Jonas, Justus (1493-1555)

German Lutheran jurist and theologian. A firm friend and admirer of Martin Luther, Jonas took a prominent part in the Protestant cause. He attended both the Colloquy of Marburg in 1529 and the Diet of Augsburg in 1530, and translated a number of Luther's Latin works into German along with the Loci communes of Melanchthon.

Jonas was born at Nordhausen and proved to be an able scholar whose precocious talents attracted the notice of Erasmus. He became professor of law at Erfurt in 1518, and in 1521 professor of theology at Wittenberg. In 1541 Jonas left Wittenberg to take up a post in Halle where, as superintendent of the area's churches, he supervised the organization of the local reform. Forced to leave Halle by the Schmalkaldic war (Schmalkaldic League) he eventually settled in Eisleben, where he remained until his death.