PLANCK, HEINRICH LUDWIG, the eldest son of Gottlieb Jacob Planck, was born at Gottingen, July 19, 1785. He studied in the university of his native town, where he had for his teachers Sthmd lin, Eichhorn, Heyne, and Heeren. Whilst still a student, he attracted notice by a prize-essay which was published under the title, Commentatio de principiis et causis interpretationis Philoniano allegoricu, Gotting. 1807, 4to. New Testament exegesis was the department of study to which he devoted himself; and his next appearance as an author was a defence of the genuineness of the first epistle to Timothy from the attacks of Schleiermacher, Bemerkungen ilber den ersten Paul inischen Brief an den Timotheus, Gotting. 18o8, 8vo. In the following year appeared his Entwurf einer neuen synoptischen Zusammenstellung der drei ersten Evangelien, nach Grundslitze der hohern Gotting. 1809, 8vo. In aro he was ap pointed extraordinary professor of theology at Gottingen ; and his introductory programme, De vera nature argue indole orationis grace Novi Tes tanzenti commentatio, Gotting. 181o, 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 Testamen turn ; but from this he was diverted by an engage ment into which he entered, upon the strong recom mendation 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 fre quent 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. He died Sept. 23, I831.— S. N.