MERK, AUGUSTIN. - Exegete, b. at Achern (Baden) on Sept. 11, 1869, d. in Rome on Apr. 3, 1945. After completing his gymnasium and lyceum studies, he was sent in 1887 to the German-Hungarian College in Rome. Having entered the Society of Jesus in 1888, he studied philosophy and theology, and then philology and patristics. From 1907 he taught at Valkenburg (Holland) for a few years fundamental theology, then exegesis of the New Testament until his death. From the very beginning of his professorship he thought of making a critical edition of the Greek text of the New Testament, moved above all by the immense critical work of H. von Soden.
The Greek text and the critical apparatus, elaborated by M. with great diligence already before 1914, then perfected with tireless research, were published only in 1933 (Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine) at the expense of the Pontifical Biblical Institute (6th ed., Rome 1948). Together with the Greek text M. also printed the Latin text of the Vulgate, enriching it with variant readings, collected in part by himself in the manuscripts. Developing his personal scientific viewpoints more and more, he prepared in 1935, 1938, 1942 and 1944 new editions of his Novum Testamentum, whose scientific value was appreciated by many, and which was introduced in very many theological schools.
Besides other books and numerous articles on biblical questions, he edited, enriching them, several new editions of the notable Compendium introductionis of R. Cornely. From 1941 until his death he collaborated on the new version of the Psalms of the Breviary. His works are characterized by great accuracy and solidity, combined with a clear and fruitful tendency to find new solutions.
Bibliography
Ernesto Vogt