[f. as prec. + -IST.] a. One learned in the text of the Bible. b. One who adheres strictly to, and bases his or her doctrine upon, the text of the Scriptures.
1629. Lightfoot, Misc., vi. 20. How nimble textualists and Grammarians for the tongue the Rabbins are, their Comments can witnes. But … these that are so great textualists, are not best at the text.
1834. Southey, Doctor, iii. (1848), 12. When I mention Arba, who but the practised textualist can call to mind that he was … the father of Anak, and that from him Kirjath-Arba took its name?
1885. Swinburne, Misc. (1886), 181. A moderate Puritan and a textualist of the old Protestant school.
1903. J. Moffat, in Expositor, Dec., 470. One appealing to the textualist is Dr. R. Jansen’s attempt to reconstruct the Greek text.
