Merrill Frederick Unger (1909–1980) was an American

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commentator, scholar, archaeologist, and theologian. He earned his A.B. and Ph.D. degrees at

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...

, and his Th.M and Th.D degrees at

Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theology, theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as cont ...

. He was a prolific writer who authored some 40 books. Unger was also a well known Biblical archaeologist and encyclopedist. Early in his career he was identified as a

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, but later was credentialed by the Independent Fundamentalist Churches of America (IFCA).

Education

For a time, he attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, before transferring to the Evangelical Theological College, later Dallas Seminary. At Dallas he was a protege of Lewis Sperry Chafer, bible teacher and founding president of the Seminary. Unger's Th.M. thesis was published as ''The Baptizing Work of the Holy Spirit'' (1953), and his Th.D. dissertation was published as ''Biblical Demonology'' (1952). The evangelist

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considered this work an authority on the subject. He later received a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins under the Near Eastern historian and archaeologist,

William F. Albright William Foxwell Albright (May 24, 1891– September 19, 1971) was an American archaeologist, biblical scholar, philologist, and expert on ceramics. He is considered "one of the twentieth century's most influential American biblical scholars." ...

. Unger's Johns Hopkins dissertation was published as ''Israel and the Arameans of Damascus'' (1957).

Professional life

After serving as a pastor at several churches (e.g. Buffalo, New York), Unger taught for a year at Gordon College. For the next 19 years (1948–1967) Unger was professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary after which time he became professor emeritus. In retirement Dr. Unger led Bible conferences and wrote on Old Testament, theological and practical topics. He became again interested in demonology and a Christian response to the occult and Bishop

James Pike James Albert Pike (February 14, 1913–) was an American Episcopal bishop, accused heretic, iconoclast, prolific writer, and one of the first mainline, charismatic religious figures to appear regularly on television. Pike's outspoken, and to s ...

, publishing ''Demonology in the World Today'' (1971).

Personal life

After retiring from Dallas Seminary due to health concerns and the loss of his first wife, Unger returned to his native Maryland where he and his second wife, Pearl, bought "Birdhaven," an arboretum estate on the Magothy River near Severna Park in Anne Arundel County. He was survived by two adopted children, a son, Clark, and a daughter, Shelley.

Selected works

*''Unger's Bible Dictionary'' *''Unger's Bible Handbook'' *''Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament'' *''Archaeology and the Old Testament'' *''Archaeology and the New Testament'' *''Israel and the Aramaeans of Damascus: A Study in Archaeological Illumination of Bible History'' (1957) ** *''New Testament Teaching on Tongues: A Biblical and Historical Survey'' (1971) *'' Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit'' (

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) *''Demons in the World Today'' (

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), 1971 not "Demonology in the World Today" as in the biography. {{DEFAULTSORT:Unger, Merrill 1909 births 1980 deaths American biblical scholars American evangelicals Dallas Theological Seminary alumni American theologians Johns Hopkins University alumni Dallas Theological Seminary faculty Old Testament scholars 20th-century American archaeologists