CARPZOV, JOHANN GOTTLOB. — Lutheran biblical scholar, born in Dresden on 26 Sept. 1679, died in Lübeck on 4 Apr. 1767. From the learned Saxon family of Carpzov, which between 1600 and 1800 produced six distinguished jurists and theologians (five named Johann Benedikt), he adhered to Lutheran orthodoxy. He studied at Leipzig and Altdorf. From 1713 he was professor of Oriental languages at Leipzig, remaining there until 1730; he then moved to Lübeck as superintendent.
His principal works include: *Introductio ad libros canonicos Bibliorum Veteris Testamenti* (Leipzig 1714–21; 2nd ed. ibid. 1731; 3rd ed. ibid. 1741); almost a supplement to this is *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 opposed the new biblical criticism inaugurated by Richard Simon, Jean Leclerc, and Spinoza. He steadfastly upheld the orthodox Protestant doctrine of verbal inspiration and the revelation of all that is found in the sacred books. In his view, the Hebrew and Greek texts are free from error, and even the Hebrew accents go back to the sacred writers.