I’ve just found out the terrible news that Martin Hengel has passed from this life to the next. The report from Dorstener Zeitung reads:
Einer der weltweit bedeutendsten Experten für die Literatur des Urchristentums und antiken Judentums, Prof. Martin Hengel, ist am Donnerstag in Tübingen gestorben. Der evangelische Theologe wurde 82 Jahre alt, teilte die Württembergische Landeskirche in Stuttgart mit.
Many have already noted this, but I felt the need to do so as well. Professor Hengel was brillant beyond words, and, though I know him only through his work on Jesus and early Christology, everything I’ve heard about him from his friends has been glowing. He will be deeply missed and NT scholarship now has a palpable lacuna. May it not be filled hastily.
HT: Jim West, Clayboy, and Brandon Wason.
UPDATE: For those who do not read German, the report above says:
One of the world’s leading experts in the literature of Early Christianity and ancient Judaism, Professor Martin Hengel, died on Thursday in Tübingen. The protestant theologian was 82 years old, the regional church of Württemberg in Stuttgart shared.
who doesn’t read german?
By: Jim on July 2, 2009
at 7:12 pm
oh, yeah. good point, jim. my mistake.
By: Michael on July 2, 2009
at 8:15 pm
[...] Leman on A Parable from the Seder Eliyahu ZutaMartin Hengel will be missed « Ecce Homo on Sad News: Martin Hengel’s PassingMike Aubrey on McKnight on Witherington’s [...]
By: Sitz im Leben » Sad News: Martin Hengel’s Passing on July 2, 2009
at 9:31 pm
Once again, I’m listening to George Jones sing, “Who’s gonna’ fill their shoes?”
Hermann Lichtenberger, though, is doing a good job of carrying on the tradition of historical research in Judaism and Urchristentum.
By: Mark on July 3, 2009
at 11:02 am
That sound ran through my head too.
By: Michael on July 3, 2009
at 12:44 pm
I’m just pleased I was able to figure out what the German said, with the help of a dictionary, of course.
Jim’s German is obviously by far better than mine!
By: John Anderson on July 3, 2009
at 11:13 am
Yes, I had to use a dictionary too.
Oh Jim, why must you vex us so?!
By: Michael on July 3, 2009
at 12:45 pm
I think Jim’s facility with German is deeply related to his crochety character. Have you ever met a nice German? Seriously!
Ok, I jest.
By: John Anderson on July 3, 2009
at 1:45 pm
By: Michael on July 3, 2009
at 3:38 pm
[...] a “world class” NT scholar died recently. Many blogs are reporting it. You can start here or here for details and follow “HT links” from there… or do a Google [...]
By: Martin Hengel dead at 82 « NT Resources Blog on July 3, 2009
at 8:40 pm
[...] Uncategorized A number of bloggers (e.g., Stephen Carlson, Nick Norelli, Jim West, Mike Whitenton, P. J. Williams) have reported that Martin Hengel passed away Thursday in Tübingen, Germany, at [...]
By: Martin Hengel (1926-2009) « confessions of a bible junkie on July 3, 2009
at 11:19 pm