Ezra Abbot

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Ezra Abbot (born April 28, 1819 in Jackson , Maine , † March 21, 1884 in Cambridge , Massachusetts ) was an American theologian , Bible critic and university professor .

Ezra Abbot.jpg

biography

Abbot started school at the age of five and took an early interest in ancient history . After attending Phillips Exeter Academy , he studied at Bowdoin College , which he graduated in 1840. He then settled in Cambridge and in 1856 became assistant to the librarian at Harvard University , where he did Bible studies and not only did revisions , but also re-edited a new edition of the book Holy Living and Dying by Jeremy Taylor in 1864 . In 1861 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences .

In 1869 he received a doctorate in law (LL.D.) from Yale College and in 1872 a doctorate in religious studies (Doctor of Divinity, DD) from Harvard University, although he was a layperson . He then accepted a professorship at the religious studies faculty ( Divinity School ) of Harvard University, where he taught criticism and interpretation of the New Testament until his death . In addition to his teaching activities , he wrote important articles for magazines , especially on topics critical of the Bible. In addition, he created an extensive bibliography such as an appendix to the Critical History of Future Life by Alger and to the text editions by Konstantin von Tischendorf .

His most important and last work was an edition on the Authorship of the Fourth Gospel (1880). Abbot, who was himself a Unitarian , wrote articles in particular for magazines of this religious community. In addition, he occasionally wrote articles for the North American Review and the Journal of the American Oriental Society and was also a member of the American Commission for the Revision of the New Testament. His other books include New Discussions of the Trinity and Literature of the Doctrine of a Future Life . He was also the editor of Andrews Norton's Statement of the Reasons for not Believing the Doctrines of the Trinitarians and Lamsons Church of the First Three Centuries, as well as other controversial writings, and authored the articles on pronunciation of names in the Worcester Dictionary .

He also devoted himself to his own library , which comprised around 5000 volumes and included numerous rare editions such as an extensive collection of editions of the Greek New Testament. After his death, his private library became part of the School of Divinity Library at Harvard University.

On the occasion of his death, the School of Divinity published a commemorative publication in his honor in 1884 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. SJ Barrows: Ezra Abbot . Cambridge, Mass. 1884.