Alexander Campbell’s Hermeneutical Rules and the Enslavement of Black People

Alexander Campbell was deeply concerned with proper interpretation of the Bible. From extensive studies early in his career he distilled seven hermeneutical rules for rightly understanding and applying Scripture to one’s life. Six of the rules reflect common sense critical principles, but his “essential” rule seven added a moral component that went beyond the intellectual. Campbell, however, failed to apply this essential rule to the enslavement of human beings.