Schaff, Phillip, Dd, Lld

Schaff, Phillip, D.D., LL.D.

a prominent Presbyterian minister, author, and professor, was born at Coire, Switzerland, January 1, 1819. He received his education in his native place, and at Stuttgart, Tuibingen, Halle, and Berlin. Lecturing in Berlin University, 1842-44, on exegesis and Church history he next received and accepted a call to a professorship in Mercersbuirg Theological Seminary, where he remained until 1863; from 1864-69 was secretary of the New York Sabbath Committee; 1870-72 professor of theological encyclopaedia and methodology in Union Theological Seminary; 1872-74 of Hebrew; and thereafter of sacred literature until his death, October 20, 1893. Dr. Schaff was a most genial Christian gentleman, and a scholar of wide and accurate attainments. He was a very voluminous writer and editor, principally in the line of Church history, especially The Creeds of Christendom (3 volumes): — and History of the Christian Church (7 volumes), upon which his reputation will most permanently rest. He also edited several commentaries, such as that of Lange; also The Popular Commentary, and The International Revision Commentary, besides many works of reference, most important of which is the Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopaedia. In 1886 he became the editor of A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers; he was also the editor of The Philosophical and Theological Library. He was chairman of the American Committee of Revisers of the English Bible, and labored ardently on the N.T. portion of that work.