FRITZSCHE, OTTO FRIDOLIN: German theologian, youngest son of Christian Friedrich Fritzeche; b. at Dobrilugk (66 m. s.a.w. of Frankfort), Prussia, Sept. 23, 1812; d. at Zurich Mar. 9, 1896. He studied at Halle and became privat-docent there in 1836, but in 1837 was called as professor of theology to the University of Zurich, where he was active in his official capacity until 1893. In 1837 he was also made librarian in the theological department of the library of the canton and in 1844 chief librarian of the same library. He lectured on New Testament exegesis and church history and wrote valuable books in these fields. His exegesis is based on the new principles in linguistic research advocated by Gottfried Hermann, his older brother Karl Friedrich August Fritzsche (q.v.) and Winer. His text editions contain extensive collections of different readings and critical introductions; his edition of the Apocrypha of the Old Testament (Leipsic, 1871) is the most comprehensive and important. Notwithstanding some objections that may be raised, it is the best edition now in existence. Its chief merit lies in the collection and systematic utilization of the material collected by Holmes and Parsons for the "Oxford Septuagint" (5 vols., 1789-1827; see Bible Versions, A, L), to which Fritzsche added the Codex Sinaiticus and the fragments of the Codex Ephraemi, while for Sirach, Baruch, the Epistle of Jeremiah, and the additions in Daniel he unfortunately did not compare the Codex Vaticanus. At the end of this text edition there are to be found some of the so-called Pseudepigrapha-the Psalms of Solomon, the Fourth and Fifth Books of Ezra, the Apocalypse of Baruch, and the Ascension of Moses. The Paeudepigrapha were also published separately (1871). Fritzsche also edited the double text of the Greek translation of the Book of Esther with the Greek additions (1848-49), the Greek translation of the Book of $uth (1864) and of the Book of Judges (1866-67). Other publications belonging in the same category are-Probe einer kritischen Ausgabe der alten lateinischen U ebersetzung ties Neum Testament" (1867), which consists of the text of the first five chapters of the Gospel of Luke; and the edition of the fragments of the old Latin translation of the Book of Judges as an appendix to the abovementioned edition of the Greek translation of the Book of Judges. Of text editions belonging to the sphere of church history may be mentionedDer Brief des Clemens an Jakobus in der lateinischen Uebersetzung des Ruftnus (1873); Die Werke des Ladantius (1842); Theoddrs von Mopm"tia exegetische Schriften z um Neuen Testament samt den Fragmeenten seiner Schrift: "De incarnations filii Dei" (1847); Anselm of Canterbury's Cur dens homo (3d. ed., 1893); Confessio Helrodiea posterior (1839). He also prepared a biography of the Zurich theologian Johann Jakob Zimmermann (1841)

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and alareanus, sein Leben und seine Schriften (1890). His principal work in exegesis is the Kurzgefaast" eaxgetwehes Handbuch z u den Apokry_ phen des Alter Teatamentes (6 vols., 1851-60), which he wrote with Willibald Grimm. It is still the best commentary on the Old Testament apoorypha. The first, second and fifth volumes are the work of Fritzsche; they comprise the third book of Ezra, the additions to Esther and Daniel, the Prayer of Manasseh, the Book of Baruch and the Epistle of Jeremiah in the first volume; the books of Tobit and Judith in the second and the book of Jesus Sirach in the fifth volume.

(Victor Ryssel.)

Bibliography: V. Rywel, in Theolooiadae Zeitschritt Gus der schunia, 1896, pp. 108-123; Steiner, in TAeologiade Zeitechritt Gus der Schweiz, 1887.