Planck, Heinrich Ludwig

Planck, Heinrich Ludwig another German Protestant divine, son of the preceding, was born at Göttingen July 19, 1785, and educated at the university of that place, where his father was then a professor. In 1809 young Planck appeared as author of a work entitled Versuch einer neuen synoptischen Zusammensteliung der drei ersten Evangelien, nach Gerundsätzen der hohern Kritik (Götting. 1809, 8vo). In 1810 he was appointed extraordinary professor of theology at Göttingen; and his introductory program, De vera natura atque indole orationis Graecae Novi Testamenti Commentatio (Göttingen, 1810, 4to), added greatly to his reputation. The value of this essay can scarcely be overrated, and its influence has been equal to its worth. It has wrought an entire change of opinion respecting the N.T. Greek, and upon the views which it enforced all subsequent investigations have been based. An English translation is published in the second volume of the Edinburgh Biblical Cabinet. It was Planck's intention, as stated in this essay, to exhibit his views in a more perfected form, in a work to be entitled Isagoge Philologica in Novum Testamentum; but from this he was diverted by an engagement into which he entered upon the strong recommendation of Gesenius, namely, to prepare a lexicon of the N.T. similar to that which the latter had published of the O.T. Unhappily the expectations awakened by his early promise were unfulfilled. His health was undermined by frequent attacks of epilepsy, and it was with difficulty that he could go through the duties of his office as ordinary professor of theology, to which he was appointed in 1823. Other works of his are, New Revelation and Inspiration (1817), and a Short Scheme of the Philosophic Doctrines of Religion (1821). He died Sept. 23,1831. See Lücke's biography of Gottlieb Jacob Planck. (J.H.W.)