Friedrich Bleek (4 July 1793, in Ahrensbök, Holstein27 February 1859, in Bonn) was a German biblical scholar who explored the authorship of the Old Testament.
Life
At 16 years old, Bleek attended the gymnasium at Lübeck, where his interest in ancient languages led him to the study of theology. After his preparatory course at the gymnasium, he studied philosophy for two years at the University of Kiel. From 1814 to 1817, he studied under Wilhelm Martin Leberecht de Wette, Johann August Wilhelm Neander, and Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher at the University of Berlin. After passing the examinations for entering the ministry in 1818, Bleek was called back to Berlin as a tutorial fellow in theology, a temporary post obtained for him by the theological faculty.
In addition to fulfilling his duties in the theological seminary, he published two dissertations in Schleiermacher and G. C. F. Lücke's Journal (1819–1820, 1822), one on the origin and composition of the Sibylline Oracles, , and the other on the authorship and purpose of the Book of Daniel, .
Bleek's accomplishments as a rising scholar were recognized by the minister of public instruction, who continued Bleek's stipend as Repentant for a third year and promised further advancement in due time. But the attitude of the political authority underwent a change. De Wette was dismissed from his professorship in 1819, and Bleek, a favorite pupil, came under government suspicion as an extreme democrat. Not only was his stipend as Repentant discontinued, but his nomination to the post of extraordinary professor, which had already been signed by the minister Karl Altenstein, was withheld. Eventually it was found that Bleek had been confused with Baueleven Blech, and in 1823 he received the appointment.