Michael Servetus

Michael Servetus , 1511-53, Spanish theologian and physician. His name in Spanish was Miguel Serveto. In his early years he came in contact with some of the leading reformers in Germany and Switzerland—Johannes Oecolampadius , Martin Bucer , Wolfgang Fabricius Capito , and probably Martin Luther . But he held views, concerning the Trinity in particular, that brought condemnation from the theologians of the Reformation as well as from those of the Roman Catholic Church. When he published De trinitatis erroribus (1531) and De trinitate (1532), the feeling of opposition was so strong that he assumed the name of Michel de Villeneuve, from the family home, Villanueva, and spent some time in Lyons, working on an edition of Ptolemy's geography and other scientific works, then in Paris studying medicine. There he is said to have seen John Calvin . He became well-known for his ability in dissection and had unusual success as a physician; he discovered that some of the blood circulates through the lungs. From 1541 to 1553 he lived in the palace of the archbishop of Vienne as his confidential physician. When (1553) he had a work setting forth his ideas of Christianity secretly printed, investigation was begun by the Inquisition. Servetus, arrested, tried, and condemned, escaped from prison. Several months later, while making his way to Italy, he was seized in Geneva by Calvin's order. There, after a long trial, in which Calvin's condemnation was a stern factor, he was burned on Oct. 27, 1553.

Bibliography: See biographies by R. H. Bainton (1953) and J. F. Fulton (1954).

Servetus, Michael (1511–53) Spanish physician and theologian. Servetus published (1531–32) his unorthodox opinions concerning the Trinity. In medicine, he discovered that blood circulates through the lungs. Forced to flee from the Inquisition, Servetus was equally unwelcome among Reformation theologians. Under the orders of John Calvin, he was arrested and tried in Geneva and burned as a heretic.

Servetus, Michael (c.1511–53), physician and anti-Trinitarian writer. In 1531 he published a treatise attacking the current formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity; it shocked his Protestant friends. After studying medicine, in 1542 he was appointed physician to the Abp. of Vienne. He entered into correspondence with J. Calvin in 1546, sending him the manuscript of his main work, Christianismi Restitutio, which was to appear anonymously in 1553. In this he not only rejected the traditional doctrine of the Trinity but developed unorthodox views on the Incarnation. With Calvin's collaboration, Servetus' authorship was denounced to the Inquisition. He was imprisoned but escaped to Geneva; here he was arrested and burnt as a heretic nearby. This event gave rise to heated controversy among Protestants as to whether heretics should be condemned to death.