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Merrill Frederick Unger (1909–1980) was an AmericanBible commentator, scholar, archaeologist, and theologian. He earned his A.B. and Ph.D. degrees atJohns Hopkins University, and his Th.M and Th.D degrees atDallas Theological Seminary. 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 aBaptist, but later was credentialed by theIndependent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA).
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 asThe Baptizing Work of the Holy Spirit (1953), and his Th.D. dissertation was published asBiblical Demonology (1952). The evangelistBilly Graham 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. Unger's Johns Hopkins dissertation was published asIsrael and the Arameans of Damascus (1957).
After serving as a pastor at several churches (e.g. Buffalo, New York), Unger taught for a year atGordon 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 BishopJames Pike, publishingDemons in the World Today (1971).
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.
