AUGUSTIN MERK. — Exegete, born at Achern (Baden) on 18 September 1869, died in Rome on 3 April 1945. After completing his classical and secondary studies, he was sent in 1887 to the German-Hungarian College in Rome. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1888, studied philosophy and theology, and later philology and patristics. From 1907 he taught fundamental theology for a few years at Valkenburg (Holland), then New Testament exegesis until his death. From the beginning of his professorial career he planned to produce a critical edition of the Greek text of the New Testament, inspired above all by the monumental critical work of H. von Soden.
The Greek text and critical apparatus, elaborated by M. with great diligence even before 1914 and then perfected through indefatigable research, were published only in 1933 (Novum Testamentum Graece et Latine) at the expense of the Pontifical Biblical Institute (6th ed., Rome 1948). Alongside the Greek text M. also printed the Latin text of the Vulgate, enriching it with variant readings partly gathered by him from manuscripts. Developing ever more his personal scientific views, 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 into very many theological schools.
Besides other books and numerous articles on biblical questions, he revised and enriched several new editions of R. Cornely’s noteworthy Compendium introductionis. From 1941 until his death he collaborated on the new version of the Psalms for the Breviary. His works are marked by great accuracy and solidity, combined with a clear and fruitful tendency to find new solutions.