WELLHAUSEN, JULIUS

Orientalist and Biblical scholar remembered chiefly for his contributions to the documentary theory on the composition of the Hexateuch; b. Hameln, Germany, May 17, 1844; d. Göttingen, Jan. 7, 1918. His studies in theology were made under the celebrated G. H. A. ewald at Göttingen, where he also taught for two years (1870–72). In 1872 he became professor of theology at the University of Greifswald. In 1882 he resigned his post, because his views on Biblical inspiration conflicted with those accepted at the university. Subsequently he taught at Halle and Marburg (1882–85). In 1892 he transferred to Göttingen, where he remained until his death.

His Prolegomena and Komposition des Hexateuchs became standard works in critical Biblical studies, to the extent that the theories he developed came to be considered the "orthodox" view in most non-Catholic Biblical circles. A culmination of his influence may be seen in P. Haupt's "Rainbow Bible." Although later scholarship, e.g., that of the "Scandinavian School," has considerably modified Wellhausen's documentary theories, his influence on Biblical criticism in Catholic as well as non-Catholic scholarship has been established.

The following are among his more important works: Pharisärer und Sadduzäer (1874); Prolegomena zur Geschichte Israels (6th ed. 1905); Die Komposition des Hexateuchs und der historischen Bücher des alten Testaments (3d ed. 1899); Israelitische und Jüdische Geschichte (4th ed. 1901); Reste arabischen Heidentums (2d ed. 1897); Das Evangelium Marci (1903), Matthäi (1904), Lucae (1904), and Johannis (1908).

Bibliography: Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche ², v.10. o. eissfeldt, Die Religion in geschichte und Gegenwart, third ed. 6:1594–95.

[c. a. rehwinkel]