John D. Woodbridge

John D. Woodbridge
Born
John Dunning Woodbridge

1941
Parent(s)Ruth and Charles Woodbridge
Academic background
EducationMichigan State University (M.A.) [1]
ThesisL'influence des philosophes français sur les pasteurs réformés du Languedoc pendant la deuxième moitié du XVIIIe siècle (1969)
Doctoral advisorJacques Godechot

John D. Woodbridge (born 1941) is an American church historian, professor, editor, and composer. He is Research Professor of Church History and Christian Thought at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

Career

He joined the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the department of church history in 1970 and became full professor in 1974. He was Visiting Professor of History at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois from 1989-1995. From 1997 to 1999 he served as a senior editor at Christianity Today. Among the books which he has either authored or edited, four have won a Gold Medallion Book Award.[2] He appeared on The John Ankerberg Show in the 1980s. He is a member of the American Catholic Historical Association and the American Society of Church History.[3] In 2017, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Theology from Colorado Christian University.[4]

Views on Inerrancy

In 1982, he played a critical role in refuting a thesis advanced by Jack Rogers and Donald McKim which argued that the doctrine of biblical inerrancy was a recent development, developed by the Old Princetonians and particularly B. B. Warfield. According to Clark Pinnock, the Rogers-McKim proposal argued, "that the historic doctrine of inspiration was the affirmation of the infallibility of the Bible in matters of faith and practice with the possibility of errors appearing in the nonessential marginal material."[5] Scriptural inerrantists perceived the Rogers-McKim proposal as an attack on the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and a debate continued for several years following the 1979 publication of Rogers' and McKim's book The Authority and Inspiration of the Bible.[6] Professor Woodbridge replied with the publication of a book in 1982 titled Biblical Authority : A Critique of the Rogers/McKim Proposal.[7] John C. Whitcomb summarized it thus, "The superficial scholarship displayed in this work has been carefully exposed by such theologians as John D. Woodbridge."[8] John M. Frame declared, "In this lecture I will not be discussing this issue, however, because I believe that the thesis that inerrancy is recent was thoroughly demolished by John D. Woodbridge in his book Biblical Authority: A Critique of the Rogers/McKim Proposal."[9] Other less theologically conservative scholars were mixed. Clark Pinnock, for example, described Woodbridge's work as an "erudite refutation," and that it "dealt a deadly blow". But while acknowledging that Woodbridge was historically correct in asserting the long tradition of inerrancy down to the ancient church, he expressed skepticism, concluding, "There is no proof here that [Woodbridge] understands the Bible better or better prepares us to face the modern issues."[10]

Music

Among his other interests are music, especially piano, for which he has composed music. His best known work is the song "Sans Vous (Without You)" composed in 1965.[11][12] It was the basis for a lawsuit in 1983 when it was allegedly plagiarized and used as the theme song for the made-for-television film adaptation of Herman Wouk's The Winds of War (miniseries).[13] The case was heard in federal district court by Judge David Vreeland Kenyon and initially resulted in a jury verdict in favor of Dr. Woodbridge in June 1991,[14] although Judge Kenyon later reversed the decision on a technicality. The case was settled out of court in May 1992.[15]

Select works

Books

  • Woodbridge, John D.; Noll, Mark A.; Hatch, Nathan O. (1979). The Gospel in America: Themes in the Story of America’s Evangelicals. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310372400. OCLC 04037003.
  • ——— (1982). Biblical Authority: A Critique of the Rogers/McKim Proposal. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310447511. OCLC 08495075.
  • ———; Carson, D. A. (1993). Letters along the Way: A Novel of the Christian Life. Wheaton, Il.: Crossway Books. ISBN 9780891076735. OCLC 27034503.
  • ——— (1995). Revolt in Prerevolutionary France : The Prince de Conti’s Conspiracy Against Louis XV, 1755-1757. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 9780801849459. OCLC 30593892.
  • ———; George, Timothy (2005). The Mark of Jesus: Loving in a Way the World Can See. Chicago: Moody Publishers. ISBN 9780802481238. OCLC 57392698.
  • ———; Ferguson, Everett; James, Frank A. (2005). Church History: The Rise and Growth of the Church in its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310205807. OCLC 56490864.
  • ———; Hansen, Collin (2010). A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310327035. OCLC 555622602.
  • ———; Possley, Maurice (2011). Hitler in the Crosshairs. Grand Rapids, MI.: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310325871. OCLC 555625132.
  • ———; Gustafson, David M.; Manetsch, Scott M.; Gundlach, Bradley J. (2022). Great is Thy Faithfulness: The Trinity Story, 125 Years of Trinity International University. Bellingham: Lexham Press. ISBN 9781683596325. OCLC 1311464826.

As editor

Articles and chapters

  • ——— (1973). "An 'Unnatural Alliance' for Religious Toleration: The Philosophes and the Outlawed Pastors of the 'Church of the Desert'". Church History. 42 (4): 505–523. doi:10.2307/3164970.
  • ——— (1975). "Columba". In Towns, Elmer L. (ed.). A History of Religious Educators. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House. pp. 63–70. ISBN 9780801088292. OCLC 02224724.
  • ——— (1980). "Biblical Authority: Towards an Evaluation of the Rogers and McKim Proposal". Trinity Journal. 1 (2): 165–236.
  • ——— (1985). "Recent interpretations of biblical authority, pt. 1: A neoorthodox historiography under siege". Bibliotheca Sacra. 142 (565): 3–15.
  • ——— (2002). "The Role of "Tradition" in the Life and Thought of Twentieth-Century Evangelicals". In Colson, Charles W.; Neuhaus, Richard John (eds.). Your Word Is Truth: A Project of Evangelicals and Catholics Together. Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans. pp. 103–146. ISBN 0802805086. OCLC 50123459.
  • ——— (2011). "Evangelical Self-Identity and the Doctrine of Biblical Inerrancy". In Köstenberger, Andreas J.; Yarbrough, Dennis R. (eds.). Understanding the Times : New Testament Studies in the 21st Century: Essays in Honor of D.A. Carson on the Occasion of His 65th Birthday. Wheaton, Il: Crossway. pp. 104–138. ISBN 9781433507199. OCLC 725346253.
  • ——— (2012). "Foreword". In Hoffmeier, James K.; Magary, Dennis R. (eds.). Do Historical Matters Matter to Faith?: A Critical Appraisal of Modern and Postmodern Approaches to Scripture. Wheaton, Il: Crossway. pp. 63–70. ISBN 9781433525711. OCLC 730405288.
  • ——— (2017). "The Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy". In Buursma, Dirk R.; Covrett, Katya (eds.). Evangelical Scholarship, Retrospects and Prospects : Essays in Honor of Stanley N. Gundry. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310087014. OCLC 1013741216.
  • ——— (2018). "Timothy George and Evangelicals and Catholics Together: An Evangelical Perspective". In Dockery, David S.; Massey, James; Smith, Jr., Robert (eds.). Worship, Tradition, and Engagement: Essays in Honor of Timothy George. London: Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 262–275. ISBN 9781498248945.
  • ——— (2023). "Biblical Authority and Faithful Christian Higher Education". Evangelical Review of Theology. 47 (3): 211–225. ISSN 0144-8153.

References

  1. ^ "Commencement 1965 Michigan State University" (PDF). msu.edu. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "John D. Woodbridge". tiu.edu. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "Curriculum Vitae John Dunning Woodbridge" (PDF). tiu.edu. July 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "World-Renowned Church Historian to Receive Honorary Doctorate". ccu.edu. October 8, 2017.
  5. ^ Pinnock, Clark (1983). "Biblical Authority, A Critique of the Rogers/McKim Proposal by John D. Woodbridge". TSF Bulletin. 7 (1): 30.
  6. ^ Rogers, Jack; McKim, Donald. The Authority and Interpretation of the Bible: An Historical Approach. San Francisco: Harper and Row. ISBN 9780060666965. OCLC 05195556.
  7. ^ Woodbridge, John D. (1982). Biblical Authority: A Critique of the Rogers/McKim Proposal. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. ISBN 9780310447511. OCLC 08495075.
  8. ^ Whitcomb, John C. (1986). "C. H. Spurgeon, Biblical Inerrancy, and Premillennialism" (PDF). Grace Theological Journal. 7 (2): 229–234.
  9. ^ Frame, John M. "Inerrancy: A Place to Live" (PDF). Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 57 (1): 29.
  10. ^ Pinnock, 31.
  11. ^ "No Court Battle Will Stop This 'War'". Chicago Tribune. November 10, 1988. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "'Winds of War' Composer Guilty of Copying Music". L.A. Times. June 4, 1991. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "Plagiarism Suits Pit Davids vs. Goliaths". Chicago Tribune. May 19, 1991. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "NU Professor Wins Plagiarism Lawsuit Against Paramount". Chicago Tribune. June 4, 1991. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "Musician Whistles a Happy Tune". Chicago Tribune. May 15, 1992. Retrieved September 26, 2024.