Merrill Frederick Unger (1909–1980) was an American theologian, archaeologist, Bible commentator, and scholar. He obtained his A.B. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University, as well as his Th.M. and Th.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Unger was a versatile author, having written approximately 40 books. He was recognized as a biblical archaeologist and an encyclopedist. At the beginning of his career, he was associated with the Baptist denomination, but later received credentials from the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA).

He studied for a period at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, before moving to the Evangelical Theological College, which later became known as Dallas Seminary. While at Dallas, he was mentored by Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founding president and a Bible instructor at the Seminary. Unger’s Master of Theology thesis was released as The Baptizing Work of the Holy Spirit (1953), and his Doctor of Theology dissertation was published under the title Biblical Demonology (1952). The evangelist Billy Graham regarded this work as a definitive source on the topic.

He subsequently obtained a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins, studying under the Near Eastern historian and archaeologist, William F. Albright. Unger’s dissertation from Johns Hopkins was published as Israel and the Arameans of Damascus in 1957.

Following his time as a pastor in various churches, including one in Buffalo, New York, Unger taught for a year at Gordon College. He then served as a professor of Old Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary for 19 years (1948–1967), after which he was designated professor emeritus.

After retiring, Dr. Unger conducted Bible conferences and wrote about the Old Testament, along with various theological and practical subjects. He renewed his interest in demonology and the Christian approach to the occult and Bishop James Pike, resulting in the publication of Demonology in the World Today (1971).

Following his retirement from Dallas Seminary because of health issues and the passing of his first wife, Unger went back to his home state of Maryland. There, he and his second wife, Pearl, purchased “Birdhaven,” an arboretum property located on the Magothy River close to Severna Park in Anne Arundel County. He is survived by two adopted children: a son named Clark and a daughter named Shelley.

List of Works By Unger

· 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)
· The Haunting of Bishop Pike (1971)
· New Testament Teaching on Tongues: A Biblical and Historical Survey (1971)
· Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Moody Press)
· Demons in the World Today (Tyndale House Publishers), 1971 not “Demonology in the World Today” as in the biography.