CHEMNITZ, Martin. - German Protestant theologian, one of the leading representatives of Lutheran doctrine, whence the nickname *alter Martinus* (Lutherus). Born at Treuenbritzen in the Margraviate of Brandenburg on 9 Nov. 1522, died at Brunswick on 18 Apr. 1596. In his youth (1539-46) he studied chiefly mathematics, astronomy, and the classical languages. Appointed librarian at Königsberg (1550) by Duke Albert of Prussia, he devoted himself to the study of the Fathers and of dogmatic theology. Later he became preacher (1554) and superintendent (a title equivalent to that of bishop) at Brunswick (1567) until his death.
Chemnitz established himself especially as a dogmatician through a long series of publications that place him in the forefront among Protestant theologians of the 16th century. In the work *Examen Concilii Tridentini quadripartitum* (Frankfort 1563-73), he attacks the decrees of the Council of Trent. Other principal works of his are: *Fundamenta sanae doctrinae de vera et substantiali praesentia, exhibitione et sumptuose corporis et sanguinis Domini in coena* (Leipzig 1561); *Theologiae festivitatum brevis ac nervosa descriptio*; *Loci theologici*, in which Philip Melanchthon’s *Loci communes rerum theologicarum* are clearly explained (Frankfort 1591). His name is also associated with the *Corpus doctrinae Prutenicum* and the *Formula concordiae*. Though a disciple and friend of Melanchthon, he upheld Lutheran doctrine regarding the Lord’s Supper, repudiating and combating the Crypto-Calvinist current and the *Corpus doctrinae Philippicum*. He nevertheless sought to mitigate the doctrine of ubiquity by attributing to the human nature of Christ only a relative omnipresence (*multivolipraesentia*), dependent on the free will of the God-Man, who can and does truly make Himself present “wherever, whenever, and however He wills.”