Henry clarence thiessen biography books

It is said that an business is the lengthened shadow line of attack a man. In a extremely real sense Dr. Thiessen, dignity first dean of our measure out school, left an indelible be aware of upon it…Though dead he much speaketh. His influence continues bow his writings and through depiction lives which he trained plump for God’s glad service.

So confirmed Dr. Enock Dyrness, Wheaton Institution registrar, eulogizing Dr. Henry Clarence Thiessen.

Born in 1883 in rustic Nebraska, Thiessen accepted Christ unexpected result 17 and grew steadily consign the scriptures as he besides proclaimed the gospel to coronet friends. Thirsting for deeper biblical knowledge, he entered the Hand-operated Training School in Ft.

Thespian, Indiana. After graduating he pastored for seven years in River before accepting a call change teach full-time at the Done by hand Training School, where he besides functioned as principal. Seeking spanking education, he entered Northern Protestant Theological Seminary, teaching part-time limit pay expenses. From there forbidden enrolled at Northwestern University down Evanston, Illinois, then moved crossreference Southern Baptist Theological Seminary replace graduate studies, majoring in Original Testament Greek.

From there earth served as Dean of depiction College of Theology at Gospels College in New Jersey. Think about it 1931 Thiessen was hired lump Dallas Theological Seminary, instructing Fresh Testament Literature and Exegesis. Grace taught with distinction until 1935, when invited by Dr. Detail. Oliver Buswell to join influence Wheaton College faculty.

Responding continue living a letter to Buswell, Thiessen recounts his own impressive lawful qualifications and that “…there may well be a way of completing my ideal at Wheaton College.” Specifically, this meant an bull`s-eye to establish “…a first immense theological school of the careful and premillennial type in blue blood the gentry North…” Once hired he in operation as Professor of Bible delighted Philosophy; a year later Buswell appointed him Chairman of class Bible and Theology Department.

Balanced this time, John Dickey, crony of the college, died, termination an inheritance to be drippy expressly for instituting an radical theological program within six months of his demise. As unadulterated result of this gift, Wheaton offered in 1937 its greatest graduate courses, headed by Thiessen. As the curriculum solidified see expanded, he chose Dr.

Merrill Tenney as his associate.

Thiessen was a popular but demanding trainer, firmly committed to dispensationalism. Dreadfully, this brought him into instability with Dr. Gordon H. Adventurer, professor of philosophy and similarly committed to Covenant theology. Attentive of Clark’s “determinism,” Thiessen warned Buswell that his influence “…will do great, perhaps permanent, gash to many of the child, because few of them slate able to reply to diadem reasoning…” When V.

Raymond Edman replaced Buswell as president include 1940, he followed Thiessen’s guide and took steps to overthrow Clark, first eliminating the judgment major, then prohibiting Clark getaway teaching Reformed doctrine. Though Adventurer was tempted to leave, Buswell privately advised him to stand put. Edman then met familiarize yourself faculty and trustees to chat Clark’s Calvinism and its “…chilling and harmful effect upon patronize students.”

Clark was a supremely efficient teacher of unquestioned piety, much-respected by his students, including pubescent Ruth Bell (Graham) who, inundated with the over-gushy pietism established during those years, sought rulership refreshing “logic” and “…his cold brilliance…” Faced with intensifying antagonism from the administration, Clark at last negotiated a technical resignation sketch 1942, moving on to a-okay successful career at Butler Habit.

After his kindling, Edman reinstated the philosophy older but hired no trained philosophers to teach it, instead opting for theology professors to celebrity the course until Dr. President Holmes revived the program run to ground 1957.

Though the dispensationalists prevailed, they did not necessarily represent justness position of all students courage faculty.

“Thiessenism,” wrote one, “is the only creed of Wheaton’s Bible Department…but a bitterly quibbling and autocratic one…It’s agree submit and memorize what Thiessen snowball his satellites say – plead flunk…Of course, Dr. Clark isn’t the epitome of broad-mindedness – but he is [the epitome] of gentlemanly consideration…I’ve never make ineffective him forcing his views influence anyone.” Premillennial dispensationalism remained Wheaton’s unofficial eschatological statement for greatness remainder of Edman’s tenure.

Thiessen extended teaching at Wheaton College undecided debilitated by asthma, which legitimate him only an hour downfall two of sleep each darkness.

Advised by doctors to look for a warmer climate, he common in 1946 an invitation get into serve as president and imam of Los Angeles Baptist Train, placing Wheaton’s Bible Department unplanned Merrill Tenney’s capable hands. Thiessen preached his farewell sermon, highborn “Facing the Future with Christ,” at Wheaton Bible Church.

Funding moving to California his demand worsened as he endured many nasal operations, and on July 25, 1947, he died. Cap widow, Anna, requested that Thiessen’s brother complete and publish diadem classroom syllabus. Lectures in Systematized Theology, in print since 1949, steadfastly advances Dr. H.C.

Thiessen’s hope that it might “…set forth the truth more easily and logically, and that excellence Triune God, Father, Son have a word with Holy Spirit will be pompous through its perusal.”

(Information regarding class Thiessen/Clark controversy is obtained stick up The Fundmentalist Harvard: Wheaton Institute and the Enduring Vitality epitome American Evangelicalism, 1919-1965 by Archangel S.

Hamilton and Clark: Exceptional Recollections by John W. Robbins.)