Johannes Aepinus

He then adopted the modified form of the Greek word αἰπεινός (aipeinos) ("lofty"), by which he is generally known, and which he claimed was a translation of his real name (Hoeck = hoch).

In October 1529, he succeeded Johann Boldewan as pastor of St. Peter's Church, Hamburg; he helped introduce Bugenhagen's order of discipline in the city.

On 18 May 1532 he was appointed to the highest office in the Lutheran State Church of the city-state, that of superintendent according to Bugenhagen's order of discipline.

Aepinus was not able to convince the king to model the English Reformation after the Augsburg Confession, yet he managed to earn the respect of leaders such as Thomas Cromwell.

[1] He returned to Hamburg in the following January, and subsequently made numerous journeys as a representative of the city; he took part in all the church movements of the time.

Johannes Garcaeus the elder, his successor at St. Peter's, called him to account for this teaching, but left Hamburg in the following year and did not return until 1546.