 He was educated in the school of the parish of St. Nicolai in his native city, then in Lüneburg, and entered the University of Wittenberg, where he became the pupil of Melanchthon and Luther.In 1532, on the recommendation of Melanchthon, he was appointed teacher at the Johanneum in his native city.In 1534 he returned to the University of Wittenberg, and in the following year removed with the university to Jena.