Prideaux the Scholar

This chapter first considers Prideaux’s reputation as an exceptionally learned man and then describes his work as a scholar. His outstanding linguistic ability and his facility in Hebrew and Arabic are assessed, and the extent to which these talents were brought to bear on biblical exegesis is considered. The chapter goes on to outline his particular interest in some Protestant themes, notably the pre-Reformation ancestry of the Protestant churches and the extent to which Protestant ideas had been anticipated in the work and lives of some dissident medieval Catholics such as Grosseteste and Wyclif. It next considers the contexts in which his learning was displayed, especially that of the annual Oxford Act, where he lectured to a large and socially varied audience. One particular Act lecture, on reason and theology, is taken as a sample and analysed more closely. The chapter closes with an analysis of what remains of Prideaux’s library, now at Worcester Cathedral, in order to show what his books reveal about his interests and talents. His favourite authors are identified and the sources of his books discussed.