William Lowth facts for kids

William Lowth (born 1660, died 1732) was an English clergyman. He was well-known for writing helpful comments and explanations about the Bible.

William Lowth's Early Life

William Lowth was born on September 3, 1660, in London. His father, also named William, was an apothecary. An apothecary made and sold medicines. Sadly, their home was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

Young William was taught by his grandfather, Simon Lowth. He later attended Merchant Taylors' School. In 1675, he became a student at St John's College, Oxford. He earned his first degree in 1679 and continued his studies.

Becoming a Clergyman

William Lowth's hard work caught the attention of Peter Mews, who was the Bishop of Winchester. Bishop Mews made William his chaplain. A chaplain is like a personal priest or minister.

In 1696, William Lowth received a special position at Winchester Cathedral. Then, in 1699, he became the priest for the area of Buriton with Petersfield in Hampshire. He stayed in this role until he passed away. William Lowth died in Buriton on May 17, 1732, and was buried there.

William Lowth's Writings

William Lowth was famous for his writings about the Bible. His first book, published in 1692, was called 'Vindication of the Divine Authority of the Old and New Testaments'. In this book, he defended the idea that the Bible was inspired by God. He wrote it to respond to ideas from another scholar, Jean Le Clerc.

In 1708, he wrote 'Directions for the profitable Study of Holy Scripture'. This was a shorter guide on how to study the Bible well. It was very popular and was printed many times.

Commentary on the Prophets

Lowth's most famous work is his 'Commentary on the Prophets'. This was a series of books published between 1714 and 1725. It was later put together as one large book. This commentary helped people understand the books of the Old Testament written by the prophets.

Many people praised his commentary, including other important religious figures. His writing style was clear and direct, making the Bible easier to understand for many readers.

Helping Other Scholars

William Lowth also helped other scholars with their important books. He added notes to editions of works by famous writers like Clemens Alexandrinus and Josephus. He also helped scholars who were writing about early church history. He was known for sharing his knowledge and helping others in their studies.

William Lowth's Family

William Lowth was married to Margaret Pitt. They had two sons and three daughters. Their younger son, Robert Lowth, became a very famous grammarian. A grammarian is someone who studies and writes about the rules of language.