His mother was a sister of the Lübeck council secretary and cathedral dean Johannes Rode, who also came from Stadthagen.

After his death in 1548 he was elected cathedral dean by the cathedral chapter and in the same year appointed vicar general for the absent bishop Theodor von Rheden.

On 11 August 1559, the chapter elected him to succeed Andreas von Barby as Bishop of Lübeck.

It shows him in full pontifical vestments, albeit not yet consecrated with the mitre in hand, and was made in 1563 by the Lübeck council founder Matthias Benningk.

It is the only surviving Renaissance grave slab of this type and size in Lübeck.