The Story of Studying Scripture

The idea

Our movement embraces the ethos of “study for yourself” — which expresses a deep concern for freedom of conscience, and the priesthood of all believers.

The thread

The practice that equips it. No one can understand a text on your behalf. Put the same book in every hand, in a language every person can actually read, and the preacher is speaking to a room that can verify him.

Events

• The Living Oracles Published 1826

  Campbell publishes a modern-speech New Testament with critical notes — 'John the Immerser,' no thee and thou, Acts 8:37 omitted on manuscript grounds — putting a readable Bible in ordinary hands a century before the RSV.

• Campbell–Owen Debate 1829

  Eight days in a Cincinnati meeting house against the social reformer Robert Owen, on whether religion is the source of human misery. Twelve hundred people a day; Campbell's closing address ran roughly twelve hours.

• Campbell–Purcell Debate 1837

  In January 1837 in Cincinnati, Campbell debated Archbishop John Baptist Purcell on the claims of the Roman Catholic Church — the exchange that made him nationally prominent as a Protestant controversialist.

• Campbell–Rice Debate 1843

  Campbell's last and longest major debate — more than two weeks at Lexington, Kentucky, against Presbyterian N. L. Rice on baptism, the work of the Holy Spirit, and creeds, with Henry Clay presiding as chief moderator.

Documents

• The Living Oracles 1826

  Campbell's edition of the New Testament — adapted from the Campbell–Macknight–Doddridge translations with extensive critical notes — put a readable Bible in ordinary hands a century before the RSV, and anticipated many of its choices.

• Lard's Quarterly Review 1863–1868

  Moses E. Lard edited this quarterly review during the Civil War era, publishing in-depth essays that defended the Restoration plea, critiqued theological innovations, and sought to guide congregations through turbulent times.

Read aloud

All quotes