Henry Preserved Smith
Encyclopedia
Henry Preserved Smith was an American
Biblical scholar.
Smith was born in Troy, Ohio
. He graduated at Amherst College
in 1869 and studied theology
in Lane Theological Seminary
in 1869–1872, in Berlin
in 1872–1874 and in Leipzig
in 1876–1877. He was instructor in church history in 1874-1875, and in Hebrew
in 1875-1876, and was assistant-professor in 1877-1879 and professor in 1879-1893 of Hebrew and Old Testament
exegesis
in Lane Theological Seminary.
In 1892 he was tried for heresy
by the Presbytery of Cincinnati, was found guilty of teaching (in a pamphlet entitled Biblical Scholarship and Inspiration, 1891) that there were "errors of historic fact," suppressions of "historic truths," etc., in the Books of Chronicles
, and that the "inspiration of the Holy Scriptures is consistent with the "unprofitableness of portions of the sacred writings," - in other words, that inspiration does not imply inerrancy
- and he was suspended from the ministry.
Dr Smith retired from the denomination, and in 1893, upon becoming a professor at Andover Theological Seminary, entered the ministry of the Congregational Church
. From 1897 to 1906 he was a professor in Amherst College, and in 1907 became a professor in the Meadville Theological School.
He published The Bible and Islam (1897), Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Samuel (1899, in the "International Critical Commentary") and Old Testament History (1903, in the "International Theological Library"). In Inspiration and Inerrancy (Cincinnati, 1893), he reprinted the papers on which the heresy charge was made, and outlined the case. His son was Preserved Smith
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Biblical scholar.
Smith was born in Troy, Ohio
Troy, Ohio
* - Sports :In addition to Troy High School athletics, Troy is home to the Miami Valley Silverbacks indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League....
. He graduated at Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1869 and studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Lane Theological Seminary
Lane Theological Seminary
Lane Theological Seminary was established in the Walnut Hills section of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829 to educate Presbyterian ministers. It was named in honor of Ebenezer and William Lane, who pledged $4,000 for the new school, which was seen as a forward outpost of the Presbyterian Church in the...
in 1869–1872, in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1872–1874 and in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
in 1876–1877. He was instructor in church history in 1874-1875, and in 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...
in 1875-1876, and was assistant-professor in 1877-1879 and professor in 1879-1893 of Hebrew and 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...
exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
in Lane Theological Seminary.
In 1892 he was tried for heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
by the Presbytery of Cincinnati, was found guilty of teaching (in a pamphlet entitled Biblical Scholarship and Inspiration, 1891) that there were "errors of historic fact," suppressions of "historic truths," etc., in the Books of Chronicles
Books of Chronicles
The Books of Chronicles are part of the Hebrew Bible. In the Masoretic Text, it appears as the first or last book of the Ketuvim . Chronicles largely parallels the Davidic narratives in the Books of Samuel and the Books of Kings...
, and that the "inspiration of the Holy Scriptures is consistent with the "unprofitableness of portions of the sacred writings," - in other words, that inspiration does not imply inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
- and he was suspended from the ministry.
Dr Smith retired from the denomination, and in 1893, upon becoming a professor at Andover Theological Seminary, entered the ministry of the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
. From 1897 to 1906 he was a professor in Amherst College, and in 1907 became a professor in the Meadville Theological School.
He published The Bible and Islam (1897), Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Samuel (1899, in the "International Critical Commentary") and Old Testament History (1903, in the "International Theological Library"). In Inspiration and Inerrancy (Cincinnati, 1893), he reprinted the papers on which the heresy charge was made, and outlined the case. His son was Preserved Smith
Preserved Smith
Preserved Smith was an American historian of the Protestant Reformation.He was the son of Henry Preserved Smith, a noted scholar of the Old Testament, and inherited his name from a line of Puritan ancestors stretching back to the 17th century. He attended Amherst College and Columbia University,...
.