Christian Zionism - New Life Tabernacle of Chattanooga

Oxford University Press as The New Scofield Study Bible. 438 Charles Ryrie
also published in his own name a more refined dispensational guide, the
Ryrie Study Bible. 439 William E. Cox offers this appraisal of his abiding
influence:
‘Scofield’s footnotes and his systematized schemes of hermeneutics
have been memorized by many as religiously as have verses of the
Bible. It is not at all uncommon to hear devout men recite these
footnotes prefaced by the words; “The Bible says ...” Many a pastor
has lost all influence with members of his congregation and has been
branded a liberal for no other reason than failure to concur with all the
footnotes of Dr. Scofield. Even many ministers use the teachings of
Scofield as tests of orthodoxy!’ 440
Scofield’s influence extended well beyond his published writings. In the 1890s
during Scofield’s pastorate in Dallas he was also head of the Southwestern
School of the Bible, the forerunner to Dallas Theological Seminary, which
became Dispensationalism’s ‘most scholarly institution’. 441 The Seminary was
founded in 1924 by one of Scofield’s disciples, Lewis Sperry Chafer, who in
turn became Scofield’s most influential exponent. Chafer wrote the first
systematic pro-Zionist dispensational theology running to eight large volumes.
Shortly before his death, Chafer described his greatest academic
achievement. ‘It goes on record that the Dallas Theological Seminary uses,
recommends, and defends the Scofield Bible.’ 442 It is perhaps therefore not
surprising that Dallas Theological Seminary has since then, especially
through the writings of Charles Ryrie 443 and John Walvoord, 444 continued to
438 C.I. Scofield, The New Scofield Study Bible, (New York, Oxford University Press,
1984).
439 Charles Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible, (Chicago, Moody Bible Institute, 1994).
440 William E. Cox, An Examination of Dispensationalism, (Philadelphia, Presbyterian &
Reformed, 1974), pp55-56.
441 Gerstner, op.cit., p46.
442 Ibid.
443 Charles C. Ryrie, The Basis of the Premillennial Faith, (Neptune, New Jersey, Loizeaux
Brothers, 1953); Dispensationalism Today, (Chicago, Moody Press, 1965);
Dispensationalism, (Moody Press, Chicago, 1995).
444 John Walvoord, Israel in Prophecy, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1962); The Nations in
Prophecy, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1967); The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation, (Grand
Rapids, Zondervan, 1975); The Rapture Question, rev. edn. (Grand Rapids, Zondervan,
1979); The Nations, Israel and the Church in Prophecy, (Grand Rapids, Michigan,
Zondervan, 1988); Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis (Grand Rapids, Michigan,
Zondervan, 1990); Major Bible Prophecies, (New York, Harper Collins, 1991).
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