Liebknecht, Johann Georg

Liebknecht, Johann Georg a German theologian, was born at Wasungen April 23, 1679. In 1699 he entered the University of Jena. Besides pursuing the common course, he was led by Dr. Danz into a thorough study of the Talmud and Rabbinical literature. He also gave especial attention to the science of mathematics. On the latter he gave lectures after he was graduated A.M. in 1703. These were highly approved by many scholars, e.g. by the philosopher Leibnitz, with whom he corresponded. His devotion to mathematics, however, did not cause him to neglect his theological studies, for he afterwards lectured with success on exegesis of the Old and New Testaments. In 1706 he was called as professor of mathematics to the University of Halle, but was obliged to decline this, as well as the call of tutor to two princes, in 1707, because his health failed him. In the same year, however, he accepted a call as professor of mathematics to the University of Giessen. In 1715 he became a member of the Imperial Leopold Society, and in 1716 of the Royal Prussian Society of Sciences. In 1719 he became doctor of divinity, in 1721 professor extraordinary of theology, and in 1725 was advanced to the ordinary or full professorship; and was also made assessor of the consistory and superintendent at Giessen. He died September 17, 1749. Although many of his numerous productions are in the department of mathematics, yet his dissertations on exegesis, Church history, and dogmatical theology prove him to have been a profound, acute, and investigating theologian. Besides his contributions to the Actal Eruditorum, we mention Progr. penecostale, causae Spiritus S. caritatis immemorem hacetificem, etc. (Gissa, 1717, 4to): — Diss. hist. theol. de evangelicae veritatis ante reformationem in Hassia confessionibus (ibid. 1727, 4to): — Von dem Tode u. dessen eingebildete Bitterkeit (ibid. 1733, 8vo): — Diss. theol. de Deo et attributis divinis, in qua Art. I Aug. Conf. etc. (ibid. 1736, 4to): — Adscensio Christi ante adscensionem in caelos nulla, Diss. theol. qua Socinianorum commenta, etc. (ibid. 1737, 4to). — Doring, Gelehrte Theol. Deutschlands, volume 2, s.v.