Articles
Published 07-02-2026
Keywords
- Arthur Prior,
- Lex Miller,
- Marxism,
- New Zealand,
- Theology
- Pacifism,
- Communism,
- Christian Socialism,
- Karl Barth,
- S.C.M,
- Otago University ...More
How to Cite
Grimshaw, M. (2026). The Marxist Barthian significance of Lex Miller for Arthur Prior. Logic and Philosophy of Time, 7(1), 22–45. https://doi.org/10.54337/lpt.v7i1.11152
Copyright (c) 2026 Logic and Philosophy of Time
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Abstract
One of the most formative influences upon Arthur Prior from his arrival at Otago University and especially at Knox College in 1932, was theological student Alexander “Lex” Miller (1908-1960). This influence continued through to Miller’s untimely death and significantly drove Prior’s theological turn to Barthianism and also his engagement, for more than a decade, with Marxist thought.
This article discusses the life and thought of Lex Miller and how Miller’s thought influenced Prior’s theology and politics. It concludes with the transcription of a letter from 1946 in which Prior sets out his response and reaction to Miller’s The Christian Significance of Karl Barth (1946b). In this letter Prior makes clear that Miller’s book has made him reconsider his own position as he has come to see that, in regard to Marxist economics, he “had been hoodwinked”.
References
- Anderson, B. 2011. ‘Alexander (Lex) Miller: A Marxist Barthian’, https://hhstory.wordpress.com/presentations-and-articles/alexander-lex-miller-a-marxist-barthian/
- Clements, K. ed. 2009. The Moot Papers. Faith, Freedom and Society 1938-1944. T&T Clark Theology/Bloomsbury.
- Davidson, A.K. 2017. ‘Compulsion or Conscience: Alun Richards and Opposition to Compulsory Military training 1927-1930’ in G. Troughton ed. Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, Conflict and Peacemaking in New Zealand 1814-1945. Victoria University Press
- Dowling, B. and Miller, A. 1936. The Message of the Church. Twelve Studies in the Acts of the Apostles. NZ S.C.M.
- Ferguson, R. 1990. George MacLeod. Founder of the Ioana Community. Collins.
- Grimshaw, M. (ed.) 2018. Arthur Prior, ‘A young progressive’. Letters to Ursula Bethell and to Hugh Teague 1936-1941. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.
- Grimshaw, M. 2020. ‘The Public Prior: A.N. Prior as (relocated 17th & 18th century) Public Intellectual 1945-1952’, in Halse, P., Jakobsen, D. & Øhrstrøm, P., The Metaphysics of time: Themes from Prior. Aalborg University Press, Logic & Philosophy of Time, Vol.4., pp.25-61.
- Grimshaw, M. (2023a). ‘Arthur Prior’s nom de plume writings in Tomorrow and the Otago Daily Times 1935-1937’, Logic and Philosophy of Time Vol. 5: pp.1-30. https://doi.org/10.54337/lpt.v5i1.7832
- Grimshaw, M. (2023b). ‘‘To write and think ‘in his own tongue’: Arthur Prior, Jack Bates & the New Zealand Journal of Theology’, 44 Logic and Philosophy of Time, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.54337/lpt.v5i1.7862
- Grimshaw, M. 2025a. Prior as Naphtali: Christian commentator and pseudonymous Christian public intellectual. Logic and Philosophy of Time, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.54337/lpt.v6i1.9940
- Grimshaw, M. 2025b. ‘The Prior-Brasch Landfall Letters (1946- 1958)’,Logic and Philosophy of Time, 6 (1). https://doi.org/10.54337/lpt.v6i1.9941
- Harvey, V. 1998. ‘Religious Studies at Stanford. A Historical Sketch’, Sandstone & Tile Vo.22 Nos. 2 & 3, pp. 3-10.
- Miller, A. 1932. ‘The Peace Army’ [Letter] Open Windows Vol. VI no.6 October, p.20
- 14. Miller, A. 1935. ‘The Church and Modern Thought’, Open Windows October pp.2-4.
- Miller, A. 1936a. ‘Popular Fallacies. That Christianity Is Intellectually Discredited’, Tomorrow Vol. II no.11 January 26, pp.13-15.
- Miller, A. 1936b. ‘Communism’, [reported as ‘Good Points in Marxism’], The Press 20 June p.7.
- Miller, A. 1936c. ‘Communism’ in J.D. Salmond ed. Christ and Tomorrow. A Study Book for the Times, Presbyterian Bookroom, pp.55- 60.
- Miller, A.1937a. ‘A Blasphemous Social Order’, Tomorrow Vol. I no.2 November 24, pp. 46-49.
- Miller, A. 1937b. ‘The Prophetic Nature of the Church’, Tomorrow Vol. I no.2 December 22, pp.125-127.
- Miller, A.1938. ‘Christian Social Duty’, Tomorrow Vol IV no5 January 5, pp.156-159.
- Miller, A. 1939. Pacifism, Revolution and Community, Peace Pledge Union.
- Miller, A. 1941. The National Average: A study in Social Discipline, The Shadwell Group.
- Miller, A. 1943. Biblical Politics, Studies in Christian Social Doctrine, S.C.M. Press
- Miller, A. 1946a. Letter from Miller to Dr Hugh Moran, SCM Press London March 9, 1946. Alexander Miller papers, 1930-1961 Folder 4 Box 1, Special Collections Stanford Libraries.
- Miller, A. 1946b. The Christian Significance of Karl Marx, S.C.M. Press. 45
- Miller, A. 1947. Christian Vocation in the Contemporary World, S.C. M. Press.
- Morgan, D.D. 2010. Barth Reception in Britain, Continuum.
- N.Z. Army of Reconciliation 1933. [One page manifesto]
- Prior, A.N. 1932. ‘Christianity and Communism’, [Letter] Open Windows Vol. VI no.6 October, pp.19-20.
- Prior. A.N. 1946. ‘Letter to Alexander Miller 26/03/46’, Alexander Miller Collection: Stanford University Archive: Miller papers (sc495 box 1 folder 1).
- Prior, A.N. 1948. ‘When I was a Fresher’. Transcribed and edited by Prior, M., Jakobsen, D. and Øhrstrøm, P. In: Hasle, P., Øhrstrøm, P. and Jakobsen, D. (eds.): The Nachlass of A.N. Prior. https://nachlass.prior.aau.dk/paper/when-i-was-a-fresher
- Salmond, J.D. 1932. ‘Karl Marx vs Karl Barth’, Open Windows Vol.VI no. 2, April, pp.13-14, 16.
- Salmond, J.D. ed. 1936. Christ and Tomorrow. A Study Book for the Times, Presbyterian Bookroom.
- Vidler, A.R. 1977. Scenes from A Clerical Life, Collins.
- Weber, T. 1993. ‘From Maude Royden’s Peace Army to the Gulf Peace Team: An Assessment of Unarmed Interpositionary Peace Forces’, Journal of Peace Research Vol.30 no.1, pp.45-64.