August Friedrich Pfeiffer

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

August Friedrich Pfeiffer (born January 13, 1748 in Erlangen , † July 15, 1817 in Erlangen) was a German Protestant theologian , orientalist and librarian . He taught at the University of Erlangen .

Life

The son of the Erlangen theology professor Joachim Ehrenfried Pfeiffer and Sabina Dorothea Billing, Trautskirchen's pastor's daughter , suffered from his weak body in his youth. At the age of seven, he fell ill with a severe fever and partially lost his hearing. Because his father recognized the boy's abilities, he taught him with his brother-in-law and royal councilor JF Billing and the Kulmbach deacon JH Billing. From 1757 he went to the local lyceum . In the following year he was able to attend high school in his hometown. There he also received private lessons from Degen and Harles, who encouraged him to study the classics of the Greek and Roman languages.

In 1765 Pfeiffer gave his farewell speech Pietatem artium alumno in litterarum studiis felices progressus facturo cumprimis colendam esse and began to study theology at the University of Erlangen. With Johann Samuel Wiesner he studied the Hebrew language , as well as church history and homiletics .

At this time Pfeiffer wrote in his spare time and practiced speaking and preaching. Several times he preached at the Erlangen city church and in other churches. Since his sermons were well received, he was appointed a holiday preacher.

At the beginning of 1769 Pfeiffer wanted to go to Bayreuth and take the theological exam there. His father's friend and teacher Kraft did not recommend this to him. Instead, he received his master's degree in March of that year . The next month he was the respondent to Kraft's dissertation entitled Divi Pauli Apostoli theologia pastoralis primis lineis designata . With that he began to occupy himself with the oriental languages. As a result, he began lecturing on some Old Testament books that summer.

Soon after, the University of Erlangen appointed Pfeiffer as a librarian, making him more devoted to academic life. After he had defended his dissertation de ingenio oratorio in February 1770 and completed his habilitation , he was allowed to give lectures on philology .

In 1770 Pfeiffer was appointed extraordinary professor of philosophy . His inaugural address was entitled de morato cogitandi genere and was never printed. In 1773 he was also appointed secretary of the Institute for Morals and Fine Sciences, which he remained until 1776. At that time he was promoted to full professor of oriental languages ​​and wrote the speech de statu religionis in Oriente diversis temporibus vario , which apparently was also not printed.

In the winter semester of 1779/1780, Pfeiffer was Vice President. He handed this over to his father and instead became dean . In this position he made his younger brother a master's degree . After he was promoted to the Brandenburg court counselor in 1784, he served as university prorector in 1785/1786 and 1791/1972. In 1805 he became the first librarian.

Pfeiffer died in 1817 at the age of 69 as senior librarian.

Act

Pfeiffer was considered one of the best orientalists of modern times. His research was particularly concerned with the oriental languages. Because he disliked the dogmatics and polemics of the theologians of that time, so that he himself built a theological system. It was based on an exegesis that conformed to principles of hermeneutics .

His work on the music of the Hebrews was the most extensive on this subject in its time.

Pfeiffer was the godfather of the natural scientist August Friedrich Schweigger , who was named after him.

Works

  • Diss. Inaug. de ingenio oratorio (Erlangen 1770)
  • Diss. Philol. De Jobo patientiam et Christum praedicante (Erlangen 1771)
  • Progr. Adit. de Jobaei libri soopo (Erlangen 1771)
  • Attempt to explain the so-called last words of David 2 Sam. 23, 1–7 (Frankfurt / Leipzig 1773)
  • JG Affemann's oriental library or messages from Syrian writers, brought into an extract (two parts, Erlangen 1776/1777)
  • Progr. In versionem Syriacam I ad Timoth. epistolae (Erlangen 1776)
  • About the music of the ancient Hebrews. With a copper plate (Erlangen 1778)
  • Hebrew grammar (Erlangen 1780, second edition Erlangen 1790, third edition Erlangen 1802)
  • Contributions to the knowledge of old books and manuscripts (three pieces, court 1783–1786)
  • Progr. De codice Bibliothecae Heilbronnensis, qui vitam S. Odiliae virginis exhibet. Sectio prior (Erlangen 1784)
  • Progr. De codice Bibliothecae Heilbronnensis, qui vitam S. Odiliae virginis exhibet. Sectio posterior (Erlangen 1784)
  • New translation of the prophet Hoseas, with explanatory notes (Erlangen 1785)
  • Philonis, Judaei, opera omnia, graece et latine. Ad editionem th. Mangey collatis aliquot MSS. edenda curravit (four volumes, Erlangen 1785–1792, second edition Erlangen 1820)
  • Progr.cni inest descriptio codicis digesti veteris, bibliothecae academicae Erlangensis ornamenti (Erlangen 1791)
  • Celebration of the Club in Erlangen, on its fourth foundation day (Erlangen 1791)
  • Progr. Super Ps. 110 (Erlangen 1801)
  • Progr. Super Ps. 72 (Erlangen 1803)
  • Bibliorum hebraicorum et chaldaeorum Manuale ad prima linguarum studia concinnavit (Erlangen 1809)
  • Progr. Continens quaedam ad Ps. 129 (Erlangen 1811)
  • Program in which a manuscript belonging to the university library is described (Erlangen 1814)

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Pfeiffer, August Friedrich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Protestant theologian, orientalist and librarian
DATE OF BIRTH January 13, 1748
PLACE OF BIRTH gain
DATE OF DEATH July 15, 1817
Place of death gain