Johann Albrecht Bengel - Revision history

Nick: /* Gnomon Novi Testamenti */

2016-03-23T09:17:15Z

Gnomon Novi Testamenti

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	==Gnomon Novi Testamenti==		==Gnomon Novi Testamenti==

	The other great work of Bengel, and that on which his reputation as an exegete is mainly based, is his ''Gnomon Novi Testamenti'', or ''Exegetical Annotations on the New Testament'', published in 1742. It was the fruit of twenty years labor, and exhibits with a brevity of expression, which, it has been said, condenses more matter into a line than can be extracted from pages of other writers, the results of his study. He modestly entitled his work a ''[[Gnomon]]'' or index, his object being rather to guide the reader to ascertain the meaning for himself, than to save him from the trouble of personal investigation. The principles of interpretation on which he proceeded were, to import nothing into Scripture, but to draw out of it everything that it really contained, in conformity with grammatico-historical rules not to be hampered by dogmatical considerations; and not to be influenced by the symbolical books. Bengel's hope that the ''Gnomon'' would help to rekindle a fresh interest in the study of the New Testament was fully realized. It has passed through many editions, has been translated into [[German language\|German]] and into [[English language\|English]], and is still one of the books most valued by expositors of the New Testament--[[John Wesley]] made great use of it in compiling his ''Expository Notes upon the New Testament'' (1755).		The other great work of Bengel, and that on which his reputation as an exegete is mainly based, is his ''Gnomon Novi Testamenti'', or ''Exegetical Annotations on the New Testament'', published in [[1742 AD\|1742]]. It was the fruit of twenty years labor, and exhibits with a brevity of expression, which, it has been said, condenses more matter into a line than can be extracted from pages of other writers, the results of his study. He modestly entitled his work a ''[[Gnomon]]'' or index, his object being rather to guide the reader to ascertain the meaning for himself, than to save him from the trouble of personal investigation. The principles of interpretation on which he proceeded were, to import nothing into Scripture, but to draw out of it everything that it really contained, in conformity with grammatico-historical rules not to be hampered by dogmatical considerations; and not to be influenced by the symbolical books. Bengel's hope that the ''Gnomon'' would help to rekindle a fresh interest in the study of the New Testament was fully realized. It has passed through many editions, has been translated into [[German language\|German]] and into [[English language\|English]], and is still one of the books most valued by expositors of the New Testament--[[John Wesley]] made great use of it in compiling his ''Expository Notes upon the New Testament'' (1755).

	Besides the two works already described, Bengel was the editor or author of many others, classical, patristic, ecclesiastical and expository. The more important are: ''Ordo Temporum'', a treatise on the chronology of Scripture, in which he enters upon speculations regarding the end of the world, and an ''Exposition of the Apocalypse'' which enjoyed for a time great popularity in Germany, and was translated into several languages. His fame was such that almost 200 years later, [[Hermann Hesse]] has the hero of [[The Glass Bead Game]] discuss Bengel's writings.		Besides the two works already described, Bengel was the editor or author of many others, classical, patristic, ecclesiastical and expository. The more important are: ''Ordo Temporum'', a treatise on the chronology of Scripture, in which he enters upon speculations regarding the end of the world, and an ''Exposition of the Apocalypse'' which enjoyed for a time great popularity in Germany, and was translated into several languages. His fame was such that almost 200 years later, [[Hermann Hesse]] has the hero of [[The Glass Bead Game]] discuss Bengel's writings.

Nick at 09:00, 23 March 2016

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	[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]		[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]
	'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] ~~said~~ that Bengel was the ~~"''~~father of textual criticism.~~''"~~ <sup>[1]</sup>		'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] also agreed with claims that Bengel was the father of modern textual criticism.<sup>[1]</sup>

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==
	Bengel was born at [[Winnenden]] in [[Württemberg]], [[Germany]].		Bengel was born at [[Winnenden]] in [[Württemberg]], [[Germany]].
	Due to the death of his father in 1693, he was educated by a family friend, David Wendel Spindler,<sup>[]</sup> who became a master in the [[Gymnasium (Germany)\|gymnasium]] at [[Stuttgart]]. In 1703 Bengel left Stuttgart and entered the [[University of Tübingen]] as a student at the ''[[Tübinger Stift]]'', where, in his spare time, he devoted himself especially to the works of [[Aristotle]] and [[Spinoza]], and, in theology, to those of [[Philipp Jakob Spener\|Philipp Spener]], [[Johann Arndt]] and [[August Francke]]. His knowledge of the [[metaphysics]] of [[Spinoza]] was such that he was selected by one of the professors to prepare materials for a treatise, ''De Spinosismo'', which was afterwards published.		Due to the death of his father in 1693, he was educated by a family friend, David Wendel Spindler,<sup>[2]</sup> who became a master in the [[Gymnasium (Germany)\|gymnasium]] at [[Stuttgart]]. In 1703 Bengel left Stuttgart and entered the [[University of Tübingen]] as a student at the ''[[Tübinger Stift]]'', where, in his spare time, he devoted himself especially to the works of [[Aristotle]] and [[Spinoza]], and, in theology, to those of [[Philipp Jakob Spener\|Philipp Spener]], [[Johann Arndt]] and [[August Francke]]. His knowledge of the [[metaphysics]] of [[Spinoza]] was such that he was selected by one of the professors to prepare materials for a treatise, ''De Spinosismo'', which was afterwards published.

	After acquiring his degree, Bengel devoted himself to [[theology]]. Even at this time he had religious doubts; it is interesting in view of his later work that one cause of his perplexities was the difficulty of ascertaining the true reading of certain passages in the [[Greek New Testament]]. In 1707 Bengel entered the ministry and was appointed to the parochial charge of [[Metzingen]]-unter-Urach. In the following year he was recalled to Tübingen to undertake the office of ''Repetent'' (theological tutor).		After acquiring his degree, Bengel devoted himself to [[theology]]. Even at this time he had religious doubts; it is interesting in view of his later work that one cause of his perplexities was the difficulty of ascertaining the true reading of certain passages in the [[Greek New Testament]]. In 1707 Bengel entered the ministry and was appointed to the parochial charge of [[Metzingen]]-unter-Urach. In the following year he was recalled to Tübingen to undertake the office of ''Repetent'' (theological tutor).
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	Besides the two works already described, Bengel was the editor or author of many others, classical, patristic, ecclesiastical and expository. The more important are: ''Ordo Temporum'', a treatise on the chronology of Scripture, in which he enters upon speculations regarding the end of the world, and an ''Exposition of the Apocalypse'' which enjoyed for a time great popularity in Germany, and was translated into several languages. His fame was such that almost 200 years later, [[Hermann Hesse]] has the hero of [[The Glass Bead Game]] discuss Bengel's writings.		Besides the two works already described, Bengel was the editor or author of many others, classical, patristic, ecclesiastical and expository. The more important are: ''Ordo Temporum'', a treatise on the chronology of Scripture, in which he enters upon speculations regarding the end of the world, and an ''Exposition of the Apocalypse'' which enjoyed for a time great popularity in Germany, and was translated into several languages. His fame was such that almost 200 years later, [[Hermann Hesse]] has the hero of [[The Glass Bead Game]] discuss Bengel's writings.

			==[[Kurt Aland]]==
			From The Text of the New Testament, 1995, p. 10-11
			:Johann Albrecht Bengel (1687-1752) admittedly reprinted the Textus Receptus in his edition of 1734 (he did not base his work solely on a single edition as did most scholars who preceded or followed him, but rather drew on numerous editions, selecting the readings he considered superior). But he classified each reading in the apparatus by a system in which the first two classes amounted to a virtual revision of the Textus Receptus (a = the original reading, with full certainty; β= a reading superior to the Textus Receptus. though with less than absolute certainty).
			:... It is true that Griesbach altered the Textus Receptus, but hardly enough to challenge seriously the record of Bengel's proposed changes in his first two classes of readings (even Wettstein, who placed his preferred readings between the Textus Receptus which he printed and its apparatus, proposed fewer changes than Bengel). The essential principles of textual criticism which have retained their validity to the present were already formulated by Bengel.<sup>[3]</sup> To him is due the laurel for the eighteenth century.<sup>[4]</sup>

	==References==		==References==
	* 1. K. Aland, “Bibel und Bibeltext bei August Hermann Francke und Johann Albrecht Bengel,” in Pietismus und Bibel Herausgegeben von Kurt Aland, (Arbeiten Zur Gershichte der Pietismus 9; Witten: Luther Verlag, 1970, p. 136) - reference given in the Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, 1998, by Donald K. McKim.p. 291 (Similarly, the London Quarterly used the exact phrase back in 1864: https://books.google.com/books?id=us05AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA496)		* 1. K. Aland, “Bibel und Bibeltext bei August Hermann Francke und Johann Albrecht Bengel,” in Pietismus und Bibel Herausgegeben von Kurt Aland, (Arbeiten Zur Gershichte der Pietismus 9; Witten: Luther Verlag, 1970, p. 136) - reference given in the Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, 1998, by Donald K. McKim.p. 291 (Similarly, the London Quarterly used the exact phrase back in 1864: https://books.google.com/books?id=us05AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA496)
			* 2. John Christian Frederic Burk, ed. (1842). A memoir of the life and writings of John Albert Bengel, prelate in Würtemberg. Robert Francis Walker, trans. London: R. Gladding, etc. p. 2.
			* 3. Although in elaboration of views proposed by Gerhard von Maesirichi in 1711.
			* 4. Just as to Brooke Foss Westcott and Fenton John Anthony Hort for the nineteenth century, although they were surpassed by Constantin von Tischendorf in the use of manuscripts, just as Bengel was by Wettstein.
	**[[Oskar Wächter]], ''J. A. Bengels Lebensabriss''		**[[Oskar Wächter]], ''J. A. Bengels Lebensabriss''
	**[[John C. F. Burk]], ed., ''A memoir of the life and writings of John Albert Bengel'' (J. A. Bengels Leben und Wirken), translated into English by Rev. R. F. Walker (London, 1837 and 1842)		**[[John C. F. Burk]], ed., ''A memoir of the life and writings of John Albert Bengel'' (J. A. Bengels Leben und Wirken), translated into English by Rev. R. F. Walker (London, 1837 and 1842)

Nick at 08:35, 23 March 2016

2016-03-23T08:35:01Z

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	[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]		[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]
	'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] said that Bengel was the "father of textual criticism." <sup>[1]</sup>		'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] said that Bengel was the "''father of textual criticism.''" <sup>[1]</sup>

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==

Nick at 08:21, 23 March 2016

2016-03-23T08:21:59Z

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	[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]		[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]
	'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] said that Bengel was the "father of textual criticism."		'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] said that Bengel was the "father of textual criticism." <sup>[1]</sup>

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==
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	In 1741 he was appointed prelate (i.e. general superintendent) at [[Herbrechtingen]], where he remained till 1749, when he was raised to the dignity of consistorial counsellor and prelate of [[Alpirsbach]], with a residence in [[Stuttgart]]. He devoted himself to the discharge of his duties as a member of the consistory. A question of considerable difficulty was at that time occupying the attention of the church courts: the manner in which those who separated themselves from the church were to be dealt with, and the amount of toleration which should be accorded to meetings held in private houses for the purpose of religious edification. The civil power (the duke of Württemberg was a [[Roman Catholic]]) was disposed to have recourse to measures of repression, while the members of the consistory, recognizing the good effects of such meetings, were inclined to concede considerable liberty. Bengel exerted himself on the side of the members of the consistory. In 1751 the university of Tübingen conferred upon him the degree of [[Doctor of Divinity]].		In 1741 he was appointed prelate (i.e. general superintendent) at [[Herbrechtingen]], where he remained till 1749, when he was raised to the dignity of consistorial counsellor and prelate of [[Alpirsbach]], with a residence in [[Stuttgart]]. He devoted himself to the discharge of his duties as a member of the consistory. A question of considerable difficulty was at that time occupying the attention of the church courts: the manner in which those who separated themselves from the church were to be dealt with, and the amount of toleration which should be accorded to meetings held in private houses for the purpose of religious edification. The civil power (the duke of Württemberg was a [[Roman Catholic]]) was disposed to have recourse to measures of repression, while the members of the consistory, recognizing the good effects of such meetings, were inclined to concede considerable liberty. Bengel exerted himself on the side of the members of the consistory. In 1751 the university of Tübingen conferred upon him the degree of [[Doctor of Divinity]].

	Bengel carried on an 18-year-long controversy with [[Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf\|Nicolaus Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf]], leader of the [[Moravian Church\|Moravian Brethren]] from [[Herrnhut]] in [[Saxony]]. This led to a break between the Moravian Brethren and the dour Pietism typical of Wuerttemberg, represented by Bengel. With his determined certainty giving him systematic insight into the divine Plan of Salvation, Bengel dogmatically opposed the dynamic, ecumenical, missionary efforts of Zinzendorf, who was indifferent to all dogmatism and intolerance. As Bengel did not hesitate to manipulate historical calendars in his [[chiliasm]] attempts to predict the end of the world, Zinzendorf rejected this as superstitious “interpretation of signs.”~~<ref>Paragraph translated from the [[:de:Johann Albrecht Bengel\|corresponding article]] in [[:de:Hauptseite\|German Wikipedia]].</ref>~~		Bengel carried on an 18-year-long controversy with [[Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf\|Nicolaus Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf]], leader of the [[Moravian Church\|Moravian Brethren]] from [[Herrnhut]] in [[Saxony]]. This led to a break between the Moravian Brethren and the dour Pietism typical of Wuerttemberg, represented by Bengel. With his determined certainty giving him systematic insight into the divine Plan of Salvation, Bengel dogmatically opposed the dynamic, ecumenical, missionary efforts of Zinzendorf, who was indifferent to all dogmatism and intolerance. As Bengel did not hesitate to manipulate historical calendars in his [[chiliasm]] attempts to predict the end of the world, Zinzendorf rejected this as superstitious “interpretation of signs.”

	The works on which Bengel's reputation rests as a Biblical scholar and critic are his edition of the Greek New Testament, and his ''Gnomon'' or ''Exegeticat Commentary'' on the same.		The works on which Bengel's reputation rests as a Biblical scholar and critic are his edition of the Greek New Testament, and his ''Gnomon'' or ''Exegeticat Commentary'' on the same.
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	==References==		==References==
			* 1. K. Aland, “Bibel und Bibeltext bei August Hermann Francke und Johann Albrecht Bengel,” in Pietismus und Bibel Herausgegeben von Kurt Aland, (Arbeiten Zur Gershichte der Pietismus 9; Witten: Luther Verlag, 1970, p. 136) - reference given in the Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters, 1998, by Donald K. McKim.p. 291 (Similarly, the London Quarterly used the exact phrase back in 1864: https://books.google.com/books?id=us05AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA496)
	*~~{{1911\|wstitle=Bengel~~, Johann Albrecht}}
	**[[Oskar Wächter]], ''J. A. Bengels Lebensabriss''		**[[Oskar Wächter]], ''J. A. Bengels Lebensabriss''
	**[[John C. F. Burk]], ed., ''A memoir of the life and writings of John Albert Bengel'' (~~{{lang-de\|~~J. A. Bengels Leben und Wirken}}), translated into English by Rev. R. F. Walker (London, 1837 and 1842)		**[[John C. F. Burk]], ed., ''A memoir of the life and writings of John Albert Bengel'' (J. A. Bengels Leben und Wirken), translated into English by Rev. R. F. Walker (London, 1837 and 1842)
	**[[Johann Jakob Herzog\|Herzog]]-Hauck, ''[[Realencyklopädie]]''		**[[Johann Jakob Herzog\|Herzog]]-Hauck, ''[[Realencyklopädie]]''
	**[[Eberhard Nestle\|E. Nestle]], ''Bengel als Gelehrter'' (1893)		**[[Eberhard Nestle\|E. Nestle]], ''Bengel als Gelehrter'' (1893)

Nick at 08:19, 23 March 2016

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	[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]		[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]
	'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it.		'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it. [[Kurt Aland]] said that Bengel was the "father of textual criticism."

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==

Beza 1598: /* External links */

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External links

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	[[Category:University of Tübingen alumni]]		[[Category:University of Tübingen alumni]]
	[[Category:Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg]]		[[Category:Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg]]

			{{Donate}}

Nick: Protected "Johann Albrecht Bengel" [edit=autoconfirmed:move=autoconfirmed]

2012-01-04T01:25:55Z

Protected "Johann Albrecht Bengel" [edit=autoconfirmed:move=autoconfirmed]

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:25, 4 January 2012
(No difference)

Nick at 01:24, 4 January 2012

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	~~nq6llS~~ <a ~~href~~="http://~~jwcddzojzfwk~~.com/~~">jwcddzojzfwk<~~/a>		[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel.jpg\|thumb\|160 px\|Johann Albrecht Bengel]]
			'''Johann Albrecht Bengel''' (24 June 1687–1752), [[Lutheran]] [[pietist]] [[clergyman]] and [[Koine Greek\|Greek-language]] scholar known for his edition of the [[Greek New Testament]] and his commentaries on it.

			==Life and career==
			Bengel was born at [[Winnenden]] in [[Württemberg]], [[Germany]].
			Due to the death of his father in 1693, he was educated by a family friend, David Wendel Spindler,<sup>[]</sup> who became a master in the [[Gymnasium (Germany)\|gymnasium]] at [[Stuttgart]]. In 1703 Bengel left Stuttgart and entered the [[University of Tübingen]] as a student at the ''[[Tübinger Stift]]'', where, in his spare time, he devoted himself especially to the works of [[Aristotle]] and [[Spinoza]], and, in theology, to those of [[Philipp Jakob Spener\|Philipp Spener]], [[Johann Arndt]] and [[August Francke]]. His knowledge of the [[metaphysics]] of [[Spinoza]] was such that he was selected by one of the professors to prepare materials for a treatise, ''De Spinosismo'', which was afterwards published.

			After acquiring his degree, Bengel devoted himself to [[theology]]. Even at this time he had religious doubts; it is interesting in view of his later work that one cause of his perplexities was the difficulty of ascertaining the true reading of certain passages in the [[Greek New Testament]]. In 1707 Bengel entered the ministry and was appointed to the parochial charge of [[Metzingen]]-unter-Urach. In the following year he was recalled to Tübingen to undertake the office of ''Repetent'' (theological tutor).

			He remained at Tübingen until 1713, when he was appointed head of a seminary recently established at [[Denkendorf]] as a preparatory school of theology.
			Before entering into his new duties he travelled through the greater part of [[Germany]], studying the systems of education which were in use, and visiting the seminaries of the [[Jesuits]] as well as those of the Lutheran and [[Reformed church]]es. Among other places he went to [[Heidelberg]] and [[Halle, Saxony-Anhalt\|Halle]], and had his attention directed at [[Heidelberg]] to the canons of scripture criticism published by [[Gerhard von Maastricht]], and at Halle to [[Campeius Vitringa]]'s ''Anacrisis ad Apocalypsin''. The influence exerted by these upon his theological studies is manifest in some of his works.

			For 28 years, from 1713 to 1741, he was master (Klosterpraeceptor) of the ''Klosterschule'' at Denkendorf, a seminary for candidates for the ministry established in a former monastery of the canons of the Holy Sepulchre.
			To these years, the period of his greatest intellectual activity, belong many of his chief works.

			In 1741 he was appointed prelate (i.e. general superintendent) at [[Herbrechtingen]], where he remained till 1749, when he was raised to the dignity of consistorial counsellor and prelate of [[Alpirsbach]], with a residence in [[Stuttgart]]. He devoted himself to the discharge of his duties as a member of the consistory. A question of considerable difficulty was at that time occupying the attention of the church courts: the manner in which those who separated themselves from the church were to be dealt with, and the amount of toleration which should be accorded to meetings held in private houses for the purpose of religious edification. The civil power (the duke of Württemberg was a [[Roman Catholic]]) was disposed to have recourse to measures of repression, while the members of the consistory, recognizing the good effects of such meetings, were inclined to concede considerable liberty. Bengel exerted himself on the side of the members of the consistory. In 1751 the university of Tübingen conferred upon him the degree of [[Doctor of Divinity]].

			Bengel carried on an 18-year-long controversy with [[Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf\|Nicolaus Ludwig, Count von Zinzendorf]], leader of the [[Moravian Church\|Moravian Brethren]] from [[Herrnhut]] in [[Saxony]]. This led to a break between the Moravian Brethren and the dour Pietism typical of Wuerttemberg, represented by Bengel. With his determined certainty giving him systematic insight into the divine Plan of Salvation, Bengel dogmatically opposed the dynamic, ecumenical, missionary efforts of Zinzendorf, who was indifferent to all dogmatism and intolerance. As Bengel did not hesitate to manipulate historical calendars in his [[chiliasm]] attempts to predict the end of the world, Zinzendorf rejected this as superstitious “interpretation of signs.”<ref>Paragraph translated from the [[:de:Johann Albrecht Bengel\|corresponding article]] in [[:de:Hauptseite\|German Wikipedia]].</ref>

			The works on which Bengel's reputation rests as a Biblical scholar and critic are his edition of the Greek New Testament, and his ''Gnomon'' or ''Exegeticat Commentary'' on the same.

			==Greek New Testament==
			[[Image:Johann Albrecht Bengel (timbre RFA).jpg\|thumb\|Stamp issued by the Deutsche Bundespost to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Bengel's birth]]
			His edition of the Greek Testament was published at Tübingen in 1734, and at Stuttgart in the same year, but without the critical apparatus. So early as 1725, in an addition to his edition of ''Chrysostoms De Sacerdotio'', he had given an account in his ''Prodromus Novi Testamenti Graeci recte cauteque adornandi'' of the principles on which his intended edition was to be based. In preparation for his work Bengel was able to avail himself of the collations of upwards of twenty manuscripts, none of them, however, of great importance, twelve of which had been collated by himself. In constituting the text, he imposed upon himself the singular restriction of not inserting any various reading which had not already been printed in some preceding edition of the Greek text. From this rule, however, he deviated in the case of the [[Apocalypse]], where, owing to the corrupt state of the text, he felt himself at liberty to introduce certain readings on manuscript authority. In the lower margin of the page he inserted a selection of various readings, the relative importance of which he denoted by the first five letters of the Greek alphabet in the following manner: α was employed to denote the reading which in his judgment was the true one, although he did not venture to place it in the text; β, a reading better than that in the text; γ, one equal to the textual reading; and δ, readings inferior to those in the text. R Etienne's division into verses was retained in the inner margin, but the text was divided into paragraphs.

			The text was followed by a critical apparatus, the first part of which consisted of an introduction to the criticism of the [[New Testament]], in the thirty-fourth section of which he laid down and explained his celebrated canon, ''Proclivi scriptioni praestat ardua'' (The difficult reading is to be preferred to that which is easy), the soundness of which, as a general principle, has been recognized by succeeding critics. The second part of the critical apparatus was devoted to a consideration of the various readings, and here Bengel adopted the plan of stating the evidence both against and in favor of a particular reading, thus placing before the reader the materials for forming a judgment. Bengel was the first definitely to propound the theory of families or recensions of manuscripts.

			His investigations had led him to see that a certain affinity or resemblance existed amongst many of the authorities for the Greek text manuscripts, versions, and ecclesiastical writers; that if a peculiar reading, e.g., was found in one of these, it was generally found also in the other members of the same class; and this general relationship seemed to point ultimately to a common origin for all the authorities which presented such peculiarities. Although disposed at first to divide the various documents into three classes, he finally adopted a classification into two: the [[Africa]]n or older family of documents, and the Asiatic, or more recent class, to which he attached only a subordinate value. The theory was afterwards adopted by [[Johann Salomo Semler\|JS Semler]] and [[Johann Jakob Griesbach\|JJ Griesbach]], and worked up into an elaborate system by the latter critic.

			Bengel's labors on the text of the Greek Testament were received with great disfavour in many quarters. Like [[Brian Walton (bishop)\|Brian Walton]] and [[John Mill (theologian)\|John Mill]] before him, he had to encounter the opposition of those who believed that the certainty of the word of God was endangered by the importance attached to the various readings. [[Johann Jakob Wetstein\|JJ Wetstein]], on the other hand, accused him of excessive caution in not making freer use of his critical materials. In answer to these strictures, Bengel published a ''Defence of the Greek Text of His New Testament'', which he prefixed to his ''Harmony of the Four Gospels'', published in 1736, and which contained a sufficient answer to the complaints, especially of Wetstein, which had been made against him from so many different quarters. The text of Bengel long enjoyed a high reputation among scholars, and was frequently reprinted. An enlarged edition of the critical apparatus was published by Philip David Burk in 1763.

			==Gnomon Novi Testamenti==

			The other great work of Bengel, and that on which his reputation as an exegete is mainly based, is his ''Gnomon Novi Testamenti'', or ''Exegetical Annotations on the New Testament'', published in 1742. It was the fruit of twenty years labor, and exhibits with a brevity of expression, which, it has been said, condenses more matter into a line than can be extracted from pages of other writers, the results of his study. He modestly entitled his work a ''[[Gnomon]]'' or index, his object being rather to guide the reader to ascertain the meaning for himself, than to save him from the trouble of personal investigation. The principles of interpretation on which he proceeded were, to import nothing into Scripture, but to draw out of it everything that it really contained, in conformity with grammatico-historical rules not to be hampered by dogmatical considerations; and not to be influenced by the symbolical books. Bengel's hope that the ''Gnomon'' would help to rekindle a fresh interest in the study of the New Testament was fully realized. It has passed through many editions, has been translated into [[German language\|German]] and into [[English language\|English]], and is still one of the books most valued by expositors of the New Testament--[[John Wesley]] made great use of it in compiling his ''Expository Notes upon the New Testament'' (1755).

			Besides the two works already described, Bengel was the editor or author of many others, classical, patristic, ecclesiastical and expository. The more important are: ''Ordo Temporum'', a treatise on the chronology of Scripture, in which he enters upon speculations regarding the end of the world, and an ''Exposition of the Apocalypse'' which enjoyed for a time great popularity in Germany, and was translated into several languages. His fame was such that almost 200 years later, [[Hermann Hesse]] has the hero of [[The Glass Bead Game]] discuss Bengel's writings.

			==References==

			*{{1911\|wstitle=Bengel, Johann Albrecht}}
			**[[Oskar Wächter]], ''J. A. Bengels Lebensabriss''
			**[[John C. F. Burk]], ed., ''A memoir of the life and writings of John Albert Bengel'' ({{lang-de\|J. A. Bengels Leben und Wirken}}), translated into English by Rev. R. F. Walker (London, 1837 and 1842)
			**[[Johann Jakob Herzog\|Herzog]]-Hauck, ''[[Realencyklopädie]]''
			**[[Eberhard Nestle\|E. Nestle]], ''Bengel als Gelehrter'' (1893)

			==External links==

			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=11EsAAAAYAAJ Gnomon Novi Testamenti Vol. 1.] (English translation, covering Matthew and Mark.)
			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=u3cuAAAAYAAJ Gnomon Novi Testamenti Vol. 2.] (English translation, covering Luke, John, and Acts.)
			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=zphDAAAAcAAJ Gnomon Novi Testamenti Vol. 3.] (English translation, covering Romans, I Corinthians, and II Corinthians.)
			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=45hDAAAAcAAJ Gnomon Novi Testamenti Vol. 4.] (English translation, covering Galatians through Hebrews.)
			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=xphDAAAAcAAJ Gnomon Novi Testamenti Vol. 5.] (English translation, covering the Catholic Epistles and Revelation.)
			* [http://books.google.com/books/download/Novum_testamentum_cum_apparatu_subjuncto.pdf?id=ardIAAAAcAAJ&hl=en&capid=AFLRE73MrxS1ZMKkfmZdztX7p25J8NkRqPG9_JwqgKeCzNXzs5wKbBuZK9W5X0sOPbIcParBGuPXyAzxuHcaeQs7kcWhT5NKCg&continue=http://books.google.com/books/download/Novum_testamentum_cum_apparatu_subjuncto.pdf%3Fid%3DardIAAAAcAAJ%26output%3Dpdf%26hl%3Den Novum Testamentum Graecum, 1734] (Greek text with Latin introduction)
			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ru82AAAAMAAJ Exposition of the Apocalypse] (English translation)
			* [http://books.google.com/books?id=b9mG-EvdPYgC A Memoir of the Life and Writings of John Albert Bengel] (English translation)


			{{DEFAULTSORT:Bengel, Johann Albrecht}}
			[[Category:1687 births]]
			[[Category:1752 deaths]]
			[[Category:People from Winnenden]]
			[[Category:German Lutheran theologians]]
			[[Category:Biblical criticism]]
			[[Category:Biblical scholars]]
			[[Category:People from the Duchy of Württemberg]]
			[[Category:University of Tübingen alumni]]
			[[Category:Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg]]

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