of Middelburg decided that Bastingius, in cooperation with Classis Walcheren, should compose exegetical studies (Exegemata) related to the catechism.

After the fall of Antwerp (1585), Bastingius settled temporarily in Zeeland. Shortly thereafter he accepted a call to Dordrecht (1585), where he remained for eight years. Here his renowned exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism was published in Latin, In Catechesim religionis Christianae, quae in Ecclesiis et scholis, tum Belgii tum Palatinatus traditur, exegemata, sive commentarii (1588). This popular work reflected the influence of Ursinus and Zanchi, as well as Calvin, to whom he refers more than thirty times. Several translations followed: an English text in 1589 (six reprints between 1592 and 1617), a Dutch version in 1591 (seven new editions printed by 1762), and a German translation in 1596. Bastingius himself translated it into Flemish. This work motivated the Synod of Friesland to express deep appreciation for Bastingius’s “faithful labors toward the edification of the church of Christ.”

Bastingius was a careful exegete. He preferred Calvin’s hermeneutics over Melanchthon’s, as he felt Calvin strove for a method that did justice to the context of all scripture. Consequently, Bastingius persuaded Daneau to publish his Methodus Sacrae Scripturae tractandae in 1579.

Bastingius was a leading figure in ecclesiastical assemblies. Numerous times he was a member of the moderamen of his classis; he represented his provincial or particular synod at the National Synod of 1587; and he served as president (1588) and assessor (1592) of his particular synod. Though he embraced strong Calvinistic convictions, he showed remarkable tolerance for those who embraced different persuasions from his own. His congenial and peace-loving disposotion explains why his circle of friends included men such as Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Johannes Wtenbogaert, and Gerardus Joannes Vossius.

Soon after his appointment to the board of regents of the University of Leiden (1593), Bastingius was honorably dismissed in 1595, as he lacked the firm hand required to guide the students. Subsequently he was appointed professor of theology. He never functioned as such, however, since shortly after his appointment he died at the age of forty-four.

Joel Beeke, “Bastingius, Jeremias,” in The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation, ed. Hans J. Hillerbrand, 4 vols. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996), 1:127–28.