Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 107:427 (Jul 1950)
Article: Editorials
Author: Anonymous

---

BSac 107:427 (Jul 50) p. 257

Editorials

Ministerial Education

Confusion has arisen in many minds about what constitutes a complete education for the gospel ministry. Because of this there is need of a discussion concerning the scope and nature of both the theological seminary and the work of the more modern Bible institute. The issue can hardly be set forth from the viewpoint of the Bible institute. It is better stated by the theological seminary and perhaps by one who has lived through the history of the Bible institute movement and who has conceived, founded, and developed a theological seminary which incorporates a complete training in the whole Bible.

For many years before the Dallas Theological Seminary was actually begun, educated ministers told the writer in his travels that the fundamentalists had their Bible institutes while they had their theological seminaries. It was then that the writer made up his mind that the time would come when it would have to be recognized that the most extensive and most thorough training for the ministry would be in a seminary that was fundamental in its theology. That time has come.

One great difficulty in all this confusion of ideas is the fact that the average layman is able to comprehend the work which is undertaken in the Bible institute, but he does not understand the work which is done in the theological seminary, nor can he evaluate it. Nevertheless, the Bible institutes have always depended upon the seminaries to provide men able to serve on their faculties.

The Bible institute program was born in the mind of D. L. Moody. It so happens that the writer has lived through those early days and was able to keep informed regarding all that was undertaken. The early records of the Moody Bible Institute will reveal that the plan and purpose in

BSac 107:427 (Jul 50) p. 258

Mr. Moody’s mind was to provide a training for laymen and laywomen which would enable them to return to their churches and render real assistance in the work of the church. Mr. Moody’s method in evangelistic meetings was that of an after-meeting in which Christians could deal personally with those who might be interested in their own salvation. The fact that it was almost impossible to find workers in the after-meeting who could do this personal work, no doubt, influenced Mr. Moody to a large extent.

All phases of Mr. Moody’s work have been copied generally. When he provided a song leader in his meetings, the suggestion was taken up by evangelists generally. Thus, also, the Bible institute idea has been imitated.

Respecting Bible institutes, it has been the writer’s responsibility to draw up the curriculum of one of the most valued and effective institutes in America and to d...

visitor : : uid: ()