Alexander Souter
Encyclopedia
Alexander Souter was a Scottish
biblical scholar.
, and studied at the University of Aberdeen
and the University of Cambridge. He subsequently became a Latin assistant at Aberdeen. While at Cambridge he studied under J. E. B. Mayor, whom Souter would credit with influence on his later scholarship.
In 1903 he was appointed professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis
at Mansfield College, Oxford
. In 1911 he moved back to the University of Aberdeen, succeeding William Ramsay as Regius Professor
of Humanity, in which position he remained until his retirement in 1937.
Upon his retirement, Souter moved back to Oxford, where he became editor-in-chief of the proposed Oxford Latin Dictionary
. The outbreak of World War II prevented its completion within his lifetime, but Souter did publish a smaller work borne of this endeavor, Glossary of Later Latin, A.D. 150–600.
Souter married Elizabeth Barr Anderson, daughter of Aberdeen Photographer William Blair Anderson. They had three daughters, Isabella Elise Souter (who married Alfred Dixon) born in 1901, Elizabeth Barr Anderson Souter born in 1903 and Alexandra Margaret Souter (known as Peggy and who married Peter Jackson) born in 1908.
and in early Latin commentaries on the Pauline epistles
. He published an edition of the New Testament in 1910 (revised edition 1947) giving the Greek text on which the English Revised Version
of 1881 was based, along with commentary on variants. His work on the Pauline epistles included proposed revisions to many accepted attributions, notably of Ambrosiaster
, as well as numerous commentaries on and editions of other works. A public lecture is held annually in the University of Aberdeen in memory of this scholar.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
biblical scholar.
Biography
Souter was born in PerthPerth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, and studied at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and the University of Cambridge. He subsequently became a Latin assistant at Aberdeen. While at Cambridge he studied under J. E. B. Mayor, whom Souter would credit with influence on his later scholarship.
In 1903 he was appointed professor of New Testament Greek and 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...
at Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
. In 1911 he moved back to the University of Aberdeen, succeeding William Ramsay as Regius Professor
Regius Professor
Regius Professorships are "royal" professorships at the ancient universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland - namely Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dublin. Each of the chairs was created by a monarch, and each appointment, save those at Dublin, is approved by the...
of Humanity, in which position he remained until his retirement in 1937.
Upon his retirement, Souter moved back to Oxford, where he became editor-in-chief of the proposed Oxford Latin Dictionary
Oxford Latin Dictionary
The Oxford Latin Dictionary is the standard lexicon of Classical Latin, completed in 1982.The dictionary professes to be "independent alike of Lewis & Short on the one hand and of the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae on the other." It "is based on an entirely fresh reading of the Latin sources...
. The outbreak of World War II prevented its completion within his lifetime, but Souter did publish a smaller work borne of this endeavor, Glossary of Later Latin, A.D. 150–600.
Souter married Elizabeth Barr Anderson, daughter of Aberdeen Photographer William Blair Anderson. They had three daughters, Isabella Elise Souter (who married Alfred Dixon) born in 1901, Elizabeth Barr Anderson Souter born in 1903 and Alexandra Margaret Souter (known as Peggy and who married Peter Jackson) born in 1908.
Scholarship
Souter's two main interests were in the text of the New TestamentNew Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and in early Latin commentaries on the Pauline epistles
Pauline epistles
The Pauline epistles, Epistles of Paul, or Letters of Paul, are the thirteen New Testament books which have the name Paul as the first word, hence claiming authorship by Paul the Apostle. Among these letters are some of the earliest extant Christian documents...
. He published an edition of the New Testament in 1910 (revised edition 1947) giving the Greek text on which the English Revised Version
Revised Version
The Revised Version of the Bible is a late 19th-century British revision of the King James Version of 1611. It was the first and remains the only officially authorized and recognized revision of the King James Bible. The work was entrusted to over 50 scholars from various denominations in Britain...
of 1881 was based, along with commentary on variants. His work on the Pauline epistles included proposed revisions to many accepted attributions, notably of Ambrosiaster
Ambrosiaster
Ambrosiaster is the name given to the writer of a commentary on St Paul's epistles, "brief in words but weighty in matter," and valuable for the criticism of the Latin text of the New Testament...
, as well as numerous commentaries on and editions of other works. A public lecture is held annually in the University of Aberdeen in memory of this scholar.
Works
- The Text and the Canon of the New Testament London 1913