WIMPINA, KONRAD KOCH, detto. - Theologian who took his name from Wimpfen on the Neckar, b. in 1465, d. 17 May 1531 at Amorbach.
He studied at Leipzig from 1479. From Martin Polich, his teacher, a convinced Thomist, he learned a love of philosophy. With the favor of Duke George the Bearded he obtained appointment as rector (1494) and then dean (1495) of the philosophical faculty of that city and later vice-chancellor of the University. Meanwhile, having entered the ecclesiastical state, he had also devoted himself to theology, obtaining the licentiate in it in 1502. From 1500 he entered into discussion with Polich on the relations between poetry and theology, whose supremacy over the former he defends. In 1503 the cardinal legate Raymond Peraudi granted him the title of doctor in theology at Leipzig. In turn, a few weeks later, at Wittenberg, Polich likewise received his doctorate from Staupitz: thus a rivalry arose between the two Universities that was to drag on for a long time. W. in 1505 was called by the elector Joachim of Brandenburg to found and govern the University of Frankfurt on the Oder. Among his pupils he had in 1518 the preacher John Tetzel, together with whom he later took part in the struggle against the Reformation. In 1518 he published a De divae Annae triumbo et trium filiarum eius asseveratione libri tres, to defend the legend of the three Marys, daughters of St. Anne, against John Wildenauer.
When Luther on 31 Oct. 1517 posted his 95 theses on the door of the church of Wittenberg, Tetzel, particularly singled out, had recourse to his master for the confutation, which he set out brilliantly at the University of Frankfurt on the Oder. The lecture was printed and circulated in many copies, eight hundred of which were burned by the students of the University of Wittenberg, enthusiastic for Luther. The latter had already recognized the true author in W. and criticism too is unanimous in this attribution.
His principal work was: Sectarum, errorum, hallucinationum et schismatum... anacephaleseos (= the Reformation!) librorum partes tres (Frankfurt on the Oder 1528). In 1589 he collaborated on the composition of the Christian Institution against the Confession of M. Luther, the Catholic reply to the 17 articles of Schwabach. The confutation of the Augsburg Confession (1530) likewise required his contribution. W. remains a precious witness of the first Catholic reaction to the Protestant Reformation.
Bibliography2 works
Vittorino Dellagiacoma