Bloomsbury Matthew Henry: The Bible, Prayer, and Piety: A Tercentenary Celebration

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) is arguably the best known English expositor of the Bible mainly due to his massive 6-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments. This monumental work had already been published in 25 different editions by 1855, and is used widely even today in print and online versions. Yet Henry's famous commentary is by no means the only expression of his engagement with the Scriptures. Amongst his 30 further publications, his many sermons and works on Christian Piety-including the still popular Method for Prayer (1710)-are saturated with Henry's peculiarly practical approach to the Bible. However, despite the popularity of his commentary, and his significance as a leading figure among 18th-century dissenters, there has been very little by way of scholarly assessment of Henry's life and approach to the Bible. To mark the tercentenary of Matthew Henry's death, Dr Matthew A. Collins and Dr Paul Middleton (both University of Chester) have brought together notable historians, theologians, and biblical scholars to celebrate his life and legacy, including: Prof. Loveday Alexander (Sheffield); Prof. Philip Alexander (Manchester); Prof. Clyde Binfield (Sheffield); Prof. George Brooke (Manchester); Prof. David Chalcraft (Liverpool John Moores); Dr Ligon Duncan (Reformed Theological Seminary); Prof. Jeremy Gregory (Manchester); Dr Christine Helmer (Northwestern University); Prof. Stuart Weeks (Durham); and Dr David Wykes (Dr Williams's Library). Matthew Henry: The Bible, Prayer, and Piety opens a scholarly conversation about the place of Matthew Henry in the 18th-century non-conformist movement, his contribution to the interpretation of the Bible, and his continued legacy in evangelical piety.