Johann Karl Thilo
Encyclopedia
Johann Karl Thilo was a German theologian and biblical scholar.
He studied theology at the University of Leipzig
and a final semester at the University of Halle, where he was appointed to teach at the preparatory Paedagogium of the Francke institutions, and assisted his father-in-law, Georg Christian Knapp
, director of the theological seminary. In 1820 he travelled to Paris, London and Oxford with his colleague Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Gesenius for the examination of rare Eastern manuscripts. At Halle he was privat-docent from 1819, appointed professor of theology (1822, full professor, 1825) and in 1853 a consistorial councillor.
He lectured on the history of dogma
, church history, patristics
, and after Knapp's death, on the New Testament
. He is remembered for his planned series of editions of apocrypha
, Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti of which the first volume appeared in 1832, which set a new standard in textual criticism in this field. His editions appeared of Acts of Thomas
(1823), Acts of Peter and Paul
(1838), Acta Andreae et Matthiae apud Anthropophagos
(1846), Acts of John
by "Leucius Charinus
" (1847).
He also edited a second edition of Knapp's Vorlesungen über die christlichen Glaubenslehre.
He was completely deaf in his left ear, but disguised this fact by always positioning himself to the left of people he was talking to, ensuring the his right ear was closest to them and he could hear them perfectly.
Thilo managed to stay apart from the theological disagreements that divided Halle, remaining on cordial terms with members of both parties.
He studied theology at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
and a final semester at the University of Halle, where he was appointed to teach at the preparatory Paedagogium of the Francke institutions, and assisted his father-in-law, Georg Christian Knapp
Georg Christian Knapp
Georg Christian Knapp was a German Protestant theologian who was born in Glaucha, located near Halle. He was father-in-law to theologian Johann Karl Thilo ....
, director of the theological seminary. In 1820 he travelled to Paris, London and Oxford with his colleague Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Gesenius for the examination of rare Eastern manuscripts. At Halle he was privat-docent from 1819, appointed professor of theology (1822, full professor, 1825) and in 1853 a consistorial councillor.
He lectured on the history of dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
, church history, patristics
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
, and after Knapp's death, on the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. He is remembered for his planned series of editions of apocrypha
Apocrypha
The term apocrypha is used with various meanings, including "hidden", "esoteric", "spurious", "of questionable authenticity", ancient Chinese "revealed texts and objects" and "Christian texts that are not canonical"....
, Codex Apocryphus Novi Testamenti of which the first volume appeared in 1832, which set a new standard in textual criticism in this field. His editions appeared of Acts of Thomas
Acts of Thomas
The early 3rd century text called Acts of Thomas is one of the New Testament apocrypha, portraying Christ as the "Heavenly Redeemer", independent of and beyond creation, who can free souls from the darkness of the world. References to the work by Epiphanius of Salamis show that it was in...
(1823), Acts of Peter and Paul
Acts of Peter and Paul
The Acts of Peter and Paul is a late text from the New Testament apocrypha, thought to date from after the 4th century. An alternate version exists, known as the Passion of Peter and Paul, with variances in the introductory part of the text.-Synopsis:...
(1838), Acta Andreae et Matthiae apud Anthropophagos
Acta Andreae et Matthiae apud Anthropophagos
Acta Andreae et Matthiae apud Anthropophagos which exists in several Latin manuscript traditions, is the dramatic romance featuring the Apostles Andrew and Matthias among the cannibals, a thriller featuring gory details that was written for a Christian audience in the 2nd century CE...
(1846), Acts of John
Acts of John
The Acts of John is a collection of narratives and traditions concerning John the Apostle, well described as a "library of materials" , inspired by the Gospel of John, long known in fragmentary form...
by "Leucius Charinus
Leucius Charinus
Leucius, called Leucius Charinus by the Patriarch Photios I of Constantinople in the ninth century, is the name applied to a cycle of what M. R. James termed "Apostolic romances" that seem to have had wide currency long before a selection were read aloud at the Second Council of Nicaea and rejected...
" (1847).
He also edited a second edition of Knapp's Vorlesungen über die christlichen Glaubenslehre.
He was completely deaf in his left ear, but disguised this fact by always positioning himself to the left of people he was talking to, ensuring the his right ear was closest to them and he could hear them perfectly.
Thilo managed to stay apart from the theological disagreements that divided Halle, remaining on cordial terms with members of both parties.