Moses Stuart
Encyclopedia
Moses Stuart an American
biblical scholar, was born in Wilton, Connecticut
.
in 1799; in 1802 he was admitted to the Connecticut bar and was appointed as a tutor at Yale, where he remained for two years. In 1806 Stuart became the pastor of the Centre (Congregational) Church of New Haven, being appointed professor of sacred literature in the Andover Theological Seminary in 1810.
Here he succeeded Eliphalet Pearson
(1752–1826), the first preceptor of the Phillips (Andover) Academy
and in 1786–1806 professor of Hebrew
and Oriental languages at Harvard. At this time he knew hardly more than elementary Hebrew and not much more Greek
; in 1801–12 he prepared for the use of his students a Hebrew grammar
which they copied day by day from his manuscript; in 1813 he printed his Grammar, which appeared in an enlarged form, with a copious syntax
and praxis
, in 1821, and was republished in England by Dr Pusey
in 1831.
He gradually made the acquaintance of German works in hermeneutics, first Johann Friedrich Schleusner
, Seiler and Gesenius, and taught himself German
, arousing much suspicion and distrust among his colleagues by his unusual studies. However, recognition soon followed, partly as a result of his Letter to Dr Channing on the Subject of Religious Liberty (1830), but more largely through the growing favour shown to German philology
and critical methods. In 1848 he resigned his chair at Andover. Stuart died in Andover
on January 4th, 1852.
Stuart has been called the father of exegetical studies in America. He contributed largely by his teaching to the renewal of foreign missionary zeal—of his 1500 students more than 100 became foreign missionaries, among them such skilled translators as Adoniram Judson
, Elias Riggs
and William G Schauffler.
Stuart's 1850 book Conscience and the Constitution took the position that slavery is an institution allowed by the Bible, but that, as it was actually practiced in the United States, slavery was morally wrong. Therefore there should be a voluntary emancipation of slaves by the Southern slave owners.
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biblical scholar, was born in Wilton, Connecticut
Wilton, Connecticut
Wilton is a town nestled in the Norwalk River Valley in southwestern Connecticut in the United States. It is located in Fairfield County. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 18,062. In 2007, it was voted as one of CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" in the United States.Located along...
.
Life and career
He was reared on a farm graduating with highest honours at YaleYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1799; in 1802 he was admitted to the Connecticut bar and was appointed as a tutor at Yale, where he remained for two years. In 1806 Stuart became the pastor of the Centre (Congregational) Church of New Haven, being appointed professor of sacred literature in the Andover Theological Seminary in 1810.
Here he succeeded Eliphalet Pearson
Eliphalet Pearson
Eliphalet Pearson U.S. educator; 1st principal of Phillips Academy 1778-1786; acting president of Harvard University 1804-1806.Pearson graduated from Harvard in 1773 after having attended Dummer Charity School ....
(1752–1826), the first preceptor of the Phillips (Andover) Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
and in 1786–1806 professor of Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and Oriental languages at Harvard. At this time he knew hardly more than elementary Hebrew and not much more Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
; in 1801–12 he prepared for the use of his students a Hebrew grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
which they copied day by day from his manuscript; in 1813 he printed his Grammar, which appeared in an enlarged form, with a copious syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
and praxis
Praxis
Praxis is the putting of theory into practice. The term may refer to:* Christian theological praxis* Praxis , the practice of faith, especially worship* The Praxis School, a school of Marxist philosophy...
, in 1821, and was republished in England by Dr Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey
Edward Bouverie Pusey was an English churchman and Regius Professor of Hebrew at Christ Church, Oxford. He was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement.-Early years:...
in 1831.
He gradually made the acquaintance of German works in hermeneutics, first Johann Friedrich Schleusner
Johann Friedrich Schleusner
Johann Friedrich Schleusner was a German Protestant theologian.He was considered one of the more prominent German theological scholars of his time.-Life:Schleusner was born on 16 January 1759 in Leipzig....
, Seiler and Gesenius, and taught himself German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, arousing much suspicion and distrust among his colleagues by his unusual studies. However, recognition soon followed, partly as a result of his Letter to Dr Channing on the Subject of Religious Liberty (1830), but more largely through the growing favour shown to German philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
and critical methods. In 1848 he resigned his chair at Andover. Stuart died in Andover
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
on January 4th, 1852.
Stuart has been called the father of exegetical studies in America. He contributed largely by his teaching to the renewal of foreign missionary zeal—of his 1500 students more than 100 became foreign missionaries, among them such skilled translators as Adoniram Judson
Adoniram Judson
Adoniram Judson, Jr. was an American Baptist missionary, who served in Burma for almost forty years. At the age of 25, Adoniram Judson became the first Protestant missionary sent from North America to preach in Burma...
, Elias Riggs
Elias Riggs
Elias Riggs was an American Presbyterian missionary and linguist born in New Providence, New Jersey. During his missionary activities in the Ottoman Empire he contributed greatly to the Bulgarian National Revival, and organized the first translation , and worked on editing, printing and...
and William G Schauffler.
Stuart's 1850 book Conscience and the Constitution took the position that slavery is an institution allowed by the Bible, but that, as it was actually practiced in the United States, slavery was morally wrong. Therefore there should be a voluntary emancipation of slaves by the Southern slave owners.
Major works
- Winer's Greek Grammar of the New Testament (1825), with Edward Robinson
- Commentary on the Epistle to the HebrewsEpistle to the HebrewsThe Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the books in the New Testament. Its author is not known.The primary purpose of the Letter to the Hebrews is to exhort Christians to persevere in the face of persecution. The central thought of the entire Epistle is the doctrine of the Person of Christ and his...
(1827–1828) - Commentary on the Epistle to the RomansEpistle to the RomansThe Epistle of Paul to the Romans, often shortened to Romans, is the sixth book in the New Testament. Biblical scholars agree that it was composed by the Apostle Paul to explain that Salvation is offered through the Gospel of Jesus Christ...
(1832) - Commentary on the ApocalypseApocalypseAn Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
(1845) - Miscellanies (1846)
- Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar (1846), a version which involved Stuart in a long controversy with Thomas ConantThomas Jefferson ConantThomas Jefferson Conant , American Biblical scholar, was born at Brandon, Vermont.Graduating from Middlebury College in 1823, he became tutor in the Columbian University, Washington D.C...
, the earlier, and possibly more scholarly, translator of Gesenius - Commentary on EcclesiastesEcclesiastesThe Book of Ecclesiastes, called , is a book of the Hebrew Bible. The English name derives from the Greek translation of the Hebrew title.The main speaker in the book, identified by the name or title Qoheleth , introduces himself as "son of David, king in Jerusalem." The work consists of personal...
(1851) - Commentary on the Book of ProverbsBook of ProverbsThe Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
(1852)
Further reading
Memorial sermons by:- Edwards Amasa ParkEdwards Amasa ParkEdwards Amasa Park was an American Congregational theologian.He was the son of Calvin Park...
(Boston, 1852) - William Adams (minister)William Adams (minister)William Adams was a noted clergyman and academic.-Early life:He was born in Colchester, Connecticut in 1807 to John Adams , a 1795 graduate of Yale who was an American educator noted for organizing several hundred Sunday schools, and Elizabeth Ripley, the daughter of Gamaliel Ripley and Judith...
(New York, 1852)
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