MERK, AUGUSTIN. — Exegete, born in Achern (Baden) on 11 September 1869, died in Rome on 3 April 1945. After completing his gymnasium and secondary-school studies, he was sent in 1887 to the Collegio Germanico-Ungarico in Rome. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1888 and studied philosophy and theology, followed by philology and patristics. From 1907 he taught at Valkenburg (Netherlands), for a few years fundamental theology, and thereafter New Testament exegesis until his death. From the beginning of his professorship, he thought of preparing a critical edition of the Greek text of the New Testament, prompted above all by the extensive critical work of H. von Soden.
The Greek text and critical apparatus, prepared by M. with great diligence even before 1914 and subsequently perfected through tireless research, were published only in 1933 (Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine) at the expense of the Pontificio Istituto Biblico (6th ed., Rome 1948). Alongside the Greek text, M. also printed the Latin text of the Vulgate, enriching it with variant readings, some of which he himself had collected from manuscripts. Developing his personal scientific views ever further, he prepared new editions of his Novum Testamentum in 1935, 1938, 1942, and 1944; its scientific value was appreciated by many, and it was introduced into a great many theological schools.
In addition to other books and numerous articles on biblical questions, he edited and enriched 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 for the Breviary. His works are characterized by great accuracy and solidity, combined with a clear and fruitful tendency to seek new solutions.