Pitts Theology Library
Archives and Manuscripts Department
| Descriptive Summary | |
| Creator: | Lightfoot, Robert Henry, 1883-1953. |
| Title: | Robert Henry Lightfoot letter, 1920. |
| Call Number: | Manuscript Collection No. 402 |
| Extent: | .1 cubic feet (1 folder) |
| Abstract: | Consists of a letter on Pauline chronology and the dating of Galatians by biblical scholar, R. H. Lightfoot. |
| Language: | Materials entirely in English. |
| Administrative Information | |
| Restrictions on Access | Unrestricted access. |
| Terms Governing Use and Reproduction | All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction. |
| Citation | [after identification of item(s)], Robert Henry Lightfoot letter, MSS 402, Archives and Manuscript Department, Pitts Theology Library, Emory University. |
| Processing | Processed by Brandon Wason, September 2015. |
Biographical Note
Robert Henry Lightfoot (1883-1953) was born on September 30, 1883. He was the youngest son of R. P. Lightfoot, an Anglican clergyman and archdeacon of Oakham. Lightfoot studied classics and theology at Eton and Oxford; he worked in an Anglican parish in Sussex then taught at Wells Theological College (1912-1916, 1919). He spent the remainder of his career at Oxford: first as a fellow of Lincoln College (1919-1921), then as a fellow and the Dean of Divinity at New College (1921-1934), and finally as Dean Ireland's Professor of Exegesis of Holy Scripture (1934-1949). His scholarly work focused on the Gospels and primarily the Gospels of Mark and John. He interacted with German scholars such as Martin Dibelius and Rudolf Bultmann and helped pioneer what would later become known as redaction criticism. Lightfoot only published a small number of works, but each were characterized by careful and meticulous scholarship. His commentary on the Gospel of John was published posthumously. Lightfoot never married. He passed away on November 24, 1953 at the age of 70.
Bibliography: J. Riches, "Lightfoot, R(obert) H(enry) (1883-1953)," pages 665-668 in Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters, edited by Donald K. McKim (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007).
Scope and Content
This collection consists of one letter written by R. H. Lightfoot to Cuthbert H. Turner, dated November 5, 1920. A couple of weeks earlier, Turner had delivered his inaugural lecture as Dean Ireland's Professor of Exegesis at Oxford University. In Turner's lecture (and subsequently the published form The Study of New Testament: 1883 and 1920, pages 22-23), he considers an early date for the composition of Paul's letter to the Galatians. Lightfoot's letter addresses the dating of Galatians and proposes an alternative theory of Paul's chronology based on Galatians 2.
Last Modified: September 16, 2015 (bcw)