ABBADIE, JACQUES. — Born at Nay in Béarn in 1654 or 1658, died in London in 1727. He studied at the Protestant universities of Saumur and Sedan, and at the latter, at the age of 17, obtained the degree of D. D. (Doctor Divinitatis). In 1680 he was pastor of the French Calvinist colony in Berlin, and enjoyed the favor of Elector Frederick (1640–88). At the latter’s death he moved to England, where he showed himself opposed to the government of James II. By the new king, William III, he was appointed chaplain of the coveted Savoy Chapel and was also granted the Irish chaplaincy of Killaloe, which he retained, although absent, until his death at Marylebone (London).
He was a highly learned man and maintained relations with Bossuet, Malebranche, and Bayle. He wrote many works: his sermons and panegyrics form three volumes; his L'ouverture des sept sceaux par le Fils de Dieu, ou le triomphe de la providence et de la religion (Amsterdam 1723) is considered by Protestants one of the boldest commentaries on the Apocalypse; but his most famous works were the Traité de la vérité de la religion chrétienne (Rotterdam 1674) and the Traité de la Divinité de N.-S. Jésus Christ (Rotterdam 1689), both written against unbelievers and atheists. At first they were favorably received even by some Catholics; but subsequently, after examination, they were placed on the Index (in 1695 and 1702, respectively).
V. Oblet (DThC, I, col. 8) observes that, according to A., faith and reason, theology and philosophy differ essentially from one another, and that the efforts made by the Fathers of the Church and especially by the scholastics to arrive at a deeper knowledge of the mysteries of the Trinity, the Incarnation, Grace, and Predestination were proud and vain attempts.
Against Catholic doctrine he wrote: Réflexions sur la présence réelle du corps de J. C. dans l'Eucharistie (The Hague 1688) and Vérité de la religion réformée (Rotterdam 1718).