Elias Blix

Elias Blix (24 February 1836 – 17 January 1902) was a Norwegian professor, theologian, hymn writer, and a politician for the Liberal Party. Blix wrote numerous hymns and was largely responsible for translating the New Testament into the Norwegian language.[1]

Elias Blix
Minister of Education and Church Affairs
In office
1 November 1886 – 24 February 1888
Prime MinisterJohan Sverdrup
Preceded byJakob Sverdrup
Succeeded byJakob Sverdrup
In office
26 June 1884 – 15 August 1885
Prime MinisterJohan Sverdrup
Preceded byNils Hertzberg
Succeeded byJakob Sverdrup
Personal details
Born(1836-02-24)24 February 1836
Sørarnøy, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Died17 January 1902(1902-01-17) (aged 65)
Christiania, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
NationalityNorwegian
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Emma Hansen
ChildrenHelge
Ragnvald
Marie
Einar
OccupationProfessor
Theologian
Hymn writer
Politician

Biography

Born on Sandhornøy Gildeskål, Salten, in Nordland County, Norway. He attended a teacher seminary in Tromsø (1853–1855). After some years as a teacher in Tromsø, he moved to Christiania for studies in 1859.[2] He was a student of Semitic languages. Blix graduated in 1860 and received his theological degree in 1866 and earned a Dr. philos. in 1876.

Blix worked as a teacher for 25 years at the University of Oslo, where he taught Hebrew and Bible studies. Blix was Minister of Education and Church Affairs in the Cabinet of Johan Sverdrup from 1884 to 1888, interrupted by a period as member of the Council of State Division in Stockholm in 1885–86.[3]

Blix was also a proponent of the Nynorsk language, as well as a composer of psalms and hymns. Among his best known hymns are Gud signe vårt dyre fedreland and No livnar det i lundar. His collection of hymns in Nynorsk, Nokre salmar, published between the years 1869 to 1875, was in 1892 permitted for official use in the Church of Norway, alongside the official version. Together with Johannes Belsheim and Matias Skard, Blix was a major contributor to the Nynorsk translation of the New Testament, which was published in 1890.[4]

Nordlendingenes Forening was founded in 1862 by Elias Blix together with educator, clergyman and engineer Ole Tobias Olsen (1830–1924). The society is a fraternal association of people who have emigrated from the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark in Northern Norway. In honor of the society's 50th anniversary in 1912, a commemorative medal was first established in memory of Petter Dass, the clergyman and poet from Helgeland. The Petter Dass Medal (Petter Dass medaljen) is an award given annually by Nordlendingenes Forening, to people from Northern Norway who have distinguished themselves in their work for the region's development.[5]

Personal life

In 1871, Blix married Emma Alvilde Marie Hansen (1849–1927). They were the parents of several children including Marie Blix (1873–1920), Einar Blix (1880–1941) and illustrator Ragnvald Blix (1882–1958). Elias Blix died during 1902 and was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.[6]

Blix Prize

The Blix Prize (Blix-prisen) is a literary prize awarded annually by the Norwegian publishing house Det Norske Samlaget to an outstanding author from Northern Norway who writes in Nynorsk. The award is a monetary amount from the Emma and Elias Blix Endowment. The endowment was established by Marie Blix and Einar Blix in memory of their parents, Emma and Elias Blix. [7]

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References
  1. Elias Blix (Nynorsk kultursentrum) Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Grepstad, Ottar (ed.). "Elias Blix". Allkunne (in Norwegian). Voss: Det Norske Samlaget. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  3. Henriksen, Petter (ed.). "Elias Blix". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  4. Bull, Tove. "Elias Blix". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  5. Petter Dass medaljen (Nordlendingenes Forening)
  6. Arve Solstad. "Ragnvald Blix". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  7. "Blix-prisen". barum.folkebibl. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved April 1, 2018.

Other sources
  • Olsen, Kurt-Johnny (1986) Elias Blix, mannen og verket (Bodø) ISBN 82-991423-1-8
  • Aschim, Anders (2008) Ein betre vår ein gong: Elias Blix: Biografi ISBN 978-82-521-6429-9
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