The Divine Legation of Moses is the best-known work of
William Warburton, an English theologian of the 18th century who became
bishop of Gloucester. As its full title makes clear, it is a
conservative defence of orthodox Christian belief against
deism, by means of an apparent paradox: the
afterlife is not mentioned in terms in the
Pentateuch (i.e.
Torah – see
Jewish eschatology), making Mosaic
Judaism distinctive among ancient religions; from which, Warburton argues, it is seen that Moses received a
divine revelation.[1]
The Divine Legation was published in two parts and nine books from 1738 by Warburton, who left it unfinished. It is a learned and discursive work, and excited extensive controversy in Warburton's lifetime, which the author pursued with acrimony. One side-issue, the
history of writing, was treated by Warburton in a manner that proved influential.[2]
1766 In an anonymous work,
Robert Lowth takes issue with Warburton,[12] over a 1765 addition to the Divine Legation (appendix to book 5) concerning the Book of Job.[13]
The Divine Legation of Moses is the best-known work of
William Warburton, an English theologian of the 18th century who became
bishop of Gloucester. As its full title makes clear, it is a
conservative defence of orthodox Christian belief against
deism, by means of an apparent paradox: the
afterlife is not mentioned in terms in the
Pentateuch (i.e.
Torah – see
Jewish eschatology), making Mosaic
Judaism distinctive among ancient religions; from which, Warburton argues, it is seen that Moses received a
divine revelation.[1]
The Divine Legation was published in two parts and nine books from 1738 by Warburton, who left it unfinished. It is a learned and discursive work, and excited extensive controversy in Warburton's lifetime, which the author pursued with acrimony. One side-issue, the
history of writing, was treated by Warburton in a manner that proved influential.[2]
1766 In an anonymous work,
Robert Lowth takes issue with Warburton,[12] over a 1765 addition to the Divine Legation (appendix to book 5) concerning the Book of Job.[13]