Charles A. Briggs

Charles Augustus Briggs was an eminent biblical scholar, whose name somewhat more than twenty years ago was thrust before the footlights of a heresy trial. He was born in New York in 1841, and after studying at the University of Virginia from 1857 to 1860, and at the Union Theological Seminary until 1863, he went to Germany and followed his studies at Berlin from 1866 to 1869,—momentous years for his enlightenment. In 1874 he became a member of the teaching staff of the Union Seminary, where he continued to teach until recently incapacitated by physical infirmities. On his transfer from the Chair of Hebrew to that of Biblical Theology in 1891, Dr. Briggs delivered an address on “The Authority of Holy Scripture,” which led to the formulation of charges of teaching in conflict with the authority of Scripture and the Presbyterian confession. He was acquitted by the New York Presbytery, but subsequently condemned on appeal to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. His seminary stood by its distinguished teacher; and after he had ceased to be a Presbyterian, it became non-sectarian. But his conservative religious feeling led him subsequently to become a priest of the Episcopal Church. Dr. Briggs was one of the first exponents in this country of what is currently termed the “higher criticism” of the Bible. Yet he was tenacious of belief, and of a devout and faithful nature, and felt deep pain at the enforced severance of old ties. He devoted the energies of his closing years to the cause of a church unity which should embrace both Catholic and Protestant. He was the author of many works upon the Bible, and an editor of the International Theological Library and the International Critical Commentary. He was a member of many learned societies and the recipient of many honorary degrees.

Henry Osborn Taylor
1914 Century Association Yearbook