Henry A. Redpath (1848–1908)

Henry A. Redpath was an English scholar of the Old Testament text whose life’s work quietly served pastors, translators, and ordinary readers who long to understand Scripture with care. He died on September 25, 1908, at the age of 60. Though he never sought public acclaim, his patient labor strengthened confidence that God has spoken clearly and that His Word can be studied with reverence and precision.

Redpath devoted himself to the Greek Old Testament, the Septuagint, which was widely used in the early church and frequently echoed in the New Testament. By tracing how Hebrew words were rendered into Greek and how those Greek renderings reappear in apostolic teaching, he helped readers see continuity in God’s revelation and how the biblical authors used Scripture to proclaim Christ.

A Concordance to the Septuagint (1892–1906)

From 1892 to 1906, Redpath and Edwin Hatch compiled A Concordance to the Septuagint and Other Greek Versions of the Old Testament. This massive reference work catalogs vocabulary and usage across the Greek Old Testament, enabling careful comparison, accurate citation, and deeper study. It remains in print, a testament to its enduring value and to the painstaking exactness behind it.

The project demanded years of disciplined attention—an often unseen kind of heroism. Redpath’s fidelity reminds the church that perseverance in small lines of work can yield large blessings. “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Edwin Hatch and Steady Diligence

When Edwin Hatch died before the work was complete, Redpath carried it forward to completion with steady diligence. That steadfastness reflects a Christian virtue often overlooked: finishing well. He did not abandon a difficult task when it became lonelier or heavier; he continued, trusting that truth matters and that future generations would be served.

Such scholarship is not faithless scrutiny but faithful listening—testing words, weighing contexts, and refusing careless handling of holy things. “Do your best to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Lasting Gift to the Church

Redpath’s legacy is a quiet gift: a tool that helps the church read more carefully, teach more responsibly, and cherish more deeply the unity of God’s Word. His life encourages believers to honor Christ not only through public ministry, but also through humble, rigorous service that equips others to understand Scripture faithfully.