Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield was one of the most brilliant theologians America has ever produced. As a bulwark against the liberal theology of the 19th century, he was the last conservative to occupy the Charles Hodge Chair of Theology at Princeton Seminary. He was the principle of that seminary from 1887 to 1921. His defense of the inerrancy of Scripture is unmatched to this day and was responsible for stemming the tide of neo-orthodoxy and countering the influence of German higher criticism. His work made it acceptable to be a thinker and still hold to the doctrinal tenets of Scripture. The teaching and voluminous writings of Warfield have had an essential and enduring impact on all theological conservatives and biblical inerrantists. His impact on today’s Bible believing church is immeasurable.
But despite the impact of his scholarly contributions, they were not his greatest accomplishment. As a matter of fact, theological endeavors were not even the most important events of his daily routine. The most important events of each day of B. B. Warfield’s adult life concerned something that most people never knew about him. It was a part of his life that was never publicized. Even today, although many people are familiar with his theology, most are unfamiliar with how his theology played out in his own home.
In 1876, when Warfield was a young man of 25, he married the love of his life Annie. He was studying in Germany at the time, so they decided to honeymoon there. As they were hiking in the Harz Mountains outside of Leipzig, they were overtaken by a tremendous thunderstorm. Fear and panic from the storm left the newly wedded Mrs. Warfield practically incapacitated from neurological trauma. From that point until the day she died in 1915, she was an invalid who required the constant attention and care of her husband.
Although in constant demand, for the rest of Annie’s life, Dr. Warfield refused to travel the lecture circuit. European tours were out of the question. By all accounts, he seldom left her bedside for more than two hours at a time.
In today’s world, many might ask, why would such a brilliant scholar limit himself in such a way? The reason is simple, yet profound. He didn’t limit himself. His life was full—of love. The great scholar, Dr. B. B. Warfield, understood many things about God and the way He chose to reveal Himself in Scripture. He had a deep and profound understanding about God’s covenant love for His people. But more than that, he also understood how to live out that covenant love in the covenant love he had for his own wife.
Warfield understood that his marriage was a picture of Christ’s love for the church and even though we are broken and marred and stained and worthless to Him, He loves us anyway. He loves us enough to care for us and nurture us and never leave our side.
Warfield understood theology. Do I know that because of the 10 volumes of his works on my shelf which I occasionally attempt to muddle my way through? In a way—but even more so, I know that he understood theology by the way he treated his wife. Although she had nothing with which to offer him, he loved her anyway and emptied himself for her.
Romans 5:6-8
But despite the impact of his scholarly contributions, they were not his greatest accomplishment. As a matter of fact, theological endeavors were not even the most important events of his daily routine. The most important events of each day of B. B. Warfield’s adult life concerned something that most people never knew about him. It was a part of his life that was never publicized. Even today, although many people are familiar with his theology, most are unfamiliar with how his theology played out in his own home.
In 1876, when Warfield was a young man of 25, he married the love of his life Annie. He was studying in Germany at the time, so they decided to honeymoon there. As they were hiking in the Harz Mountains outside of Leipzig, they were overtaken by a tremendous thunderstorm. Fear and panic from the storm left the newly wedded Mrs. Warfield practically incapacitated from neurological trauma. From that point until the day she died in 1915, she was an invalid who required the constant attention and care of her husband.
Although in constant demand, for the rest of Annie’s life, Dr. Warfield refused to travel the lecture circuit. European tours were out of the question. By all accounts, he seldom left her bedside for more than two hours at a time.
In today’s world, many might ask, why would such a brilliant scholar limit himself in such a way? The reason is simple, yet profound. He didn’t limit himself. His life was full—of love. The great scholar, Dr. B. B. Warfield, understood many things about God and the way He chose to reveal Himself in Scripture. He had a deep and profound understanding about God’s covenant love for His people. But more than that, he also understood how to live out that covenant love in the covenant love he had for his own wife.
Warfield understood that his marriage was a picture of Christ’s love for the church and even though we are broken and marred and stained and worthless to Him, He loves us anyway. He loves us enough to care for us and nurture us and never leave our side.
Warfield understood theology. Do I know that because of the 10 volumes of his works on my shelf which I occasionally attempt to muddle my way through? In a way—but even more so, I know that he understood theology by the way he treated his wife. Although she had nothing with which to offer him, he loved her anyway and emptied himself for her.
Romans 5:6-8
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment