FRITZSCHE, CHRISTIAN FRIEDRICH: Reformed theologian; b. in Nauendorf (10 m. n. of Halls) Aug.17,1776; d. at Zurich Oct.18,1850. He studied in the Latin school of the Halls orphan asylum and entered the University of Leipsic in 1792; in 1799 he became pastor in Steinbach and Lauterbach near Borna, and in 1809 preacher and superintendent at Dobrilugk. He took a warm interest in the public schools and wrote monographs and articles on the theological questions of the time from the supernaturalistic point of view. When he became too deaf to preach he was made honorary professor of theology at Halls in 1827, ordinary professor in 1830; and held the position till 1848. His writings were collected in two volumes of Opusculd academics (Leipsic, 1838, and Zurich, 1846).
Bibliography: : C. W. Spieker, Ana dens Leben don · · . C. F. Breaciva, Frankfort, 1845; Ava den Brie%n von C. F. Breacius an C. F. Fritzache, von O. F. Fntssahe in 7.%G, uv. 214-240.
FRITZSCHE, KARL FRIEDRICH AUGUST: German exegete, son of Christian Friedrich Fritzsche (q.v.); b. at Steinbach, near Boma (15 m. s.s.e. of Leipsic), Dec. 16, 1801; d. at Giessen Dec. 6, 1846. He was educated from 1814 to 1820 at the Thomasschool in Leipsic and then studied theology at the same place. In 1825 he became professor on the philosophical faculty. In 1826 he went as professor of theology to Rostock, and in 1841 to Giessen. His theological views were rationalistic, and he concentrated his efforts chiefly upon the exegesis of the Bible, especially of the New Testament. Biblical exegesis in the second decade of the nineteenth century was at a low ebb. The prevailing conception of language was purely empirical; general laws were deduced from superficial investigations, and by confounding the meaning and sense of words the most different and contradictory interpretations were often justified; there was no trace of a penetration into the fundamental spirit of language. Exegesis had become the vehicle of dogmatics, and everything displeasing was simply explained away from the Bible. The reform of these conditions in the sphere o£ philology was started by the Rostock philologist Gottfried Hermann, and it was transferred to Biblical literature by Winer and Fritzsche. The strictly grammatical method of Bible study was first introduced by Winer in his Gtammatik des neutesttameratlichen Slorachidioms (Leipsic, 1822), and Fritzsche was one of the most industrious contributors to the later emendations and editions of this work. He paid special attention to the linguistic element in exegesis; textual criticism was one of his favorite occupations. His most important works are: De taonnullis posterior's Pauli ad Corinthios epistola; locis dissertationes dace (1823-24) and his commentaries on Matthew (1826), Mark (1830), and the Epistle to the Romans (3 parts, Halle, 1836-43). Some of his miscellaneous writings have been collected in Fritzschiorum oPuscula academics (Leipsic, 1838). Against the purely diplomatic method which Lach-
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Bibliography: A. Bnobel, Grabrede, Giessen, 1847; Aib pemeine Zeitung for CAridenthum and Ruche, 1847, no. 2; Allpemeins Kirdhanseitung, 1847, no. 26..
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