Elias Blix - Biography

Biography

Born in 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. 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.

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 psalms in the Nynorsk language, 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.

Nordlendingenes Forening was founded in 1862 by Elias Blix together with Norwegian educator, clergyman and engineer Ole Tobias Olsen (August 1830 - July 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.