Philipp Nicolai (10 August 1556 – 26 October 1608) was a German Lutheran pastor, poet, and composer. He is most widely recognized as a hymnodist. Life. Philipp Nicolai was born at Mengeringhausen in Waldeck, where his father was a Lutheran pastor. His early education include studies at Kassel, Hildesheim and Dortmund. He studied theology at the University of Erfurt where he was a pupil of Ludwig Helmbold. In 1583, he was ordained to the Lutheran ministry and was appointed minister at Herdecke. He was subsequently expelled during the Counter-Reformation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Nicolai