Leander Van Ess

1772-1847. German biblical scholar. Born at Warburg/Westphalia, he entered the Benedictine Order (1790) and assumed the name “Leander” in place of his christened names “Johann Heinrich.” His ordination to the priesthood came in 1796. Appointed professor of Catholic theology at Marburg in 1812, he remained there until 1822. In 1807 he collaborated with his cousin Karl in producing a German translation of the NT. The OT followed in 1822. Divergence from the Vulgate* led to Van Ess's version being placed on the Index in that same year. Nevertheless more than 500,000 copies of the NT were circulated with financial aid from the British and Foreign Bible Society.