Adalbert Merx
Encyclopedia
Adalbert Merx was a German
Protestant theologian
and orientalist
.
at the University of Tübingen, and in 1873 professor of theology at the University of Giessen
. From 1875 till his death he was professor of theology of the University of Heidelberg. In the course of his researches he made several journeys in the East.
Merx devoted much of his later research to the elucidation of the Sinaitic Palimpsest
discovered in 1892 by Mrs. Agnes Smith Lewis, the results (Die Evangelien des Markus und Lukas nach der Syrischen im Sinaikloster gefundenen Palimpsesthandschrift) being embodied in Die vier kanonischen Evangelien nach dem ältesten bekannten Texte (4 vols., 1897–1905). His last work was an edition of the books of Moses
and Joshua
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Protestant theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
.
Biography
He studied at the University of Jena, where he became extraordinary professor in 1869. Subsequently he was ordinary professor of philosophyPhilosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Tübingen, and in 1873 professor of theology at the University of Giessen
University of Giessen
The University of Giessen is officially called the Justus Liebig University Giessen after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.-History:The University of Gießen is among the oldest institutions of...
. From 1875 till his death he was professor of theology of the University of Heidelberg. In the course of his researches he made several journeys in the East.
Merx devoted much of his later research to the elucidation of the Sinaitic Palimpsest
Sinaitic Palimpsest
The Syriac Sinaitic , known also as the Sinaitic Palimpsest, of Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai is a late 4th century manuscript of 358 pages, containing a translation of the four canonical gospels of the New Testament into Syriac, which have been overwritten by a vita of female saints...
discovered in 1892 by Mrs. Agnes Smith Lewis, the results (Die Evangelien des Markus und Lukas nach der Syrischen im Sinaikloster gefundenen Palimpsesthandschrift) being embodied in Die vier kanonischen Evangelien nach dem ältesten bekannten Texte (4 vols., 1897–1905). His last work was an edition of the books of Moses
Book of Moses
The Book of Moses is part of the scriptural canon of Mormonism dictated by founder Joseph Smith, Jr. It is an amalgamation of the "Vision of Moses," which Smith dictated in June 1830, the "Book of Enoch," dictated December 1830, and material deriving from Smith's revision of the Book of Genesis in...
and Joshua
Book of Joshua
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and of the Old Testament. Its 24 chapters tell of the entry of the Israelites into Canaan, their conquest and division of the land under the leadership of Joshua, and of serving God in the land....
.
Works
Among his many works are:- Grammatica syriaca (1867–1870)
- Vocabulary of the Tigre languageTigre languageFor other uses please see Tigre Tigre is a Semitic language, which, along with Tigrinya, is believed to be one of direct descendants of the extinct Ge'ez language...
(1868) - Das Gedicht vom Hiob (1871)
- Die Prophetie des Joel und ihre Ausleger (1879)
- Die Saadjanische Übersetzung der Hohe Liedes ins Arabische (1882)
- Chrestomathia Targumica (1888)
- Historia artis grammaticae apud Syros (1889)
- Ein samaritanisches Fragment (1893)
- Idee und Grundlinien einer allgemeiner Geschichte der Mystik (1893)
- Die Bücher Moses und Josua; eine Einfuhrung fur Laien (1907)
- Der Messias oder Ta'eb der Samaritaner, nach bisher unbekannten Quellen (1909)