Milton Spenser Terry

Milton Spenser Terry was an influential American theologian and minister whose scholarly contributions significantly shaped biblical studies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Coeymans, New York, he pursued his education at the New York Conference Seminary and Yale Divinity School. Terry served as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church for over two decades before transitioning to academia as a Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature at Garrett Biblical Institute. His commitment to theological education culminated in his role as Professor of Christian Doctrine, a position he held until his passing in 1914. Terry was a prolific writer, best known for his extensive commentaries on key biblical texts such as Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation. His magnum opus, a trilogy comprising *Biblical Hermeneutics* (1883), *Biblical Apocalyptics* (1898), and *Biblical Dogmatics* (1907), established him as a leading authority in biblical hermeneutics, with *Biblical Hermeneutics* regarded as the standard work in the field for much of the twentieth century. In addition to his commentaries, he explored other religious traditions, writing on Shintoism and translating the Sibylline Oracles. Terry's scholarly legacy continues to influence theological education and biblical interpretation today.