Joseph Barber Lightfoot Collection (11 vols.)

by Joseph Barber Lightfoot

Publishers:

Macmillan and Co.; Thomas Whittaker

, 1882–1909

Overview

Joseph Barber Lightfoot is one of the most influential biblical scholars of the nineteenth century, who along with John Anthony Hort and Brooke Foss Westcott, defended the authenticity of the Bible against modernism and contributed enormously to the discipline of church history. In addition to his extensive scholarly accomplishments, Bible commentaries, and his multi-volume Apostolic Fathers, Lightfoot also devoted his life to the church, serving as canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral and as Bishop of Durham.

The Joseph Barber Lightfoot Collection (11 vols.) contains material from Lightfoot’s unfinished Bible commentaries, lectures, and manuscripts, including his unpublished notes on the Pauline Epistles—including 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, portions of Romans, and the first chapter of Ephesians—as well as essays on the chronology of Paul’s life, the structure of Romans, and the Pastoral Epistles. The Joseph Barber Lightfoot Collection contains four volumes of Lightfoot’s sermons—87 sermons in all! This collection also includes Lightfoot’s enormously popular series of essays, in which he challenged W. R. Cassel’s Supernatural Religion and defended his friend and colleague B. F. Westcott.

What’s more, with the power of your digital library, the entire 11-volume Joseph Barber Lightfoot Collection is fully searchable and easier to access than ever! The Scripture references in Lightfoot’s commentaries, essays, and sermons are linked to your Bible translations and original language texts, and important theological concepts are linked to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and the wealth of resources in your digital library.

Product Details

• Title: Joseph Barber Lightfoot Collection (11 vols.)
• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Volumes: 11
• Pages: 3,091

Collection Details

Biblical Essays

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1893
• Pages: 459

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Originally published in 1893, this volume contains fifteen essays, including three essays on the authenticity of the Gospel of John, and essays on the epistles to the Corinthians, Romans, and Ephesians—including material not found in his commentaries. Lightfoot’s essays on the pastoral epistles, the chronology of Paul’s life, and his essay on the structure of the book of Romans—including an essay on M. Renan’s theory of Romans and an exchange with F. J. A. Hort—are also included. Many of these selections are taken from Lightfoot’s lecture notes and his unpublished manuscripts, which were compiled after his death and edited into readable form.

Cambridge Sermons

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1890
• Pages: 334

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Cambridge Sermons includes eight sermons preached in Trinity College Chapel from 1861 to 1875, along with eleven additional sermons preached at Cambridge between 1868 and 1883. This volume includes sermons on the life of Esau, the relationship between Edom and Israel in Isaiah’s prophecy, and sermons on numerous New Testament texts.

Essays on the Work Entitled Supernatural Religion

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1889
• Pages: 319

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

W. R. Cassel’s Supernatural Religion, first published anonymously in 1874, attacked Christianity, questioned the historicity of the Gospels, and expressed skepticism over the efficacy of miracles and the possibility of the supernatural. The work became an instant bestseller and received enormous publicity.

Although the work was challenged by contemporary scholars, its greatest rebuttal came from this series of essays by Lightfoot. This collection contains all nine of Lightfoot’s essays on Supernatural Religion. In particular Lightfoot questioned Cassel’s ignorance of church history, the logical fallacies of his view of Scripture, and the inconsistency of his scholarship. These essays were not only widely circulated, but have also served as an apologetic for the Gospels ever since.

On a Fresh Revision of the English New Testament

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1871
• Pages: 242

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

On a Fresh Revision of the English New Testament was first read at a clerical meeting in order to address misunderstandings and misconceptions about Bible translations in general and English revisions in particular. Lightfoot penned it during the early years of the committee meetings for the revision for the English New Testament—a committee he was later invited to join.

Lightfoot defends the necessity of a fresh revision of the English Bible. He bases his argument on historical precedent and contemporary necessity. He outlines the broad history of Bible translation and revision, beginning with St. Jerome’s revision of the Latin Bible, the development of the authorized versions, and other important historical parallels. He also argues that a new revision would correct false readings, update archaisms, fix incorrect grammar and lexicography, and offer a new treatment of names and titles.

Historical Essays

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1896
• Pages: 245

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This collection of essays was compiled after Lightfoot’s death, and contains materials and manuscripts from lectures Lightfoot delivered throughout his life. In all, this volume contains essays on Christianity during the second and third century, the progress of modern missions, the state of England during the thirteenth century, and the chapel of St. Peter and the Manor house of Auckland. Historical Essays concludes with a lengthy essay on John Donne.

Leaders in the Northern Church

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1891
• Pages: 221

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Leaders in the Northern Church is aptly named for a succession of fourteen prominent bishops in the Diocese of Durham, and each sermon in this collection is devoted to one of them. Although Lightfoot did not live long enough to complete his planned 14-part series, this collection contains the ten sermons he did preach. These sermons are based on texts from Isaiah, Proverbs, Judges, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Colossians, and Revelation, and draw examples from the history of the Diocese of Durham and the lives of its bishops. This volume concludes with a sermon on Psalm 34 delivered by B. F. Westcott.

Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul from Unpublished Commentaries

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1895
• Pages: 336

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The content from Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul from Unpublished Commentaries was reproduced from Lightfoot’s manuscripts and student notes from his lectures delivered at Cambridge. This volume contains notes on the two epistles to the Thessalonians, the first part of 1 Corinthians, portions of Romans, and the first chapter of Ephesians.

Ordination Addresses

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1890
• Pages: 318

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This volume contains nine ordination addresses and fourteen addresses delivered at clergy councils. These sermons draw from portions of Scripture which grapple with calling—such as the calling of Jeremiah—and instances in Scripture of human weakness. In these sermons, Lightfoot implores his listeners—future clergy—to find spiritual faith, and look to the Scriptures as a source of encouragement and advice.

Primary Charge: Two Addresses of the Diocese of Durham

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1892
• Pages: 117

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Primary Charge contains two addresses to the diocese of Durham which summarize the nature and purpose of clergy work and offer suggestions for practical ministerial issues. Lightfoot address the daily tasks of ministry—such as parish work and church building—and also lends wisdom to pressing church matters, such as the separation of church and state, the revised English Bible, and other contentious issues.

Sermons Preached in St. Paul's Cathedral

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: MacMillan & Co.
• Publication Date: 1893
• Pages: 314

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

In 1871, Lightfoot became canon at St. Paul’s Cathedral. This volume contains twenty-two of the numerous sermons he preached there. Included are four sermons from the epistles to the Corinthians, sermons from the Gospels, a sermon on David and Nathan, a sermon on Balaam and Balak, and others.

The Contemporary Pulpit Library: Sermons by Bishop Lightfoot

• Author: Joseph Barber Lightfoot
• Publisher: Thomas Whittaker
• Publication Date: 1890
• Pages: 186

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This volume—part of a series in the Contemporary Pulpit Library—contains thirteen sermons in all, including sermons on women in the Gospel, sermons on the history of Israel, and three sermons on Christianity and paganism.

About Joseph Barber Lightfoot

Joseph Barber Lightfoot was born on April 13, 1828 in Liverpool. He attended King Edward’s School in Birmingham before enrolling at Trinity College, Cambridge. He edited the Journal of Classical and Sacred Philology from 1854 to 1859.

In 1852 he was elected a Fellow of Cambridge, and was ordained in 1854. He became tutor of Trinity College in 1857, professor of divinity in 1861, and anon of St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1871. Lightfoot preached regularly and participated in various ecclesiastical activities. He gained enormous popularity for his defense of the New Testament in response to Walter Richard Cassel’s Supernatural Religion. Lightfoot also participated on the committee for an English revision of the New Testament.

In 1879, Lightfoot became Bishop of Durham, where he continued his theological study, writing, and preaching. In addition to the works included in this collection, Lightfoot also wrote commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, and Colossians and Philemon. Lightfoot died on December 21, 1889, and was succeeded as bishop by his lifelong friend, Brooke Foss Westcott.