Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2007 A non-traditional traditionalist: Rev. A. H. Sayce and his intellectual approach to biblical authenticity and biblical history in late-Victorian Britain Roshunda Lashae Belton Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Belton, Roshunda Lashae, "A non-traditional traditionalist: Rev. A. H. Sayce and his intellectual approach to biblical authenticity and biblical history in late-Victorian Britain" (2007). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 1655. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/1655 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. A NON-TRADITIONAL TRADITIONALIST: REV. A. H. SAYCE AND HIS INTELLECTUAL APPROACH TO BIBLICAL AUTHENTICITY AND BIBLICAL HISTORY IN LATE-VICTORIAN BRITAIN A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of History by Roshunda Lashae Belton B.A., Louisiana Tech University, 1999 M.A., Louisiana Tech University, 2001 December 2007 For my father, the late Roosevelt Belton who encouraged me to dream big and for my mother, Velma Belton for being my cheerleader ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The completion of this dissertation could not have been achieved without the support and encouragement of my mentor and advisor Dr. Suzanne Marchand. Her support, encouragement and above all else patience helped motivate me through this arduous journey, which at times seemed insurmountable. Words can not express how grateful and fortunate I am to have studied under her direction. I thank the members of the committee, Drs. Meredith Veldman, David Lindenfeld and Steven Ross, for taking the time to read the manuscript and contributing their advice and recommendations which have helped to strengthen the work immensely. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Amanda Saville and her staff at the Queen’s College Library in England for their kindness and cooperation during my visit to the facility. In addition to the libraries visited in England, various university and parish libraries in Louisiana aided in locating and obtaining books. The libraries at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge), Grambling State University (Grambling) and Louisiana Tech University (Ruston) provided invaluable assistance. Also a special thanks to the staffs at the Lincoln Parish Library, where I spent countless hours in the study rooms, and the Jackson Parish Library. Along with providing a special room for which to work, the Jackson Parish librarians also located a copy of a hard to find work. For this, I will always be grateful. My mother and daughter Sierra have been by my side every step of the way, motivating me to continue on and reminding me that hard work pays off. The support of friends and extended family members was also greatly appreciated. A special thanks to Dr. Liz White for her encouraging words and keeping me focused on the bigger picture. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ……………………………………………………………………….iii ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………………..vi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………….1 2 SAYCE THE MAN ……………………………………………………………………….20 Childhood …………………………………………………………………………………22 Colenso …………………………………………………………………………………...28 Contemporary Society ……………………………………………………………………35 Studies at Oxford …………………………………………………………………………37 The Conservative Sayce …………………………………………………………………..40 Professor Sayce …………………………………………………………………………...43 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………..…48 3 SAYCE THE INTELLECTUAL ……………………………………………………...….50 Analyzing Sayce’s Sermons ……………………………………………………………..54 Evolution of Knowledge ………………………………………………………...….....…64 Oxford ……………………………………………………………………………………73 Archeology ……………………………………………………………………………….85 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….93 4 SAYCE THE CRITIC OF HIGHER CRITICISM ………………………………….……95 Background …………………………………………………………………….…….…100 Comparing Sayce to Pusey and Driver ………………………………………….……...103 Growing Animosity toward Higher Criticism …………………………………….……107 Problems with Criticism ………………………………………………………….….…112 Did Moses Write It? ……………………………………………………………….……121 Problems with Genesis …………………………………………………………….……127 Critiquing Sayce …………………………………………………………………….…..137 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………….…..142 5 SAYCE THE RACIALIST ………………………………………………………..….…144 The Context of Sayce’s Thought: Victorian Racialism ……………………………..…147 Sayce’s Contributions to Victorian Racialism ……………………………………….…152 Races of the Ancient World ………………………………………………………….…165 Tenth Chapter of Genesis …………………………………………………………….…178 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………...…183 6 CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………………….....…185 iv REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………………………...189 VITA ……………………………………………………………………………...……………198 v ABSTRACT The relationship between science and religion was a dominant topic in late-Victorian Britain. This is exemplified in the debate over biblical authenticity and bible history. After 1860 higher criticism, the textual examination of the biblical texts became a prominent issue of discussion in British society. Higher critics brought into question the authorship and authenticity of the Pentateuch, particularly that of Genesis. One significant contributor to this debate was Oxford educator and Assyriologist Rev. Archibald Henry Sayce, who firmly believed that philology, history and, particularly, archeology provided the evidence necessary to validate the accuracy of biblical texts. Supporters of orthodoxy embraced Sayce’s argument, believing he had successfully countered the arguments of the higher critics and exonerated biblical authenticity. His combination of liberal theology and modern philology made him the ideal advocate for the truth of the bible, which he defended in a new, ‘scientific’ way rather than resorting to traditional theological arguments. This dissertation examines Sayce’s intellectual approach to biblical history and emphasizes his significant contributions to the debates over Old Testament criticism. Even though Sayce embraced the use of archeology, history and philology in proving biblical authenticity, he acknowledged similarities between Babylonian texts and the Book of Genesis. The recognition of these similarities was shaped by his extensive study of ancient history and philology. Sayce’s use of liberal, scientific methods to defend orthodoxy makes his contributions to late-Victorian religious thought interesting and complex. His career and religious interpretations not only reflect Britain’s interest and focus on religion but also British society’s anxiety over secularization and its impact on religious life. Contemporary works which deal with religion in vi Britain, and more specifically higher criticism, either omit Sayce or underemphasize his contributions. This has contributed to the lack of information on Sayce. This dissertation relies on newly discovered documents, used here for the first time, to provide insight and perspective into Sayce’s intellectual development from religious liberalism (the acceptance and acknowledgment of the higher critical) during the 1860s to firmly defending orthodoxy (harshly criticizing higher critics) after 1895. vii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Take away my last, and plural I appear; Take away my first, and singular I become; Take away my first and last, and, strong to say, That all is nothing remains something is left. What is my first? A sounding sea: What is my last? A plowing river: Thro’ whose depths I calmly, glide along, Parent of sweetest sound, myself for ever mute. I found out the Answer to be God.1 Rev. Archibald Henry Sayce During the late Victorian period, biblical interpretations were influenced by developments in science, industrialization, urbanization and the changing political landscape. The rise to power and prominence of liberalism, economic, political and cultural, was of especial importance. But biblical exegetes, and Christian believers, did not necessarily or universally reject liberalism; on the contrary, many learned to adopt their faith to it. One version of liberal scientific thought, Darwinian evolutionism, was accepted by some theologians and the liberal- enlightened critique of miracles was incorporated into religious thought. Many Victorians believed that evolution and Christian views could co-exist. Hugh McLeod writes in his Religion and Society in England, 1850-1914 that “many Christians of the time seem to have assimilated the arguments of the biblical scholars or the scientists relatively painlessly, and to have restated their faith in terms which they thought consistent with the new knowledge.”2 For some the marriage of religion and science resulted in more liberal attitudes toward faith. 1 Archibald Henry Sayce, Diary for 1864, entry 26 November 1864, Sayce Papers, Queens College Library, Oxford University, England, United Kingdom. It is not known whether this entry was originated by Sayce or lifted from another source. But whether it was composed by Sayce or not, the fact that it was found in his personal diary conveys the