ESTIUS, GUILLELMUS (MESSEL VAN EST, WILLEM). — Exegete, theologian, and hagiographer, born at Gorkum (Holland) in 1542, died at Douai on 20 September 1613. After completing his initial studies at Utrecht, he attended the University of Louvain, where he received his degree in theology in 1580. Baius (v.), whose less orthodox ideas he accepted to some extent, while nevertheless remaining profoundly Catholic in sentiment, so much so that Benedict XIV described him as doctor fundatissimus. At the University of Douai he first taught theology and then, from 1582, Sacred Scripture; he was its chancellor from 1595 until his death. He was also rector of the Seminary of Douai on two occasions.
He produced admirable commentaries on Paul and the Catholic Epistles. His works, published almost entirely after his death, concern the Bible, theology, and hagiography.
Among his biblical works we mention: In omnes Dius Pauli epistolas commentaria (2 vols. in-fol., Douai 1614); In quinque epistolas catholicas commentaria (ibid. 1616). The notes from I John 5:7 to the end of the Epistle, and those concerning the minor passages of John, were added by the editor B. Petters (Petrus). This commentary, which constitutes his masterpiece, went through many editions (as late as 1892 in Paris) and is still very useful and much sought after. He also wrote: Annotatiores in praecipua ac difficiliora S. Scripturae loca (Antwerp 1621). The biblical works appeared together at Venice in 1659 (In S. Scripturam opera omnia).
(Inst. Enc. Catt.)
ESTIUS, GUILLELMUS — Portrait. Copperplate engraving from the frontispiece of In quattuor libros sententiarum commentaria, Douai 1615.