A Few Remarks on the Scripture History of Saul and the Witch of Endor

John ChurchProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 2.0

Word count: 31K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.A Few Remarks on the Scripture History of Saul and the Witch of Endor by J. ChurchAuthor: Church, J. (John), 1780?-1825?,Language: English, Class: BS: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: The Bible, Old and New Testament, Release Date: Oct 3, 2018

Editor's review

A Few Remarks on the Scripture History of Saul and the Witch of Endor is a short religious tract in which the author, J. Church, discusses the famous biblical passage about Saul consulting the Witch of Endor. Its value lies in showing how the early modern English world interpreted this difficult scripture: how the spirit summoned by the witch was to be understood, what the narrative intended, and what it meant for the beliefs of the time. It is not known for systematic theological construction but offers an analytical commentary on a single passage, suitable as primary material for the history of scriptural interpretation and religious controversy. The language is English with traces of its period, requiring some background knowledge of the biblical narrative. For general readers it is more a documentary sample than a popular work; for researchers or those interested in the history of biblical reception, it offers a slice of the exegetical tradition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of biblical interpretation
Students studying religious controversy or early English religious tracts
Those familiar with the narrative of Saul and the Witch of Endor who want to learn about older interpretations
Research-oriented readers with English reading ability willing to read primary sources

Not a good fit for

Readers without biblical background who want a popular introduction
Those expecting a systematic theology textbook or modern academic survey
General readers who find English difficult and need a Chinese translation

Reading tips

Read the relevant passage in 1 Samuel first, then the commentary here; understanding will be smoother.
Read it as a historical document, noting the author's mode of argument rather than whether his conclusions are correct.
It is short enough to read in one sitting; then review key passages and take notes.
For research, read it alongside exegetical materials from other periods.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Which scriptures should I know before reading this book?

Mainly the passage in 1 Samuel where Saul consults the Witch of Endor. Familiarity with the characters and plot of that narrative will help you grasp the focus and argument of the author's commentary.

Is this a systematic work on the witch question?

No. It is brief—a few remarks on the history of a specific scripture—a tract-like exegetical discussion rather than a systematic treatise on witches or the spirit world. Readers should not expect that.

What can general readers gain from this book?

General readers can treat it as a sample of older exegetical methods and observe how a famous passage was discussed. Without scriptural background or with difficulty reading English, the gain will be limited; supplement the background first.

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

John Church Author · British · 1780–1835

John Church (1780–1835) was an English Independent minister and Evangelical writer. Some bibliographic sources give his dates as "1780?–1825?", while the library record lists 1780–1835; the discrepancy cannot be fully resolved from the limited public information available. He is said to have been a foundling raised in the Foundling Hospital, and he began preaching in 1807. The library holds 23 of his works, mostly sermons and religious tracts, including A Confession of Evangelical Principles, The Precious Name, The Believer's Confidence in a Faithful God, and The Glory of Grace Effected by Weak Means. Centered on Evangelical faith, his writings urge believers to trust in God and hold fast to hope in adversity, showing a distinctively Independent and Evangelical character.