Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes ProCon History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Johann Jakob Griesbach
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Read Next
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), German philosopher. Print published in London, 1812. Profile portrait surrounded by Ouroboros ancient Egyptian-Greek symbolic serpent with tail in mouth devouring itself representing unity of material and spiritual in eternal...
Philosophers to Know, Part II
African American man praying in church with stained glass in background
Why Do People Say “Amen” at the End of a Prayer?
Ahura Mazda - relief of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda at the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran. Also known as Ormazd Zoroastrianism,
Which Religion Is the Oldest?
Discover
The Cheshire Cat is a fictional cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (Alice in Wonderland)
11 Banned Books Through Time
Ethel Rosenberg arrested in August 1950. Photograph dated Aug. 8, 1950. American civilians executed for espionage. Spies, communists, Julius Rosenberg
Spies Like Us: 10 Famous Names in the Espionage Game
Thanksgiving Turkey with all the sides
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
Santa Claus flying in his sleigh, christmas, reindeer
Was Santa Claus a Real Person?
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.
Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?
Thanksgiving Celebration Traditional Dinner Setting Food Concept
Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?
Los Angeles Police Department wanted flyer on Elizabeth Short, aka the "Black Dahlia," who was brutally murdered in January 1947. The FBI supported the Los Angeles Police Department in the case, including by identifying Short through her fingerprints that
America’s 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One You May Have Thought Was Already Solved)

Johann Jakob Griesbach

German biblical scholar
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Quick Facts
Born:
Jan. 4, 1745, Butzbach, Hesse [Germany]
Died:
March 24, 1812, Jena, Thuringia (aged 67)
Subjects Of Study:
rationalism
religion
See all related content

Johann Jakob Griesbach (born Jan. 4, 1745, Butzbach, Hesse [Germany]—died March 24, 1812, Jena, Thuringia) was a rationalist Protestant German theologian, the earliest biblical critic to subject the Gospels to systematic literary analysis.

Griesbach studied at Halle (then belonging to Prussia) under J.S. Semler, and from 1775 until his death he was professor of New Testament studies at the University of Jena. He originated the term synoptic to designate the first three Gospels and, rejecting the traditional view, held that Mark was derived from Matthew and Luke (the “usage hypothesis”). Griesbach also published a corrected Greek edition of the New Testament.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.