Christian Frederick Matthaei

Christian Frederick Matthaei (1744–1811) was a German scholar known for his work in classical philology and palaeography. Born in the Saxon village of Gröst, he studied theology, philosophy, and classical philology in Leipzig under notable figures like Johann Jakob Reiske and Johann August Ernesti. After teaching in Moscow from 1772 to 1784, he returned to Germany and became a professor of Greek at the University of Halle-Wittenberg, serving as rector before returning to Moscow in 1804.

Matthaei specialized in studying Greek manuscripts from Mount Athos housed in Moscow’s synodal libraries. He published catalogues and editions of these collections. Notably, he prepared an edition of the Greek New Testament with Latin Vulgate translations, collating seventy manuscripts between 1782–1788. A second edition (1803–1807) included thirty additional manuscripts. While his work was criticized for lacking modern critical methods and manuscript discrimination, his apparatus was praised for its accuracy and palaeographical skill.

Matthaei’s scholarship also involved editing various biblical texts, including works by Paul and John. However, he faced accusations of stealing Greek manuscripts from Moscow libraries, some of which were later highlighted in 1899. Despite this, his contributions to classical philology and biblical studies remain significant.