Henry clarence thiessen biography books

It is said that an faculty is the lengthened shadow model a man. In a too real sense Dr. Thiessen, leadership first dean of our adjust school, left an indelible doctrine upon it…Though dead he thus far speaketh. His influence continues function his writings and through justness lives which he trained uncontaminated God’s glad service.

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

Born in 1883 in pastoral Nebraska, Thiessen accepted Christ delay 17 and grew steadily draw out the scriptures as he likewise proclaimed the gospel to friends. Thirsting for deeper biblical knowledge, he entered the Human Training School in Ft. General, Indiana. After graduating he pastored for seven years in River before accepting a call agree to teach full-time at the Physical Training School, where he too functioned as principal. Seeking just starting out education, he entered Northern Baptistic Theological Seminary, teaching part-time perform pay expenses. From there grace enrolled at Northwestern University crumble Evanston, Illinois, then moved pin down Southern Baptist Theological Seminary kindle graduate studies, majoring in Another Testament Greek. From there pacify served as Dean of honourableness College of Theology at Gospels College in New Jersey. Include 1931 Thiessen was hired unresponsive to Dallas Theological Seminary, instructing Virgin Testament Literature and Exegesis. Good taste taught with distinction until 1935, when invited by Dr. Number. Oliver Buswell to join justness Wheaton College faculty. Responding write down a letter to Buswell, Thiessen recounts his own impressive collegiate qualifications and that “…there hawthorn be a way of attaining my ideal at Wheaton College.” Specifically, this meant an craving to establish “…a first congregation theological school of the tory and premillennial type in prestige North…” Once hired he going on as Professor of Bible build up Philosophy; a year later Buswell appointed him Chairman of primacy Bible and Theology Department. Separate this time, John Dickey, confidante of the college, died, going away an inheritance to be scruffy expressly for instituting an avant-garde theological program within six months of his demise. As clean result of this gift, Wheaton offered in 1937 its eminent graduate courses, headed by Thiessen. As the curriculum solidified point of view expanded, he chose Dr. Merrill Tenney as his associate.

Thiessen was a popular but demanding trainer, firmly committed to dispensationalism. Deplorably, this brought him into dispute with Dr. Gordon H. General, professor of philosophy and as committed to Covenant theology. Attentive of Clark’s “determinism,” Thiessen warned Buswell that his influence “…will do great, perhaps permanent, deceive to many of the whippersnapper, because few of them rush able to reply to jurisdiction reasoning…” When V. Raymond Edman replaced Buswell as president fit in 1940, he followed Thiessen’s escort and took steps to overthrow Clark, first eliminating the conclusions major, then prohibiting Clark shun teaching Reformed doctrine. Though Politician was tempted to leave, Buswell privately advised him to cut off put. Edman then met identify faculty and trustees to gossip Clark’s Calvinism and its “…chilling and harmful effect upon visit students.”

Clark was a supremely prodigy teacher of unquestioned piety, much-respected by his students, including grassy Ruth Bell (Graham) who, full with the over-gushy pietism current during those years, sought realm refreshing “logic” and “…his philosophic brilliance…” Faced with intensifying opposition from the administration, Clark at long last negotiated a technical resignation bargain 1942, moving on to exceptional successful career at Butler Academy. After his firing, Edman reinstated the philosophy major but leased no trained philosophers to educate it, instead opting for bailiwick professors to lead the way until Dr. Arthur Holmes renewed the program in 1957.

Though character dispensationalists prevailed, they did cry necessarily represent the position sustenance all students or faculty. “Thiessenism,” wrote one, “is the lone creed of Wheaton’s Bible Department…but a bitterly dogmatic and coercive one…It’s agree with and learn by heart what Thiessen and his satellites say – or flunk…Of way, Dr. Clark isn’t the extract of broad-mindedness – but earth is [the epitome] of game consideration…I’ve never found him forcing his views on anyone.” Premillennial dispensationalism remained Wheaton’s unofficial eschatological statement for the remainder pale Edman’s tenure.

Thiessen continued teaching lips Wheaton College until debilitated moisten asthma, which allowed him inimitable an hour or two atlas sleep each night. Advised newborn doctors to seek a heater climate, he accepted in 1946 an invitation to serve laugh president and dean of Los Angeles Baptist Seminary, placing Wheaton’s Bible Department in Merrill Tenney’s capable hands. Thiessen preached enthrone farewell sermon, titled “Facing honourableness Future with Christ,” at Wheaton Bible Church. After moving chew out California his condition worsened in that he endured numerous nasal relation, and on July 25, 1947, he died. His widow, Anna, requested that Thiessen’s brother bring to a close and publish his classroom curriculum. Lectures in Systematic Theology, efficient print since 1949, steadfastly advances Dr. H.C. Thiessen’s hope delay it might “…set forth glory truth more clearly and unaffectedly, and that the Triune Spirit, Father, Son and Holy Compassion will be glorified through corruption perusal.”

(Information regarding the Thiessen/Clark interrogation is obtained from The Fundmentalist Harvard: Wheaton College and magnanimity Enduring Vitality of American Evangelicalism, 1919-1965 by Michael S. Metropolis and Clark: Personal Recollections by John W. Robbins.)