Description
Book SynopsisHow did Abraham Lincoln’s study of scripture influence him as a man and president? Historian Gordon Leidner believes the impact was profound - more than previously recognised - and has investigated all the known writings of Abraham Lincoln to identify, catalogue, and study every instance in which Lincoln quoted from or alluded to the Bible.
Trade Review“Gordon Leidner’s exceptionally thorough, careful analysis of the sixteenth president’s many biblical references, both direct and indirect, shows how profoundly affected Abraham Lincoln was by scripture and how that helped make him such a successful political leader. This book is a most welcome contribution to the Lincoln literature."—Michael Burlingame, author of
Abraham Lincoln: A Life “Leidner’s exhaustively researched biography offers a fresh, fascinating, and compelling account of how the Bible uniquely influenced Lincoln’s thinking, writing, and leadership. It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in Lincoln, U.S. politics, or the Bible’s influence in American life."—Candy Gunther Brown, author of
The Word in the World: Evangelical Writing, Publishing, and Reading in America, 1789 - 1880 “By narrating Lincoln's life with a focus on how he quoted the Bible—also when and under what circumstances—Leidner makes a vital contribution to never-ending debates over the character of Lincoln's faith. The book excels for its specificity and its detail, but also for its caution."—Mark A. Noll, author of
America's God: From Jonathan Edwards to Abraham Lincoln “Through his painstaking scrutiny of Lincoln’s spoken and written words, Gordon Leidner has produced a unique documentary record of Lincoln’s use of the Bible. Identifying almost two hundred biblical allusions, including many previously overlooked, he presents a political leader whose language during a time of acute political crisis derived particular moral power from being saturated with the scriptures."—Richard Carwardine, author of
Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power “Abraham Lincoln's political rhetoric drew heavily from the Bible. Thanks to Gordon Leidner, we now have a guide to these scriptural references. I will keep this book close to my desk and turn to it often in my own research and writing."—John Fea, author of
Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction “
Abraham Lincoln and the Bible is the definitive account of the influence of the most significant book in American history upon the greatest president in American history."—Timothy Larsen, author of
A People of One Book: The Bible and the Victorians “Gordon Leidner has written a fascinating account of Abraham Lincoln's relationship with the Bible. By revealing Lincoln's personal interactions with the scriptures, Leidner shows the many ways that the Bible influenced and inspired Lincoln's thinking. Even readers who have been studying Lincoln for years will find new insights in this deeply researched and well-crafted biography."—Jonathan W. White, author of
A House Built By Slaves: African American Visitors to the Lincoln White HouseTable of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- How the Book is Organized
- Biblical Language and Phrases
- PART ONE: BIOGRAPHY
- 1.Annals of the Poor: Origins of Lincoln’s Calvinist Roots
- 2. The Mind Impelled: New Life in New Salem
- 3. He Will Do for Me Yet: Quoting the Bible for Cause
- 4.Drawing the Sword: Building Lincoln’s Biblical Foundation Against Slavery
- 5.A House Divided: Debating Slavery as a Moral Evil
- 6.A Humbled Instrument: Rise to the Presidency
- 7.The Fiery Trial: Transforming the Purpose of the War
- 8.To Highly Resolve: The Tide of War Changes
- 9.The Will of God: Seeking God’s Purpose for America
- 10.The Judgements of the Lord: Lincoln’s Sermon for America, the Second Inaugural Address
- Conclusion
- PART TWO: APPENDIX
- Lincoln’s Use of the Bible in the Collected Works
- Endnotes
- Bibliography
- Index
