ALSTED, JOHANN HEINRICH.—German Protestant theologian, born in 1588 at Ballersbach (Nassau), died in 1638 at Weissenburg. In 1616 he became professor of philosophy, then of theology, first in 1619 at the University of Herborn and later, in 1629, at that of Weissenburg in Siebenbürgen. He took part in the Synod of Dordrecht (1618–19) as a representative of the diocese of Nassau.
A prolific writer on the most varied subjects, he composed chiefly theological works, the principal of which are: the *Lexicon Theologicum* (Hanau 1612); the *Theologia Naturalis* (Frankfurt 1615); the *Theologia Catechistica* (Hanau 1616); the *Theologia casuum conscientiae* (ibid. 1616); the *Theologia Didactica* (ibid. 1618); the *Theologia Polemica* (ibid. 1620); the *Theologia Prophetica* (ibid. 1622); the *Tractatus de mille annis apocalyptici* (ibid. 1626), in which he maintained that the reign of Christ on earth would begin in 1694. All his works were placed on the Index by decree of 10 May 1757.