Archives

The Confessional Presbyterian Archive is a curated digital library dedicated to preserving and promoting the writings of 17th–20th century Presbyterian pastors, teachers, and leaders. Featuring thousands of searchable texts, biographies, and historical resources, the archive provides direct access to the primary-source materials of American Presbyterianism.

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Dakota Wowapi Wakan Kin: The New Testament, in the Dakota Language

Dakota-language New Testament (1866). A Dakota translation of the New Testament (showing Matthew text and contents), produced for missionary use, likely by the American Bible Society.

Stephen Return Riggs ⬩ 1866

History of the Dakotas: James W. Lynd’s Manuscripts

Overview of James W. Lynd's manuscript 'History of the Dakotas' detailing Dakota tribes, legends (Pipe Stone Quarry), Little Crow, missionary influence, and the manuscript's recovery and condition.

Stephen Return Riggs ⬩ 1889

Dakota Wiwicawangapi Kin: Dakota Catechism

Dakota-language catechism (by S. E. Riggs) presenting God, Jesus the Messiah, sin, salvation, worship, and Christian teaching for Dakota converts; produced for missionary use.

Stephen Return Riggs ⬩ 1882

Grammar and Dictionary of the Dakota Language

Preface to Smithsonian vol. IV presenting a Dakota grammar and Dakota–English dictionary compiled by missionary S.R. Riggs. Documents mission linguistic work and institutional publication plans.

Stephen Return Riggs ⬩ 1851

The Dakota First Reading Book

Dakota primer presenting Bible narratives (Adam, Cain, Noah, Moses) in the Dakota language, prepared by missionaries Stephen R. Riggs & Gideon H. Pond for the American Board.

Stephen Return Riggs ⬩ 1839

Reminiscences for My Children

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1891

Suggested Modifications of the Revised Version of the New Testament

Elias Riggs offers detailed suggestions for the Revised Version (New Testament), critiquing renderings and proposing changes on tenses, articles, prepositions, marginal readings, and consistency.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1883

Suggested Emendations of the Authorized English Version of the Old Testament

Elias Riggs' 1873 emendations to the Authorized English Old Testament, with preface on translation method, Hebrew terms, textual choices, and proposed corrections across Genesis–Numbers.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1873

Outline of a Grammar of the Turkish Language, as Written in the Armenian Character

Outline grammar of Turkish in the Armenian character by Elias Riggs (1856). Concise guide to alphabet, pronunciation, vowel harmony, accent, punctuation, and noun declensions.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1856

The Psalter of the Virgin Mary

1855 Southern Presbyterian Review defends the Trinity against objections and condemns the Roman Catholic 'Psalter of the Virgin Mary' as creature-worship and idolatrous Mariology.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1855

Pronunciation of Greek

Argues that scientific discoveries validate Scripture's teaching on a final conflagration and geological change. Reviews Greek pronunciation, urging use of the modern Greek standard in education.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1852

A Brief Grammar of the Modern Armenian Language as Spoken in Constantinople and Asia Minor

Mid-19th-century grammar of Modern (Western) Armenian (Smyrna, 1847) presenting the alphabet, pronunciation, orthography, etymology, and noun/adjective declensions for learners.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1847

A Vocabulary of Words Used in Modern Armenian but Not Found in the Ancient Armenian Languages

E. Riggs' 1847 Smyrna vocabulary: 6,000+ modern Armenian words absent from ancient lexicons, with notes on Turkish loans, dialects, usage, and grammatical forms.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1847

Notes on the Grammar of the Bulgarian Language

A 19th-century descriptive sketch of Bulgarian grammar: alphabet, phonetics, noun/adjective/verb declensions, syntax, and sample phrases including the Lord's Prayer in Slavic forms.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1844

A Manual of the Chaldee Language; Containing a Chaldee Grammar, Chiefly from the German of Professor G.B. Winer

1858 manual of the Chaldee (Biblical Aramaic) language: concise grammar, chrestomathy with Targum selections (Onkelos, Jonathan), notes and vocabulary to aid Hebrew study.

Elias Riggs ⬩ 1858

The Gospel According to Mark

Preface/introduction to an 1881 Revised Version commentary on Mark, treating authorship, date, character, chronology, and the Gospel's plan and relation to the Synoptics.

Matthew Brown Riddle ⬩ 1881

The Greek Verb in the New Testament

Examines Greek verb forms in the New Testament and the challenges of rendering tenses, moods, voices, and participles into English; argues careful revision improves accuracy.

Matthew Brown Riddle ⬩ 1879

The Mystery of Iniquity

Explores the "mystery of iniquity": Satanic and historical workings of evil, the 'man of sin'/Antichrist, debates over the Papacy as its embodiment, and hope for a future consummation.

David Hunter Riddle ⬩ 1870

Historical Address

Dedicatory record (1869) of Third Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh: history, successive pastors, detailed architecture, 1845 fire, rebuilding, cornerstone ceremonies and organ.

David Hunter Riddle ⬩ 1869

“The Wisdom of God in a Mystery”

Argues Paul's 'wisdom of God in a mystery' centers on Christ as God revealed in the flesh; creation and providence unfold God's eternal plan culminating in Christ's consummation.