JOHANN GERHARD. – German Protestant theologian, born at Quedlinburg on 17 Oct. 1582, died at Jena on 17 Aug. 1637. Having taken a vow in 1599, he began theological studies at the University of Wittenberg, but interrupted them to study medicine, returning in 1603 with great profit to theology at Jena. In 1606 he was appointed superintendent at Heldburg by Duke Johann Casimir of Coburg; later he became general superintendent of all the Lutheran churches in the duchy, for which he also compiled a set of regulations that long remained in use.
In 1616 he was called to teach theology at the University of Jena, where he remained thereafter. G. was regarded as the greatest theologian of his time, which explains the great prestige he enjoyed among Protestant princes.
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PAUL GERHARDT. – Studied theology and pursued an ecclesiastical career; many of his lyrics arose from his experience as a pastor, though they never remained mere occasional poetry.
He has been called the greatest Protestant religious poet after Luther. In the 17th century it is hard to find anyone who can stand beside him; yet the tone of his lyric is neither dramatic, as in the founder of the pseudo-Reformation, nor sweetly enchanted, as in the Catholic Friedrich von Spee, but rather concentrated in a sincere, powerful intimacy that made him well received by the followers of Pietism toward the end of the century. He drew on all the models of Christian hymnody from St Bernard to J. Arnd, and his Lieder were immediately set to music, among whose most famous composers was Johann Sebastian Bach (among others, the celebrated “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden” from the St Matthew Passion).