Schagen, Marten (1700-1770)

Marten (Maarten) Schagen, born 24 October 1700, at Alkmaar, died 20 October 1770, at Utrecht, was a son of Pieter Martens Schagen and Grietje Jacobs Volder. He was baptized in Alkmaar (Frisian congregation) in 1718 and in the same year he moved to Amsterdam, where he opened a bookstore and a publishing house on the Nieuwedijk in 1723. He printed and published a number of books, the most outstanding of which was a Dutch translation of the works of Josephus by A. Loosjes and J. L. Rogge in 1732. In the meantime he made a thorough study of languages (German, French, Latin, even Greek and Hebrew), literature, and theology. In 1727 he was called to be a (unsalaried) preacher of the Frisian congregation (Arke Noach) at Amsterdam, serving here until 1738, at the same time running his business. In October 1737 he took the initiative in holding weekly meetings in a room of the church to explain and discuss the New Testament. In 1738 he was called to serve the Waterlander and Frisian congregations (then united) at Alkmaar (salary 750 Dutch guilders; 1,000 guilders after 1739); he served here only three years, in 1741 accepting a call from the Utrecht congregation, which he served until his death. By his activity, his wise policy, and his strong faith he succeeded in raising the Utrecht congregation, which had fallen into a serious decline, to great prosperity. After his death his colleague Joannes Cuperus delivered a funeral sermon in his memory - M. Schagen . . . plegtig gedagt in eene Lykrede (Utrecht, 1770), in which both his assiduity and his tolerance are highly praised.

This self-made man was highly renowned for his knowledge and his erudition. In 1766 he was one of the founders of the "Maatschappij der Nederlandsche Letterkunde" (Association of Dutch Literature), which still exists. He published a large number of translations of theological books. The following sermons were published by Schagen: De Messias Uitgeroeit (Amsterdam, 1735, reprinted 1736, enlarged edition Haarlem, 1739); "Drie Proeven van Aenmerkingen over den Lastbrief aen de Efezische Kerk" in Vols. II, IV, and VI of Leerzame Verlustiging; Kerkrede over het oude geloof en 't goede geweten (Utrecht, 1742); 't Genadeloon der welaengelegde Twee Talenten, a funeral sermon for his son Petrus Schagen (Haarlem, 1755), Vryheid en zuivere Godsdienst (Haarlem-Amsterdam-Utrecht, 1762), De Muziek in der openbaeren godsdienst gewettigd. Predicatie by de inwijding van het eerste kerkorgel in de Doopsgezinde Kerk te Utrecht (Utrecht, 1771), Het eerst Kapittel van Joëls Profetie verklaert en op 's Lands Toestand gepast, six sermons (Haarlem, 1745). De Heilige Week of Nieuw Avondmaalsboekje (Haarlem, 1753) is a devotional book. Schagen tried to elevate catechetical instruction by writing and publishing some manuals: Korte Schrifuurlyke Stellingen tot onderwys der Doopsgezinde Geloofsleerlingen (Alkmaar, 1738, reprinted Haarlem, 1751), Voorbereidende Overdenkingen tot het Ontfangen van den H. Doop (no publisher or date indicated), Eenvoudige Handleiding tot de Algemeene Waerheden van het Christendom (Alkmaar, 1741), and Aanhangzel over de Byzondere Leerstukken des Geloofs, welke de Doopsgezinden handhaven (no publisher indicated, 1743).

But Schagen's special interest in study was church history. In this field he published a book on the Waldenses, Historie der Christenen, die men gemeenlyk Waldensen noemt tot den Jaere 1200 (Amsterdam-Haarlem, 1732, reprinted 1765, 1769), and two apologetical books on the Dutch Mennonites: De Kerk der Nederlandsche Doops-gezinden in derzelver Reformatie vertoont, three sermons (Haarlem, 1743), and De Reformatie der Nederlandsche Doops-gezinden, en deselve met de Kerkhervorming in't gemeen tegen alle Bezwaering verdeedigt (Haarlem, 1744). A book which is still of great value is the translation by Schagen of S. F. Rues' Aufrichtige Nachrichten von dem gegenwärtigen Zustande der Mennoniten oder Taufgesinnten wie auch der Collegianten oder Reinsburger in den vereinigten Niederlanden (Jena, 1743), which with numerous notes and corrections by Schagen was published under the title Tegenwoordige Staet der Doopsgezinden of Mennoniten in de Vereenigde Nederlanden (en) een Berigt van de Rynsburgers of Collegianten (Amsterdam, 1745). The additions by Schagen give the translation superiority over the original edition. In 1745 Schagen published a bibliography containing the names of Mennonite authors and their books with exact annotations, mentioning all reprints. Of this valuable book, entitled Naamlijst der Doopsgezinde Schryveren en schriften van 1539-1745 (Amsterdam, 1745), the Amsterdam Mennonite Library has a copy, in which Schagen himself annotated new editions and reprints published after 1745.

Schagen possessed a rich library of Mennonite books including many rare editions, which he bequeathed to the congregation of Utrecht; the catalogue of this library numbers 72 pages. In 1834 the books were sold for 250 Dutch guilders to the Amsterdam Mennonite library, where they are at present. The Amsterdam Mennonite archives also contain a handwritten copy of a sermon by Schagen on Matthew 22:31-32 and also a number of historical annotations made by himself, including the manuscript of his translation of Rues’ book.

Bibliography

Berghuys, H. B. Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinde gemeente te Utrecht. No publisher or date indicated, 1926: 52-57.

(de Lange) Beknopte Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinde gemeente te Alkmaar. No publisher or date indicated, 1927: 42-44.

Doopsgezinde Bijdragen. (1863): 22 note, 85 ff., 91, 126, 129; (1864): 130; (1868): 95 ff., 101-5; (1881): 106-10; (1890): 75; (1901): 120 ff.

Doopsgezind Jaarboekje. (1837): 62, 96-100; (1840): 111, 113, 125; (1850): 137.

Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam, 2 vols. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: v. 1, nos. 673-76, 719, 733-36, 754-56; v. 2: nos. 1411; v. 2, II. nos. 56, 68.

Molhuysen, P. C. and P. J. Blok. Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, vols. 1-10. Leiden, 1911-1937: v. 1, 1452-55.

Sepp, J. C. Johannes Stinstra en zijn tijd. vol. 1. Amsterdam, 1865-66: 75, 139, 215. vol. 2: 99 ff.

Author(s)	Nanne van der Zijpp
Date Published	1959

Cite This Article

MLA style

Zijpp, Nanne van der. "Schagen, Marten (1700-1770)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Schagen,_Marten_(1700-1770)&oldid=123477.

APA style

Zijpp, Nanne van der. (1959). Schagen, Marten (1700-1770). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Schagen,_Marten_(1700-1770)&oldid=123477.

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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, pp. 441-442. All rights reserved.

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