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Theodorus Antonides: The Groningen minister with a passion for classical antiquity.
Introduction:
Theodorus Antonides was a Dutch minister of the Reformed Protestant Church. He was a theologian and philologist who lived and worked in the province of Groningen. Rolf van der Woude (present-day Groningen) even calls him the most prominent Groningen theologian of his time. Theodorus Antonides was an ardent follower of the theologian Cocceius and an exceptionally pious man.
Life and studies, the early years of Theodorus Antonides:
It is assumed that Antonides was born in Farmsum in 1647, but his birth remains shrouded in mystery. Visscher and Van Langeraad (1903) cite 1647 as his year of birth, but without citing any source. Many undoubtedly adopted 1647 as the year of birth. Yet, the DTB registers in the Groningen Archives reveal no trace of Theodorus Antonides' baptism. Farmsum baptismal registers from that period are also untraceable. Moreover, there is no trace of his existence before 1684. What does Antonides' past conceal?
Life and study, the preacher Theodorus Antonides:
University of Groningen:
On March 30, 1684, Theodorus Antonides enrolled as a student at the Groningen University. The word "gratis" appears after his name in the Album studiosorum Academiae Groninganae (1915). Wumkes (1949) states: "He will therefore have studied at the expense of the province...". Wumkes (1949) adds: "...to find his home in the so-called burse, a boarding school for less affluent students in the Oostergang on the Broerekerkhof."
Theodorus Antonides, the scholar:
In addition to his pastoral work, Antonides devoted himself with great passion to the study of classical antiquity. He read and studied countless Greek and Latin texts. He also had more than enough time for this. Wumkes (1949) says of this: "This easy work environment offered plenty of time for independent study." According to Wumkes (1949), Theodorus Antonides' predecessors in Westerwijtwerd also made ample use of this.
Resistance from the church:
Over the years, Antonides became increasingly critical of the church. Wumkes (1949) says: "He frankly declares that there is much sin within it. He exposes the knots of ungodliness, the bonds of the law that must be loosed, a remnant of the Antichrist." He upholds the universal priesthood of the faithful. He disapproves of the elders being curtailed in their proper right and not being allowed to speak as if taught by Jehovah.
The Olympia:
Antonides picks up his pen once more. The reason: "Firstly, it served to refresh his weary spirit and restore his exhausted strength, which he had exerted in researching the Holy Scriptures" (Wumkes 1949). "Olympia" was born, a comprehensive study of the history and course of the ancient Olympic Games.
The death of Theodorus Antonides:
Theodorus Antonides died on January 2, 1715, in Westerwijtwerd, in the province of Groningen. Evidence of this is provided by the following passage from the DTB registers of the Groningen Archives:
Legacy:
Theodorus Antonides left a remarkable legacy with his book "Olympia." Unfortunately, only five copies of the 1732 edition of "Olympia" are known to exist. A reissue of the book followed in 1733. Four copies of this edition are still known to exist. More info: Where is the book "Olympia"?
Publications:
An overview of the books written by Theodorus Antonides.
Genealogy:
An overview of the family history of Theodorus Antonides.
Summary:
A summary of the life and work of Theodorus Antonides
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