Christian History Institute October 11, 1863 • James Hope Moulton: Papyri and Bible ©2007

ames Hope Moulton surveyed his audience. Wherever he went, this notable scholar tried to share his simple Christian faith. His speech in Northfield, Massachusetts would be no different. After describing the discovery in the Egyptian sands of ancient papyrus pages, he went on to explain their importance to Bible scholarship. These texts used the same simple, everyday Greek that the Bible used and shed light on Bible passages.

"Here is something that gives us light upon the first verse in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which tells us what faith is. 'Now faith,' says the Revised Version, 'is the assurance of things hoped for' (Heb. 11:1). The word translated 'assurance' occurs in a long legal document, the 'Petition of Dionysia.' She was a widow who had had some trouble with her property, which had been claimed by litigious persons. She writes out a copy of the judgment delivered in a previous litigation, and a full statement of her claim is sent with this to the prefect of Egypt. In the course of that document there occurs this Greek word 'hypostasis.'

"...When anybody bought a piece of land there were always some papers connected with it. There would be old census papers in which the owner and his land were registered, bills of sale, correspondence about it -- in fact, any sort of thing that might be put in as evidence if any question should arise as to the title of the land. All this was carefully collected in a docket and then put into the public archives office. Each large town had a special keeper of the archives to look after the papers and produce them when demanded in order to help the security of property. In other words, this word may be translated 'the title-deeds.' Can we not see what a depth of meaning that puts into the word? 'Faith is the title-deeds of things hoped for.' "

James' understanding of Greek and other eastern languages made him one of the great Bible scholars of his day. Born on this day, October 11, 1863, he came of a family with many Methodist connections. Not surprisingly, he became a Wesleyan minister. Later he accepted the invitation to teach Greek and other languages at the University of Manchester.

His interest in the tongues of the Near East brought him to make a study of Zoroastrianism. He collected and published many early poems and writings from that faith. He considered the original teachings of Zarathustra to be the purest and truest religion next to Bible faith. His concern for the Parsees of India--modern believers in Zoroastrianism--caused him to travel there, despite World War I and speak to them about their religious beliefs and about Christ Jesus.

That venture cost him his life. He left India in 1917 and to join his friend Dr. Rendel Harris in Egypt. The two of them started home across the Mediterranean, but their ship was torpedoed. James acted the hero in the chaos that followed, and worked himself so hard that he died of exhaustion. He was buried at sea.

Bibliography:

1. Moulton, James Hope. From Egyptian Rubbish Heaps. Northfield, 1914.
2. ----------. The Treasure of the Magi; a study of modern Zoroastrianism. London: H. Milford, Oxford university press, 1917.
3. "Moulton, James Hope." Dictionary of National Biography. Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. London: Oxford University Press, 1921 - 1996.
4. Various encyclopedia and internet articles.

Last updated June, 2007.