Nathaniel Lardner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nathaniel Lardner
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| Born | 6 June 1684 Hawkhurst, England, Kingdom of England
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| Died | 24 July 1768 (aged 84) Hawkhurst, England, Great Britain
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| Alma mater | Marischal College (DD) |
Nathaniel Lardner (born June 6, 1684 – died July 24, 1768) was an English Presbyterian minister and a theologian. A theologian is someone who studies religion and religious beliefs.
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About Nathaniel Lardner's Life
Nathaniel Lardner was born in Hawkhurst, Kent, England, in 1684. His father, Richard Lardner, was also a minister. Nathaniel had a sister named Elizabeth. She married Daniel Neal, who was a friend and fellow student of Nathaniel.
Nathaniel studied to become a Presbyterian minister. He went to schools in London, and also in Utrecht and Leiden in the Netherlands. In 1709, he became a licensed preacher.
From 1713 to 1721, he worked for Lady Treby's family. He was a tutor for her children and a chaplain. A chaplain is a minister who serves a specific group or family. In 1724, he started giving lectures at a Presbyterian church in London. Later, in 1729, he became an assistant minister there.
In 1743, he earned a special degree called Doctor of Divinity (DD) from Marischal College in Scotland. Nathaniel Lardner passed away in Hawkhurst on July 24, 1768.
What Nathaniel Lardner Wrote
Nathaniel Lardner was known for his many writings. An important book about his life was published in 1769. Later, a full collection of his works came out in 1788.
His most famous work was called The Credibility of the Gospel History. This long title means "How believable the stories in the Gospels are." The Gospels are parts of the New Testament in the Bible. In this book, Lardner looked at old writings from his time. He used them to show that the events in the New Testament were true. This book was very important for studying early Christian history.
He started publishing the first part of this work in 1727. The second part was published over many years, from 1733 to 1755. He also added a supplement to it later.
Lardner wrote other books too. One was called A Large Collection of Ancient Jewish and Heathen Testimonies to the Truth of the Christian Revelation. This book collected old writings from Jewish and non-Christian authors. They helped to support the Christian faith. He also wrote The History of the Heretics of the two first Centuries after Christ. This book was published after he died. He also wrote many sermons.
How Nathaniel Lardner Understood the Bible
Nathaniel Lardner had some unique ideas about Christian beliefs. He studied the Bible very carefully. He believed that Jesus did not exist before he was born to Mary. This was different from what many others believed at the time.
He thought that the "Logos" mentioned in the Bible was a part of God's wisdom or power. He believed this wisdom "became flesh" in Jesus. This means God's wisdom was fully present in the human Jesus. Lardner looked at many Bible verses. He explained them in a way that fit his belief that Jesus did not exist before his conception.
Connecting with Other Scholars
Nathaniel Lardner was very good at connecting with other thinkers. He wrote many letters to scholars and ministers. He corresponded with people in England and even in New England (America). He also exchanged letters with scholars in other European countries.
He was known for being fair and open-minded. Even people who had very different ideas from him, like Thomas Morgan, respected him.
