Welcome to the BB. I hope you won't mind that I won't allow many dubious statements to go unchallenged.
You may be able to say that Hodge
popularized the idea in America but he was NOT "first" by far. Have you ever read the
1646 WCoF? In Chapter 1, Section VIII it states in part --
The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which, at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and, by His singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; ...
Original writings means in the original languages. Are you familar with Francis Turretin (1623–1687)? He wrote in part (Question 10, Part II) --
By "original texts" we do not mean the very autographs from the hands of Moses, the prophets, and the apostles, which are known to be nonexistent. Wethe same words into which the sacred writers committed it under the immediate inspiration of the Holy Spirit mean copies (apographa), which have come in their name, because they record for us that word of God in . ...