Isaac Kaufmann Funk

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2007)

Isaac Kaufmann Funk

Lutheranism
Luther's Seal
Book of Concord Apostles' Creed Nicene Creed Athanasian Creed Augsburg Confession Apology of the Augsburg Confession Luther's Small Catechism Luther's Large Catechism Smalcald Articles Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope Formula of Concord
Theology Justification Law and Gospel Sola gratia Sola scriptura Christology Sanctification Two Kingdoms Priesthood of all believers Divine Providence Theology of the Cross Sacramental Union
Sacraments & Rites The Sacrament of Holy Baptism The Sacrament of the Eucharist Confession and Absolution Confirmation Holy Matrimony Holy Orders Anointing of the Sick
Hymnody & Music A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands God's Word Is Our Great Heritage How Great Thou Art How Lovely Shines the Morning Star Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming In Thee alone, O Christ, my Lord O Lord, Look Down from Heaven Now Thank We All Our God O Sacred Head, Now Wounded Passion Hymns Passion music Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying Johann Sebastian Bach Dieterich Buxtehude Johann Crüger Paul Gerhardt Johann Heermann Felix Mendelssohn Johann Pachelbel Hallgrímur Pétursson Michael Praetorius Johann von Rist Johann Walter Catherine Winkworth Cantata Chorale Chorale prelude
Globally Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference International Lutheran Council Lutheran World Federation List of Lutheran church-bodies
History Protestant Reformation The start of the Reformation Reformation in Denmark Reformation in Finland Reformation in Germany Reformation in Iceland Reformation in Norway Reformation in Sweden Lutheran Orthodoxy Gnesio-Lutherans Pietism Laestadianism Old Lutherans Neo-Lutheranism High Church Lutheranism Confessional Lutherans
Missionaries John Campanius Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg Hans Egede Paul Henkel John Christian Frederick Heyer Wilhelm Sihler F. C. D. Wyneken Hans Paludan Smith Schreuder Lars Olsen Skrefsrud Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen Onesimos Nesib Paul Olaf Bodding Johann Flierl Walter A. Maier Christian Keyser Theologians Martin Luther Wife: Katharina Luther Philipp Melanchthon Johannes Bugenhagen Johannes Brenz Justus Jonas Lucas Cranach the Elder Hans Tausen Laurentius Petri Olaus Petri Matthias Flacius Johann Gerhard Abraham Calovius Johannes Andreas Quenstedt Johann Wilhelm Baier David Hollaz Henry Muhlenberg Lars Levi Læstadius Charles Porterfield Krauth C. F. W. Walther
Lutheranism portal	v • d • e

Isaac Kaufmann Funk (1839-1912) was an American Lutheran minister, editor, lexicographer, publisher, and spelling reformer. He was the co-founder of Funk & Wagnalls Company.

Funk was born on September 10, 1839 in the town of Clifton, Ohio. He attended Wittenberg College (Now Wittenberg University) and Wittenberg Theological Seminary, both in Springfield, Ohio. Upon his graduation in 1860, he was ordained as a Lutheran pastor, and served pastorates in New York, Indiana, and his home state of Ohio. He made an extensive tour through Europe, northern Africa, and Asia Minor in 1872. Funk was a Prohibitionist and also interested himself in psychical research. He founded the Voice, an organ of the Prohibitionist party.

In 1876 he founded the publishing firm of I.K. Funk & Company, with the help of a Wittenberg classmate, Adam Willis Wagnalls, a lawyer and accountant. In 1890 the name was changed to Funk & Wagnalls Company, to more accurately reflect Wagnalls' partnership. In that same year, Funk published The Literary Digest, a departure from the religious works earlier in his career.^[1]

Perhaps Funk's most important achievement was his The Standard Dictionary of the English Language published in 1893. He worked with a team of more than 740 people. His aim was to provide essential information thoroughly and simply at the same time. In order to achieve this he placed current meanings first, archaic meanings second, and etymologies last.^[2]

From 1901 until 1906, Funk and Wagnalls compiled the Jewish Encyclopædia. After Funk died in 1912, the publishing house eventually became a subsidiary of Thomas Y. Crowell Co.

Selected Works

• The Complete Preacher, Sermons Preached By Some of the Most Prominent Clergymen (The Religious Newspaper Agency, New York . 1878)
• Great advance: Address by Dr. I.K. Funk, as chairman of the New York Prohibition State Convention. Saratoga, September 12, 1895 (The Voice. 1895)
• Next Step in Evolution the Present Step (1902)
• The Widow's Mite and Other Psychic Phenomena (Funk & Wagnalls . 1904)
• Standard Encyclopedia of the World's Knowledge (Funk and Wagnalls, Co. 1912)

References