Carl Jesper Benzelius (16 January 1714 – 2 January 1793) was a Swedish

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

, and

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

of the

Diocese of Strängnäs The Diocese of Strängnäs ( sv, Strängnäs stift) is a part of the Lutheran Church of Sweden and has its seat in Strängnäs Cathedral in Strängnäs, south of Lake Mälaren. The diocese is made up of the two provinces Närke and Södermanland ...

from 1776 to 1793.

Biography

Born in

Uppsala Uppsala (, or all ending in , ; archaically spelled ''Upsala'') is the county seat of Uppsala County and the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, fourth-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. It had 177,074 inha ...

to archbishop

Erik Benzelius the younger Erik Benzelius the younger (27 January 1675 in Uppsala – 23 September 1743) was a priest, theologian, librarian, bishop of Linköping, 1731–1742 and Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, 1742–1743. He was a highly learned man and one of Sweden' ...

, Benzelius was brought up at the home of his grandfather, Bishop

Jesper Swedberg Jesper Swedberg (28 August 1653 (O.S)–26 July 1735 (N.S)) was a bishop of Skara, Sweden. He was one of Sweden's most notable churchmen. He published the first edition ever of a Swedish book of hymns in 1694, and was the father of scientist and m ...

. He was then guided by his uncle

Henric Benzelius Henrik Benzelius (7 August 1689 in Strängnäs – 20 May 1758) was Bishop of Lund from 1744 to 1747, and Archbishop of Uppsala in the Church of Sweden from 1747 to his death. Biography He was predeceased as Archbishop of Uppsala by his fath ...

Lund University , motto = Ad utrumque , mottoeng = Prepared for both , established = , type = Public research university , budget = SEK 9 billion Helmstedt Helmstedt (; Eastphalian: ''Helmstidde'') is a town on the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. The historic university and Hanseatic city conserves an important monumental heritage of ...

, where he defended his dissertation under the famous Johann Lorenz von Mosheim, and became an honorary doctor of theology. In Berlin he presided over the marriage of

Adolf Frederick of Sweden Adolf Frederick, or Adolph Frederick ( sv, Adolf Fredrik, german: Adolf Friedrich; 14 May 171012 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death. He was the son of Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin, and Albertina ...

and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia and was and was accepted as Louisa Ulrika's teacher of the Swedish language. In 1748, Benzelius married Johanna Helena Arnell, daughter of vicar Lars Arnell and Johanna Kolthoff. In 1750 he was called to Lund as professor of theology. His siblings were ennobled with the name Benzelstierna; however, Benzelius kept his name. Benzelius was quiet and meek. He is portrayed as a more capable learned professor and being more appreciated as a friend and family man than being an apt head of a diocese. This, however, became his lot when he was appointed bishop of Strängnäs in 1776. The following year he was called, with a plurality vote, to become the bishop of Lund, and though he himself wished to remain in Lund, he was subject to the wishes of

Gustaf III Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what ...

, and had to cede his position to

Olof Celsius the Younger Olof Celsius the Younger (15 December 1716 – 15 February 1794) was a Swedish civil servant, church official, politician and historian. He was professor of history at Uppsala University from 1747, bishop of the Diocese of Lund from 1777, and mem ...

. He was a member of the

Riksdag of the Estates Riksdag of the Estates ( sv, Riksens ständer; informally sv, Ståndsriksdagen) was the name used for the Estates of Sweden when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to t ...

in 1778 and 1786. In 1778 he became a member of

Pro Fide et Christianismo (full name , ) is a Christian association within the Church of Sweden. The organization was an "informal or semi-official national school board" prior to the founding of Sweden's public education system and made a significant impact on Sweden's ...

, a Christian education society. Benzelius died in Strängnäs 2 January 1793.

Biography

References

Further reading