Schegg, Peter Johann

SCHEGG, PETER JOHANN. - Catholic exegete, b. June 6, 1815 at Kaufbeuren in the Allgäu (Bavaria), d. at Munich on July 9, 1885. A priest in 1838 at Augsburg, on account of his frail health he became chaplain of the English Ladies at Berg am Laim, near Munich. He devoted his free time to the study of the Hebrew Bible.

The hefty volume Ausgewählte Psalmen earned him the friendship of D. B. von Haneberg (v.), who, it seems, directed him toward an academic career. In 1843 S. became "repetitor" (lecturer) in exegesis at the Lyceum of Freising. In the following years he brought to light numerous works of exegesis, first on the Old, then on the New Testament. A professor in 1847, he was transferred to Würzburg in 1868; after the death of Reithmayr, from 1872 he held at Munich the chair of hermeneutics, introduction and New Testament exegesis. He was also a senator of the University for 10 years and rector in 1881-86. In the years 1833-38 at the University of Munich he was a disciple of Möhler (v.), Döllinger (v.), Allioli (v.) and Stadtler, in a glorious period of that theological Faculty. He possessed a good formation in positive theology, less so in dogmatics. His commentaries are based on solid philological work; nevertheless personal opinions are not lacking, nor a certain prolixity, especially in the ascetical meditations inserted into the commentaries. The whole, however, is pervaded by a most effective unction. S. truly penetrated the soul of the sacred writers. He was a pious priest, of great simplicity, very beneficent toward the poor. At his death he destined his property to the founding of an orphanage in his native town.

Works: Ausgewählte Psalmen (Ratisbon 1843); Die Psalmen (2 vols., Munich 1845-47; 2nd ed. in 3 vols., ibid. 1857); Isaias (2 vols., ibid. 1850); Die Geschichte der letzten Propheten (2 vols., Ratisbon 1853-54); Kleine Propheten (ibid. 1854); Matthäus (3 vols., Munich 1856-58); Lukas (3 vols., ibid. 1861-85); Gedenkbuch einer Pilgerreise (in Palestine; 2 vols., ibid. 1867); Markus (2 vols., ibid. 1870); Leben Jesu (2 vols., Freiburg im Br. 1874-75); Johannes (according to the correspondence of Haneberg, 2 vols., Munich 1878-1880); Todesjahr des Herodes und Jesu (against Fl. Riess, ibid. 1882); Jakobus, der Bruder des Herrn, und sein Brief (ibid. 1883); Das Hohelied (ibid. 1885); Biblische Archäologie (published posthumously by J. B. Wirthmüller, 2 vols., ibid. 1887; on pp. v-xviii the "life" of S.).

Pietro Nober