Carpzov, Johann Gottlieb

CARPZOV, JOHANN GOTTLIEB. - Lutheran biblical scholar, b. in Dresden on 26 Sept. 1679 and d. in Lübeck on 4 Apr. 1767. Of the learned Saxon family of the C., which produced between 1600 and 1800 six celebrated jurists and theologians (five named Johann Benedikt), [adherents] of Lutheran orthodoxy. He studied at Leipzig and Altdorf. From 1713 professor of Oriental languages at Leipzig, he remained there until 1730; he then moved to Lübeck, as superintendent.

His principal works: Introductio ad libros canonicos Bibliorum Veteris Testamenti (Leipzig 1714-21; 2nd ed. ibid. 1731; 3rd ed. ibid. 1741); almost a supplement to this work is the Critica sacra Veteris Testamenti (ibid. 1728); Apparatus historico-criticus Antiquitatum sacri codicis et gentis hebraicae (ibid. 1748). Minor works: Disputationes de pluralitate personarum in una Dei essentia ad II Sam. 7, 23 (ibid. 1720); Disputationes de anno Jubileo ex Lev. 25 (ibid. 1730); Praefatio de variis lectionibus in codicibus biblicis Novi Testamenti, ibid. 1730. He was one of the most learned men of his time and fought the new biblical criticism inaugurated by Richard Simon, Jean Le Clerc and Spinoza. He firmly held the orthodox Protestant doctrine of verbal inspiration and of the revelation of everything found in the sacred books. The Hebrew and Greek texts are, according to him, immune from error, and even the Hebrew accents go back to the hagiographers.

Arduino Kleinhans