Johann Jakob Wettstein

Johann Jakob Wettstein (also Wetstein; * March 5, 1693 in Basel, † March 23, 1754 in Amsterdam) was a Swiss theologian and leader of the textual criticism of the New Testament.

Life

The son of the senior pastor at the church of St Leonhard Johann Rudolph Wettstein and his wife Sara Sarasin had received his first spiritual suggestions at home and in 1706 graduated from the University of Basel, his studies of theology, especially of biblical philology, criticism, and archeology. In Basel, he had in 1709 acquired the academic degree of Magister. Even as a student, Wettstein dedicated the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, to which he had access by a relative who worked at the University Library in Basel. 1713 he defended his thesis entitled De variis Novi Testamenti lectionibus, in which he tried to show that the existence of different interpretations does not call into question the authority of the Bible.

Wettstein on an educational journey through Switzerland, France and England in 1716, he learned to know Richard Bentley of the University of Cambridge. This famous philologist Wettstein significantly expanding his language skills. Bentley was his benefactor, and persuaded him to edit a copy of the Codex Ephraemi in Paris. During that time he also met the Swiss Brigadier v. Chambrier know of, a preacher gave him at his regiment, which was at that time in Rochester. As this regiment later went to 's- Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands, followed Wettstein same within three months after, by being previously traveled with the approval of his boss to Paris to compare in the local Royal Library, the New Testament copy of Ephraem the Syrian.

A short time, only half a year, Wettstein held its preacher in 's- Hertogenbosch. Recalled to his native city of Basel, he was there in 1717 deacon at the church of St Leonhard. He held for several years, and sat in that time continued his critical studies of that office. 1729 but a threatened him change his circumstances. Because different from the faith of the Reformed Church divergent doctrines, which he said to have made in his sermons and private lectures, he was held responsible and involved in an investigation that 1730 was the loss of his preacher result for him. Holland offered him at that time a place of refuge. But he went back to Basel and preached there in 1732 and 1733. Around this time he followed a call to Amsterdam. At this university college of Arminianism, he was first adjunct of the feeble John Le Clerc (also le Clerck, 1657-1736 ) and, after his death in 1736 of the same date held professorship of philosophy and church history. Since then, he continued his studies until his death.

Work

It is generally recognized its 1751-1752 published edition of the Greek New Testament. He added that work mostly explanatory notes added, saying, especially for his thorough knowledge of Jewish writers and Profanskribenten and are considered important contributions to textual criticism. For many New Testament critics of this work was a useful tool.

His 1730 published Prolegemena, was reissued by Johann Salomo Semler 1764 with notes and a further appendix. In addition, he had issued from his handwritten codex of the New Testament in Syriac 1752 two letters of Clement of Rome, said to have been a disciple of St. Peter after the tradition of Origen and his third successor.

Works

• Diss de variis lectionibus Novi Testamenti. Basel 1713
• Excerpt witty songs in praise of the Lord God Jesus. Basel 1728
• Prolegomena ad Novi Testamenti Graeci editionem accuratissimam e vetustissimis codicibus MS. Denuo procurandam; in quibus de agitur Codicibus MS. Novi Testamenti, scriptoribus Graecis, qui usi sunt Novo Testamento, versionibus veteribus, editonibus prioribus et claris interpretibus, et proponuntur animadversiones et cautiones ad examen variarum Lectionum Novi Testamenti necessariae. Amsterdam in 1730; Semler gave this plant several times with the title: JJ Wetstenii Prolegomena in NT notas adjecit atque appendicem de vetustioribus Latinis recensionibus, quae in variis codicibus super sunt, JS Semler cum quibusdam characterum Graecorum et Latinorum in libris manuscripts exemplis. Halle- Magdeburg 1764; The second part can be regarded man: JJ Westenii Libelli ad Crisin atque interpretationem NT Adjecta est recensio introductionis Bengelii ad Crisin NT atque Glocestrii Ridley Diss de Syriacarum NT versionum indole atque usu, e bibliotheca et cum notis quibusdam JD Michaelis. In academicorum usus edidit et pleraque observationibus JS Semler illustravit. Halle- Magdeburg 1766
• Christian sermon against the magical and superstitious arts, on Esa. 8, 19-22; held in the parish church at St. Leonhard in Basel, 31 August 1732 on hochobrigkeitl. Regulation for public presentation of a annoying person. Basel 1732
• JR Wetstenii, Basiliensis Ecclesiae pastoris, ( patris editoris ) ad reformatas Helvetiae atque foederatarum civitatum Ecclesia, Epistola. Amsterdam 1733
• Orthodoxia a falsis criminationibus JL Frey vindicata. Amsterdam 1733
• Oratio funebris m obitum viri Joannis Clerici celeberrimi, Philos. et Historiae eccles. Inter Remonstrantes Professoris, habita ad VIII Cal. Marti. Amsterdam 1736
• Sermo in funere plurimum reverendi Jo. Driebergii, Theologiae inter - Remonstrantes Professoris, habitus ad XI. Cal. Junii 1746. Amsterdam 1746
• Ή KAINH AIAΘHKH immersive Novum Testamentum graecum editionis receptae, cum lectionibus variantibus codicum MS. Editionum, aliarum versionum, Patrum, nec non Commentario pleniore, ex scriptoribus veteribus Hebraeis, Graecis et Latini, historiam et vim verborum illustrante; opera et studio, etc. Tome I, continens quatuor Evangelia. Leiden ( Lugd. Batav. ) 1751, Tome II, continens Epistolas Pauli, Acta Apostolorum Epistolas canonicas et Apocalypsin. Leiden 1752, Editio secunda, auctior et Novum Testamentum emendatior Graecum, ad fidem Graecorum codicum MSS. nunc primum expressum, adstipulanta JJ Wetstenio juxta cesarean sections YES Bengelii divisum, et nova interpunctione saepius illustratum. Accessere in altero volumine Exercitationes conjecturales virorum doctorum undecunque collectae. London 1763
• Duae Epistolae S. Clementi Romani, Discipuli Petri Apostoli, quas ex codice manuscripto NT Syriaci nunc primum erutas, cum versione latina apposita, edidit JJW Leiden 1752
• Epistola ad virum plurimum reverendum, H. Venerne, de duabus Clementi Rome. Epistolis, ex Syriaco nuper Editis. Amsterdam 1754