A Brief Exchange Between Lewis Sperry Chafer And J. Gresham Machen -- By: Stephen J. Nichols

Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 62:2 (Fall 2000)
Article: A Brief Exchange Between Lewis Sperry Chafer And J. Gresham Machen
Author: Stephen J. Nichols


A Brief Exchange Between
Lewis Sperry Chafer And J. Gresham Machen

Stephen J. Nicholsi

Just prior to the founding of Westminster Theological Seminary, Lewis Sperry Chafer, hearing of J. Gresham Machen’s discontent at Princeton and of his plans to found a new seminary, decided to write Machen offering him some advice.1 Chafer was well situated to offer such advice since he had recently navigated the process of founding Evangelical Theological College in 1924, which in 1936 changed its name to Dallas Theological Seminary.2 He also admired Machen and his stand against modernism at Princeton Seminary and in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A., and desired to express his sympathy for Machen’s ill-treatment.3 Chafer wrote as one seminary president to another, briefly discussing the financial state of his institution, its stewardship policies, and its plans for future expansion.4 Machen responded by speaking of the appalling nature of administrative tasks during the early days of Westminster. This brief exchange, however, concerned far more than running a seminary and revealed the theology and ecclesiology of each writer, as well as two different responses to theological modernism in Presbyterian denominations. After some introductory observations, the original

letter from Chafer and Machen’s reply appear as found in the Machen Archives of Montgomery Memorial Library at Westminster Theological Seminary.

Chafer’s adamant claim that Evangelical Theological College was both Presbyterian and strictly Calvinistic might come as a surprise to many contemporary dispensationalists and those associated with Dallas Theo logical Seminary and its related institutions. He asserted, “We are distinctly a Presbyterian institution. Out of the 14 men who are now enrolled on our faculty 11 of them are loyal Presbyterians. Our theology as well as the interpretation of the Scripture in every department is strictly Calvinistic, far more so than the usual denominational seminary is today whether it be North or South.” Machen did not explicitly respond to these comments, but he must have welcomed them because they revealed the early commitment of Chafer to Presbyterianism. In fact, Chafer wanted his school free from denominational control so it could maintain orthodox Calvinistic views which were not always followed in the southern Presbyterian Church. If Evangelical Theological College were under the control of the denomination, he feared, there would be no a...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()