Théodore Tronchin (theologian)

He was born at Geneva on 17 April 1582, the son of Rémi Tronchin and Théodora Rocca, the adopted daughter of Théodore de Bèze.[1] He studied theology at Geneva, Basel, Heidelberg, Franeker, and Leiden. He became professor of oriental languages at the academy of Geneva in 1606; he was preacher there in 1608, and professor of theology in 1618.[2] He was rector in 1610.[3]

In 1618 he was sent with his colleague Giovanni Diodati to the Synod of Dort, as Genevan delegate, where he spoke in favour of the perseverance of the saints.[4] In 1632 he was army chaplain under Henri, Duke of Rohan, during his final campaign in Valtellina.[2] In 1655 he was one of the delegation that conferred in Geneva with John Dury.[5]

He died in Geneva on 19 November 1657. The theologian Louis Tronchin was his son.[2] His daughter Renée married the printer Pierre Chouet, and the theologian Jean-Robert Chouet was their son.[6]

He was an orthodox Calvinist, opposed to Amyraldism.[1]

He was asked to reply to the Jesuit Pierre Coton, who in Genève plagiaire (1618) had attacked the Genevan Bible translation, the Bible de Genève.[1] Benédict Turrettini answered quickly in 1618, to the early parts of the book; and Coton published a rebuttal. Tronchin's answer Coton plagiaire (also Cotton)[7] appeared at the beginning of 1620.[8]

Other works were:

• De bonis operibus (1628);
• Oratio funebria de Henrico duce Rohani (1638);
• De peccato originali (1658).[2]

His 1628 funeral oration for Simon Goulart is known for the hint in it that Goulart knew the author of the Vindiciae contra tyrannos.[9]

• Works by Théodore Tronchin at Post-Reformation Digital Library
• CERL page
• (in German) Old dictionary entry

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Jackson, Samuel Macauley, ed. (1914). "Tronchin, Theodore". New Schaff–Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge (third ed.). London and New York: Funk and Wagnalls.