SCHEGG, PETER JOHANN. – Catholic exegete, born on 6 June 1815 at Kaufbeuren in the Allgäu (Bavaria), died in Munich on 9 July 1885. Ordained a priest in 1838
in Augsburg, owing to his precarious health he became chaplain to the English Ladies at Berg am Laim, near Munich. He devoted his free time to the study of the Hebrew Bible.
The substantial volume Ausgewählte Psalmen earned him the friendship of D. B. Haneberg (v.), who apparently directed him toward an academic career. In 1843 S. became a “repetitor” (lecturer) in exegesis at the Lyceum of Freising. In the following years he published numerous exegetical works, first on the Old, then on the New Testament. Professor from 1847, he was transferred to Würzburg in 1868; after the death of Reithmayr, from 1872 he occupied in 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 pupil of Möhler (v.), Döllinger (v.), Allioli (v.), and Stadtler, during a glorious period for that Faculty of Theology. He possessed a sound grounding in positive theology, less so in dogmatic theology. His commentaries are based on solid philological work; nevertheless, they contain personal opinions and a certain prolixity, especially in the ascetical meditations inserted into the commentaries. The whole, however, is permeated by a highly effective unction. S. truly penetrated the soul of the sacred writers. He was a pious priest, of great simplicity, and very charitable toward the poor. At his death he destined his estate to the foundation of an orphanage in his native town.
Works: Ausgewählte Psalmen (Ratisbona 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., Ratisbona 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 Haneberg’s correspondence, 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, S.’s “life”).