Jean Osterwald

Background

He was born at Neuchâtel in 1663 in a patrician family, a son of the Reformed pastor Johann Rudolf Ostervald.

Education

He was educated at Zürich and at Saumur (where he graduated), studied theology at Orléans under Claude Pajon, at Paris under Jean Claude and at Geneva under Louis Tronchin, and was ordained to the ministry in his native place in 1683.

Career

He spent most of his life at Neuchâtel, first as a diacon, then from 1699 a pastor, and finally he was elected deacon. Besides this he gave lectures at the academy of theology. His innovative proposals embraced dogmatics, exegesis (his important translation of and commentary on the Bible), liturgy (Bible reading instead of preaching), hymnology and moral theology (importance of good deeds and moral life).

Moreover, the English Royal Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts – of which he was a member – brought his teachings to the countries of the Middle East, India, Canada and the West-Indian Islands.

His highly influential oeuvre was later called "the second Reformation". In August 1746 he had a stroke in the pulpit.

He died in Neuchâtel on 14 April 1747 after 61 years of service.

Achievements

• As preacher, pastor, lecturer and author, he attained a position of great influence in his day, he and his friends, J. A. Turretini of Geneva and S. Werenfels (1657-1740) of Basel, forming what was once called the Swiss triumvirate.