ABERLE, MORITZ von. - Theologian and biblical scholar, b. 25 Apr. 1817 at Rottum near Biberach, ordained priest 29 Aug. 1842, d. 3 Nov. 1875 at Tubinga, where from 1850 he was professor of moral theology and New Testament exegesis in the Catholic theological faculty. From 1851 he was the principal contributor to the Theologische Quartalschrift.
As a moralist he follows St. Alfonso, examines probabilism in depth, and develops its speculative rather than casuistic aspect. His studies on the New Testament, contained in lengthy articles, concern the Gospels (especially the Supper, the Passion, and the Resurrection), the Acts, the Iᵃ to Timothy, and the Apocalypse. Innovative in method but traditionalist in substance, he sought to prove that the evangelists had an anti-Jewish apologetic purpose. He was a pious priest, a beloved teacher, and an indefatigable researcher. His Einleitung in das Neue Testament was published posthumously by his successor P. Schanz (Friburgo in Br. 1877).