Duitsch, Christian Solomon

Duitsch, Christian Solomon a Protestant minister, was born of Jewish parentage at Temesvar, in Hungary, in 1734. According to the fashion of that time, his education was entirely Talmudical. In 1760 he received the degree of "morenu," or rabbinickal doctor; and being the son-in-law of a wealthy-Jew, he had everything that an ambitious Jew could desire. He devoted the whole of his time to the study of the Talmud and the Midrashim, but many a passage treating of the Messiah, repentance, and conversion led him to a diligent examination of Christianity. Without entering upon the history of his inner struggles, which is given in his interesting De wonderlijke Leidinge Gods and Het Veroolg van de wonderlijke Leidinge Gods (Amsterdam, 1767-69; new ed. Nijkerk, 1870), we will state that on June 25, 1767, he was openly baptized at Amsterdam. Duitsch now betook himself to the study of theology, and having been duly prepared, entered the Utrecht University, where he attended the theological lectures for six years. On April 16, 1776, he passed his examination; and a year later, April 14, 1777, was elected pastor at Mydrecht, where he died, November 15, 1797. He wrote, Israels Verlossinge en cenwige Behoudenis (Amsterdam, 1769-93). See Furst, in Delitzsch's' Saat auf Haffnung, 1875, page 3 sq. (B.P.)