FUNK, FRANZ XAVER. – Catholic historian, born on 12 Oct. 1840 at Abtsgmünd, died on 24 Feb. 1907 at Tübingen. Ordained priest in 1864, he succeeded C. G. Hefele in the chair of ecclesiastical history in 1870 and in 1875 was appointed professor at the University of Tübingen, where he taught ecclesiastical history, patrology, and Christian archaeology for 37 years. He was highly esteemed, especially for his knowledge of Christian antiquity. His works were distinguished by acumen, sound judgment, rigorous method, and love of truth, particularly in research.
His editions of patristic works are very well known: Opera Patrum Apostolicorum (2 vols., Tübingen 1901); Doctrina XII Apostolorum (ibid. 1887); Didascalia et Constitutiones Apostolorum (2 vols., ibid. 1905). Other writings include Lehrbuch der Kirchengeschichte (Tübingen 1886, also translated into Italian by P. Perciballi, Rome 1903); K. Bihlmeyer prepared an updated 11th edition: Kirchengeschichte auf Grund des Lehrbuches von F. X. F. (Paderborn 1940); Die Echtheit der ignatianischen Briefe (ibid. 1883); Der Text unseres Herrn (ibid. 1901); Kirchengeschichtliche Abhandlungen und Untersuchungen (3 vols., ibid. 1897–1907).