Jonas was born at
Nordhausen in present-day
Thuringia where he was the son of the burgermeister. His birth name was Jodokus (Jobst) Koch, which he changed according to the common custom of German scholars in the sixteenth century, when at the
University of Erfurt. He entered that university in 1506, studied law and the
humanities, and became Master of Arts in 1510. In 1511, he went to
University of Wittenberg, where he took his bachelor's degree in law. He returned to
Erfurt in
Thuringia during 1514 or 1515 was ordained priest. In 1518, he was appointed
Canon of St. Severus Church (
Severikirche) in Erfurt which was a collegiate church. In 1519, he became
Rector of the
University of Erfurt. In 1521, he was appointed Probst of
All Saints' Church (
Schlosskirche) at Wittenberg and Professor of Church Law in the
University of Wittenberg. From 1541 to 1546, he served as superintendent and chief pastor at
Halle. His hymn
Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, a paraphrase of
Psalm 124, was published in the
Erfurt Enchiridion in 1524. It was used by several composers as a base for organ and choral music, including Bach's
chorale cantata BWV 178. Jonas was busy in conferences (including a prominent role in the Reformation conferences at Marburg (1529) and Augsburg (1530)) and visitations during the next twenty years, and in diplomatic work with the princes. In the autumn of 1531, Jonas published a German translation of the
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, and in 1541, he began a successful preaching crusade in
Halle, becoming superintendent of its churches in 1542 or 1544 and priest in the
Market Church of Our Dear Lady (
Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen) the city of
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. Martin Luther became severely ill and visited his friend during Christmas in 1545. Jonas was present at Luther's deathbed at
Eisleben, and preached the funeral sermon; in a procession Luther's body was taken to Halle and buried in Wittenberg. In the same year Jonas was banished from the duchy by
Maurice, Duke of Saxony. From that time until his death, Jonas was unable to secure a satisfactory living. He wandered from place to place preaching, and finally went to
Eisfeld, Thuringia (1553), where he died, aged 62. ==See also==