Agricola, Johann

Agricola, Johann or Johannes (yō`hän, yōhä`nəs əgrĭk`ələ), c.1494–1566, German Protestant minister, whose family name was Schnitter (originally Schneider). He was born at Eisleben and is sometimes called Magister Islebius. He had an early association with Martin Luther and was active in the founding of Protestantism. In 1536 he espoused antinomianism, thus breaking with Luther. He was court preacher to Joachim II, elector of Brandenburg and helped draw up the Augsburg Interim. Agricola also made a collection of German proverbs.