Peter Aloys Gratz
Encyclopedia
Peter Aloys Gratz was a German schoolmaster and widely-published Biblical scholar, who contributed to debates within Catholicism in the early nineteenth Century.
He was born in Mittelberg, Allgäu
, Bavaria
, and received his elementary training in the monastic school in Füssen
. He studied classics
in Augsburg
, and in 1788 entered the clerical seminary
in Dillingen, to take up the study of philosophy and theology. After his ordination to the priesthood, in 1792, he held the office of private tutor, and in 1796 was placed in charge of the parish church of Unterthalheim, near Horb, on the Neckar
. As well as his parochial duties he found time to prepare several textbooks and other small works on Christian instruction, for use in elementary schools. He also entered the field of New Testament
exegesis
. In 1812 he published Neuer Versuch, die Entstehung der drei ersten Evangelien zu erklären (Stuttgart, 1812), in which he adopted the hypothesis of a Hebrew original as the basis of one of the Synoptic Gospels
. This work attracted the attention of scholars, and won for him on 28 September of the same year the chairs of Greek language and Biblical hermeneutics in the University of Ellwangen
. Recognizing his abilities, the University of Freiburg
, in 1813, conferred on him the doctorate in theology.
During his professoriate in Ellwangen he published: (1) Kritische Untersuchungen über Justins apostolische Denkwürdigkeiten (Stuttgart, 1814); (2) Über die Interpolationen in dem Briefe des Apostels Paulus an die Römer (Ellwangen, 1814); (3) Über die Grenzen der Freiheit, die einem Katholiken in der Erklärung der Schrift zusteht (Ellwangen, 1817); (4) Dissertatio in Pastorem Hermæ, in Constanzer Archiv, 1817, II, 224 sqq. On the amalgamation of the University of Ellwangen with that of Tübingen
, in 1817, he accompanied the theological faculty there, and continued his lectures on hermeneutics. Here he published his Kritische Untersuchungen uber Marcions Evangelium (Tübingen, 1818), and with the cooperation of his friends Johann Sebastian Drey, Johann Georg Herbst
, and J. B. Hirscher, founded in 1819 the Tübingen Theologische Quartalschrift.
The same year he received an invitation to the chair of Sacred Scripture in the newly erected faculty of theology in the University of Bonn
. This, however, was of short duration. The university, though now devoid of the Rationalism
and Febronianism
which characterized the first period of its existence, was gradually undergoing the influence of a new movement known as Hermesianism, the originator of which was George Hermes, professor of theology and a close friend of Gratz. The high reputation of Hermes, the popular character of his lectures, as well as the fact that they were devoted to the examination of the philosophical systems of Kant
and Fichte, induced Gratz to sympathize with his distinguished friend and associate himself with the new movement. However, the Catholic Encyclopedia
states that he came to regret this.
He continued to lecture at Bonn till 1823. He remained a member of its theological faculty till 1826, and in 1828 was called to Trier
, there to become a member of the municipal council and also of the school board. He devoted all his time and energy to the reorganization of the studies, and to placing the schools generally on a higher scale of efficiency than they had hitherto attained. While in Bonn he published: (1) Apologet des Katholicismus, Zeitschrift für Freunde der Wahrheit und der Bruderliebe (Mainz, 1820–24, 9 fasc.); (2) Novum Testamentum græco-latinum (Tübingen, 1820; Mainz, 1827); and (3) Kritischer Commentar über das Evangelium des Matthäus (Critical commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
; Tübingen, 1821–23). This commentary, owing to the extensive use the author made of Protestant works, was severely attacked by Anton Joseph Binterim
and Joseph Görres. Gratz replied in the sixth fascicle of his Apologeten, while his friends published in his defence Drei öffentliche Stimmen gegen die Angriffe des Pastors Binterim auf den Commentar des Professors Gratz, nebst drei Beilagen (Bonn, 1825). He also undertook the continuation of the Thesaurus juris ecclesiastici of the Jesuit Aug. Schmidt, which, however, remained unfinished when he died, at Darmstadt
.
He was born in Mittelberg, Allgäu
Allgäu
The Allgäu is a southern German region in Swabia. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia and southeastern Baden-Württemberg. The region stretches from the prealpine lands up to the Alps...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, and received his elementary training in the monastic school in Füssen
Füssen
Füssen is a town in Bavaria, Germany, in the district of Ostallgäu situated from the Austrian border. It is located on the banks of the Lech river. The River Lech flows into the Forggensee...
. He studied classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
in Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, and in 1788 entered the clerical seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Dillingen, to take up the study of philosophy and theology. After his ordination to the priesthood, in 1792, he held the office of private tutor, and in 1796 was placed in charge of the parish church of Unterthalheim, near Horb, on the Neckar
Neckar
The Neckar is a long river, mainly flowing through the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, but also a short section through Hesse, in Germany. The Neckar is a major right tributary of the River Rhine...
. As well as his parochial duties he found time to prepare several textbooks and other small works on Christian instruction, for use in elementary schools. He also entered the field of 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....
exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
. In 1812 he published Neuer Versuch, die Entstehung der drei ersten Evangelien zu erklären (Stuttgart, 1812), in which he adopted the hypothesis of a Hebrew original as the basis of one of the Synoptic Gospels
Synoptic Gospels
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in the same sequence, and sometimes exactly the same wording. This degree of parallelism in content, narrative arrangement, language, and sentence structures can only be...
. This work attracted the attention of scholars, and won for him on 28 September of the same year the chairs of Greek language and Biblical hermeneutics in the University of Ellwangen
Ellwangen
Ellwangen an der Jagst, officially Ellwangen , in common use simply Ellwangen is a town in the district of Ostalbkreis in the east of Baden-Württemberg in Germany...
. Recognizing his abilities, the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, in 1813, conferred on him the doctorate in theology.
During his professoriate in Ellwangen he published: (1) Kritische Untersuchungen über Justins apostolische Denkwürdigkeiten (Stuttgart, 1814); (2) Über die Interpolationen in dem Briefe des Apostels Paulus an die Römer (Ellwangen, 1814); (3) Über die Grenzen der Freiheit, die einem Katholiken in der Erklärung der Schrift zusteht (Ellwangen, 1817); (4) Dissertatio in Pastorem Hermæ, in Constanzer Archiv, 1817, II, 224 sqq. On the amalgamation of the University of Ellwangen with that of Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, in 1817, he accompanied the theological faculty there, and continued his lectures on hermeneutics. Here he published his Kritische Untersuchungen uber Marcions Evangelium (Tübingen, 1818), and with the cooperation of his friends Johann Sebastian Drey, Johann Georg Herbst
Johann Georg Herbst
Johann Georg Herbst was a German Orientalist.Herbst was born in Rottweil, in Württemberg. His college course, begun in the Gymnasium of his native city, was pursued in the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter in the Black Forest and in 1806 Herbst registered at the University of Freiburg...
, and J. B. Hirscher, founded in 1819 the Tübingen Theologische Quartalschrift.
The same year he received an invitation to the chair of Sacred Scripture in the newly erected faculty of theology in the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
. This, however, was of short duration. The university, though now devoid of the Rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
and Febronianism
Febronianism
Febronianism was a powerful movement within the Roman Catholic Church in Germany, in the latter part of the 18th century, directed towards the nationalizing of Catholicism, the restriction of the power of the papacy in favor of that of the episcopate, and the reunion of the dissident churches with...
which characterized the first period of its existence, was gradually undergoing the influence of a new movement known as Hermesianism, the originator of which was George Hermes, professor of theology and a close friend of Gratz. The high reputation of Hermes, the popular character of his lectures, as well as the fact that they were devoted to the examination of the philosophical systems of Kant
KANT
KANT is a computer algebra system for mathematicians interested in algebraic number theory, performing sophisticated computations in algebraic number fields, in global function fields, and in local fields. KASH is the associated command line interface...
and Fichte, induced Gratz to sympathize with his distinguished friend and associate himself with the new movement. However, the Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
states that he came to regret this.
He continued to lecture at Bonn till 1823. He remained a member of its theological faculty till 1826, and in 1828 was called to Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
, there to become a member of the municipal council and also of the school board. He devoted all his time and energy to the reorganization of the studies, and to placing the schools generally on a higher scale of efficiency than they had hitherto attained. While in Bonn he published: (1) Apologet des Katholicismus, Zeitschrift für Freunde der Wahrheit und der Bruderliebe (Mainz, 1820–24, 9 fasc.); (2) Novum Testamentum græco-latinum (Tübingen, 1820; Mainz, 1827); and (3) Kritischer Commentar über das Evangelium des Matthäus (Critical commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
; Tübingen, 1821–23). This commentary, owing to the extensive use the author made of Protestant works, was severely attacked by Anton Joseph Binterim
Anton Joseph Binterim
Anton Joseph Binterim was the parish priest of Bilk from 1805-55 and a prominent leader of Catholics in Prussia. He lobbied against intermarriage between Catholics and Protestants....
and Joseph Görres. Gratz replied in the sixth fascicle of his Apologeten, while his friends published in his defence Drei öffentliche Stimmen gegen die Angriffe des Pastors Binterim auf den Commentar des Professors Gratz, nebst drei Beilagen (Bonn, 1825). He also undertook the continuation of the Thesaurus juris ecclesiastici of the Jesuit Aug. Schmidt, which, however, remained unfinished when he died, at Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
.