Gerhard

1582 – He was born on the 17th day of October this year in the German City of Quedlinburg.

1596 - At the age of fourteen, during a dangerous illness, he came under the personal influence of Johann Arndt, author of Das wahre Christenthum, and resolved to study for the church.

1599 - He entered the University of Wittenberg in this year, to study philosophy. He also attended lectures in theology, and then changed to medicine for two years.

1603 – He resumed his theological reading at Jena, and in the following year received a new impulse from J.W. Winckelmann and Balthasar Mentzer at Marburg.

1605 - He graduated in this year and begun to give lectures at Jena.

1606 – He accepted the invitation of John Casimir, Duke of Coburg, to the superintendency of Heldburg and mastership of the gymnasium; soon afterwards he became general superintendent of the duchy.

1616 – He was engaged in the practical work of ecclesiastical organization until this year, when he became theological professor at Jena, where the remainder of his life was spent.

1637 – He died on the 10th day of August this year.