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Johann Jakob Griesbach
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Johann Jakob Griesbach

German biblical scholar
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Article History
Quick Facts
Born:
Jan. 4, 1745, Butzbach, Hesse [Germany]
Died:
March 24, 1812, Jena, Thuringia
Subjects Of Study:
rationalism
religion
See all related content

Johann Jakob Griesbach (born Jan. 4, 1745, Butzbach, Hesse [Germany]—died March 24, 1812, Jena, Thuringia) was a rationalist Protestant German theologian, the earliest biblical critic to subject the Gospels to systematic literary analysis.

Griesbach studied at Halle (then belonging to Prussia) under J.S. Semler, and from 1775 until his death he was professor of New Testament studies at the University of Jena. He originated the term synoptic to designate the first three Gospels and, rejecting the traditional view, held that Mark was derived from Matthew and Luke (the “usage hypothesis”). Griesbach also published a corrected Greek edition of the New Testament.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.