Dr. James P. Byrd, “Popular Biblical Texts in Revolutionary War Preaching”
While the Declaration of Independence declares that such foundational rights as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are self-evident, many scholars argue these “self-evident” truths are not as evident today as they once were. Behind these truths, these scholars argue, lies a biblical worldview, especially the ideas of a single, rational Creator and the inherent dignity of humans as bearers of the imago Dei, the “image of God.”
Join us for The Bible and America 250: These Truths Are Not Self-Evident Lecture Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. This thought-provoking event brings together a host of renowned scholars and historians to explore the profound influence of the Bible on America's founding principles, values, and institutions.
In this lecture, Dr. James P. Byrd examines how preachers cited biblical texts to support the American Revolution.
Jul 26, 2026 - Jul 26, 2026
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Scholars Initiative Conference Room, Floor 5R
Free Admission (Event Ticket Required)
In Person Event
Virtual Event
Abstract
Based on his book, Sacred Scripture, Sacred War: The Bible and the American Revolution, James P. Byrd discusses how American revolutionaries defended their patriotic convictions through Scripture, illustrating how the Bible was a key text of the American Revolution. His main focus is on war sermons and the specific biblical texts that preachers cited to support the Revolution. Using a database of most cited biblical citations, Byrd demonstrates how ministers utilized both the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament to argue for war during the Revolutionary crisis, primarily highlighting the revolutionary-era views of Moses, David, Deborah (Judges 5), Peter, and Paul (1 Peter 2, Romans 13).
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Schedule
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1:30 p.m. | Welcome & Check In
1:30–2:00 p.m. | Refreshments
2:00–3:00 p.m. | Lecture
3:00–3:30 p.m. | Panel Q&A
3:30–5:00 p.m. | Self-Guided Tour of the Bible in America Gallery
Lecturer
Dr. James P. Byrd
James P. Byrd is professor of American Religious History, Cal Turner Chancellor's Chair of Wesleyan Studies, Chair of the Graduate Department of Religion, and Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Research at Vanderbilt University. His publications include Sacred Scripture, Sacred War: The Bible and the American Revolution (Oxford University Press, 2013), “A Holy Baptism of Fire and Blood”: The Bible and the American Civil War (Oxford University Press, 2021), and his latest book, The Story of Religion in America: An Introduction (WJK, 2021), co-authored with James Hudnut-Beumler. He is currently writing a book on the assassination and sacred legacy of Abraham Lincoln, under contract with Oxford University Press.
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