Shirley Jackson Case (1872âÂÂ1947) was a historian of early Christianity, and a liberal theologian. He served as dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Case was born on September 28, 1872, in Hatfield Point, New Brunswick. He received a BA (1893) and MA (1896) in mathematics from Acadia University. He taught mathematics at the New Hampton Library Institute. In 1904, he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1908. He was professor of New Testament literature and interpretation at University of Chicago Divinity School until 1925. In 1924, he served as president of the American Society of Church History and, in 1926, served as president of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis.
Case is known for his research into the person of Jesus, who he argued was a historical person.
He edited The American Journal of Theology and its successor The Journal of Religion. Case considered himself a historian of Christianity. He was drawn to liberal theology. He was convinced that Jesus was an historical person and criticized the arguments of Christ myth theory proponents.
He died on December 5, 1947, in Lakeland, Florida.
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