WELCOME TO CHAFER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY We extend a ...

Page 2 Chafer Theological Seminary Catalog 2009-2011
We chose to name our seminary after Lewis Sperry Chafer
because we admire the Godly example he set, particularly
his boldness in defense of God’s grace and his consistent
reliance upon Scripture in a time when many had forsaken
the gospel. Dr. Chafer championed the grace of God in
salvation and in the Christian’s post conversion life.
While many theologians take a more philosophical approach
to their subject, Dr. Chafer took great pains to adhere to the
text of Scripture as his guiding light. We thank God that
Chafer set such a lofty goal, and we aspire to follow in his
footsteps seeking to follow the same Scripture upon which
he built his systematic Theology.
Chafer was born in Ohio, the second of three children. His
father, a pastor, died when he was 11 years old, leaving his
mother to support the family by teaching school and keeping
boarders in the family home.
Ordained in 1900, he began his ministry in 1903 as an evangelist in Massachusetts where he became
associated with Cyrus Scofield, who became his mentor. He aided Scofield in establishing the Philadelphia
School of the Bible in 1913 (now Philadelphia Biblical University). From 1923 to 1925, he served as general
secretary of the Central American Mission.
When Scofield died in 1921, Chafer moved to Dallas, Texas to pastor the First Congregational Church of
Dallas where Scofield had ministered. Then, in 1924, Chafer and his friend Dr. Griffith Thomas realized their
vision of a theological seminary that would remain biblically rooted and founded Dallas Theological
Seminary (originally Evangelical Theological College). Chafer served as its president and professor of
Systematic Theology from 1924 until his death in August 1952.
In 1947, Chafer completed his Systematic Theology in eight volumes, which has since been published
unabridged in four volumes. This was the first premillennial, dispensational framework of Christian theology
to be systematized into a single format. Because of his unwavering commitment to grace and biblical
theology, Chafer Theological Seminary chose to name itself after this outstanding Christian leader.
Chafer Theological Seminary
3620 Wyoming Blvd. N.E., Ste. 226
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Phone: (505) 515-0221
Fax: (505) 222-0538