Martin, David

Martin, David a French Protestant theologian, was born at Revel, Languedoc, in 1639. He studied philosophy at Nismes, and theology at Puy-Laurens. After acting as pastor at several places, he was obliged to leave France in consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes: so great was the consideration he enjoyed that Roman Catholics themselves assisted him to flee. He next became pastor at Utrecht, and, although invited to Deventer as professor of theology in 1686, and to Haag in 1695, he remained attached to his congregation. He died at Utrecht in 1721. He wrote three volumes of sermons, some polemical and apologetic works, and some critical essays, all of which give evidence of his learning and talent. The most important of his works are Le Nouveau Testament, explique plar des notes courtes et clairses (Utrecht, 1696, 4to): the notes are partly dogmatic, partly literary, and were subsequently used by the editor of the French Roman Catholic translation of the N.T. published at Brussels (1700, 4 vols. 12mo): — Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament (Amnst. 1700, 2 vols. fol.). It contained some magnificent copper-plate engravings, and was often reprinted. But Martin's chief claim on posterity lies in his revision of the Geneva version of the Bible, which he undertook at the request of the Walloon communities. It appeared in 1707 (Amst. 2 vols. fol.), and was often reprinted in 8vo. The first edition contained theological and critical notes, with a general introduction, and special ones appended to each book; these, however, were omitted in the subsequent popular editions. It was approved by the Synod of Leuwarden in 1710. Martin's translation, subsequently revised by Osterwald, is still the one most in use in the Protestant churches of France. Among his other works we notice Sermons sur divers textes de l'Ecriture Sainte (Amst. 1708. 8vo): — L'Excellence de la foi et de ses effets, expliquee en xx sermons (Amst. 1710, 2 vols. 8vo): — Trait de la Religion naturelle (Amst. 1713, 8-vo; translated into Dutch in 1720, English in 1720, and German in 1735): — Le vrai sens du Psaume cx (Amst. 1715, 8vo). His dissertation on natural religion caused quite a long and spirited controversv with the Arian Emlyn (q.v.). See Niceron, Memoires, vol. xxi; Chaufepie, Dict. hist.; Prosper Marchand, Dict.; Nayral, Biog. Castraise, vol. ii; Haag, La France Protestante, vol. vii; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 34:34; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 9:130.