William Henry Green
Encyclopedia
William Henry Green American
Hebrew
scholar, was born in Groveville, near Bordentown, New Jersey
.
), and his ancestors had been closely connected with the Presbyterian church. He graduated in 1840 from Lafayette College
, where he was tutor in mathematics
(1840–1842) and adjunct professor (1843–1844). In 1846 he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary
, and was instructor in Hebrew there from 1846 to 1849.
He was ordained in 1848 and was pastor of the Central Presbyterian church of Philadelphia from 1849 to 1851. From August 1851 until his death, in Princeton, New Jersey
, aged 75, he was professor of Biblical and Oriental Literature in Princeton Theological Seminary. From 1859 the title of his chair was Oriental and Old Testament Literature.
In 1868 he refused the presidency of Princeton College; as senior professor he was long acting head of the Theological Seminary. His Grammar of the Hebrew Language (1861, revised 1888) was a distinct improvement in method on Gesenius
, Rödiger
, Ewald
and Nordheimer. All his knowledge of Semitic languages he used in a conservative Higher Criticism, which is maintained in the following works:
He was the scholarly leader of the orthodox wing of American Presbyterianism, and was the moderator of the General Assembly
of 1891. Green was chairman of the Old Testament
committee of the Anglo-American Bible revision committee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
scholar, was born in Groveville, near Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown, New Jersey
Bordentown City is in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,924. Bordentown is located at the confluence of the Delaware River, Blacks Creek and Crosswicks Creek...
.
Biography
He was descended in the sixth generation from Jonathan Dickinson, first president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
), and his ancestors had been closely connected with the Presbyterian church. He graduated in 1840 from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, where he was tutor in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
(1840–1842) and adjunct professor (1843–1844). In 1846 he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
, and was instructor in Hebrew there from 1846 to 1849.
He was ordained in 1848 and was pastor of the Central Presbyterian church of Philadelphia from 1849 to 1851. From August 1851 until his death, in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, aged 75, he was professor of Biblical and Oriental Literature in Princeton Theological Seminary. From 1859 the title of his chair was Oriental and Old Testament Literature.
In 1868 he refused the presidency of Princeton College; as senior professor he was long acting head of the Theological Seminary. His Grammar of the Hebrew Language (1861, revised 1888) was a distinct improvement in method on Gesenius
Wilhelm Gesenius
Heinrich Friedrich Wilhelm Gesenius was a German orientalist and Biblical critic.-Biography:He was born at Nordhausen...
, Rödiger
Emil Rödiger
Emil Rödiger was a German orientalist. After studying theology at the University of Halle, he was appointed professor of oriental languages at the university. He moved to Berlin in 1860, and remained there for the rest of his life. He published a new edition of Lockman's Fables ; Syrische...
, Ewald
Heinrich Ewald
Georg Heinrich August Ewald was a German orientalist and theologian.-Life:Ewald was born at Göttingen where his father was a linen weaver. In 1815 he was sent to the gymnasium, and in 1820 he entered the University of Göttingen, where he studied with J.G. Eichhorn and T. C. Tychsen, specialising...
and Nordheimer. All his knowledge of Semitic languages he used in a conservative Higher Criticism, which is maintained in the following works:
- The Pentateuch Vindicated from the Aspersions of Bishop Colenso (1863)
- Moses and the Prophets (1883)
- The Hebrew Feasts in their Relation to Recent Critical Hypotheses Concerning the Pentateuch (1885)
- The Unity of the Book of Genesis (1895)
- The Higher Criticism of the Pentateuch (1895)
- A General Introduction to the Old TestamentOld TestamentThe Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, vol. i. Canon (1898), vol. ii. Text (1899)
He was the scholarly leader of the orthodox wing of American Presbyterianism, and was the moderator of the General Assembly
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
of 1891. Green was chairman of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
committee of the Anglo-American Bible revision committee.