John Gresham Machen

Machen was a theologian with incredible clarity of teaching among Presbyterians that carried over into general Christianity. However, as with the reformers, he had one major problem, he thought he could “reform” a corrupt religious institution, and remain outside the confines of a local church. The fact is, God tells us to come out from among them and to be separate. He partially obeyed the command as did Abraham by leaving Ur of the Chaldee’s but fell short in staying with his uncle, until he died in Haran. How much better would it have been if Machen had stepped away from the corrupt hierarchy of Presbyterianism and stood upon the old Baptist distinctives? Instead of starting yet another corrupt institution, and propounding the auspices of heathen worship, his candle could have shined brightly! Someone has catalogued a list of other institutions and “great” men that sprung up from the influence of Machen, and it reads like a catalogue of those that devalue and reject God’s Holy Word. What a lesson to us today!

John was born on July 28, 1881, in Baltimore, Maryland to a lawyer, Arthur Webster Machen and his wife Mary Jones Gresham Machen. His dad was an Episcopalian and his mother was a Presbyterian. His mother was also 21 years younger than his father.

His early education included the subjects of a high level of private education: Latin and Greek. He also learned to play the piano.

At the age of 17, he entered John Hopkins University, on a scholarship, and graduated valedictorian in 1901. Not having a plan for his life, he spent the summer studying banking and international law at the University of Chicago.

In 1902, at the age of 21, he went to Princeton Seminary to study theology while also getting a Masters of Philosophy at Princeton University.

In 1905, he went to Germany for a year to study theology at the Universities of Marburg and Gottingen. There his faith was almost completely shattered due to the liberalism being taught that had attracted him.

In 1906, he became an instructor of the New Testament at Princeton Seminary, only after being assured he would not have to sign a statement of faith. He intended to return to Germany to continue what could be termed agnostic training.

In 1915, he was ordained and became a Professor of New Testament literature and exegesis at Princeton Seminary. In his inaugural address he proposed that the Bible is history and must be approached as primarily a record of facts. He served in that position until 1929.

He led in a revolt against liberal theology among the Presbyterians and so formed Westminster Theological Seminary in 1929.  Machen and Lewis Sperry Chafer exchanged correspondence, sharing their goals and efforts, with Chafer hoping to help a fellow Presbyterian school. Machen continued teaching New Testament courses at Westminster until 1937.

Westminster from its beginning had major problems. Methodists comprised about 20 percent of the student body, and they felt that Calvinism was presented to forcefully. Another 20 percent of the student body held premillennial views, and they felt the faculty was too outspoken against them. A large number of students complained that the faculty condoned cigarettes and alcohol. Another group of students felt that the constant bashing of modernism was contrary to learning to share the gospel.

In 1933, because of the liberal theology of Presbyterian missions, he founded the Independent Board for Presbyterian Missions. He was tried the New Brunswick Presbytery of Trenton, New Jersey, but not allowed to defend himself with Scripture, or theology. The result was a suspension from the ministry, and his appeals were lost to the synod and General Assembly of 1936.

Machen formed what became the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1936. He had hoped this new organization would grow, but it did not, and instead suffered a split within its own ranks in its early days.

Machen’s infirm health broke over the trials, and although he tried to resume a speaking schedule, the bitter cold of North Dakota developed into pleurisy and pneumonia. He was hospitalized before Christmas and he died on January 1, 1937, at the age of 55 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Sources

D.G. Hart, “The Legacy of J. Gresham Machen and the Identity of the Orhtodox Presbyterian Church.” Westminster Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Journal (Westminster Theological Seminary, 1991; 2002), Vol. 53, pp. 209f.

D.F. Kelly “Machen, John Gresham.” Walter A. Elwell and Walter A. Elwell, vol. 1, Biographical Entries from Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Biographical Entries from Evangelical Dictionary of Theology., electronic ed., Baker reference library; Logos Library System (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997, c1984).

George Thomas Kurian, Nelson's New Christian Dictionary: The Authoritative Resource on the Christian World (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Pubs., 2001).

George M. Marsden, “J. Gresham Machen, History, And Truth” Westminster Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Journal (Westminster Theological Seminary, 1980; 2002), Vol. 42 pp. 157f.

Bruce M. Metzger, “Machen, John Gresham.” J.D. Douglas, J.D. Douglas and Robert Clouse, G., vol. 4, Biographical Entries from New 20th-Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Rev. Ed. of: Twentieth Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge 1955.; Biographical Entries from New 20th-Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge., electronic ed., Baker reference library; Logos Library System (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1997, c1991).

William G. Moore, “J. Gresham Machen:  The Power of Theological Reflection.” Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Trinity Journal (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 2001; 2003), Vol. 22, pp. 157f.

Stephen J. Nichols, “A Brief Exchange Between Lewis Sperry Chafer and J. Gresham Machen.” Westminster Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Journal (Westminster Theological Seminary, 2000; 2002), Vol. 62, p. 281f.