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32-440: DTS was founded as Evangelical Theological College in 1924 by Rollin T. Chafer and his brother, Lewis Sperry Chafer , who taught the first class of thirteen students, and William Henry Griffith Thomas , who was to have been the school's first theology professor but died before the first classes began. Their vision was a school where expository Bible preaching was taught simply, and under Chafers' leadership, DTS pioneered one of

64-747: A member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), the Evangelical Training Association (ETA), the Jerusalem University College , and the Institute of Theological Studies (ITS). DTS is known as a center of modern dispensational teaching due to Dr. Chafer's development of a systematic theology which approaches the Bible with a " premillennial , dispensational interpretation of

96-732: A radio program of the same name on Christian and non-Christian radio stations around the world. The program is heard on more than 2,000 stations, as well as being webcast , and is translated into several languages. Its roots go back to the summer of 1977, when Swindoll's sermons from the First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton were broadcast on radio. In 1979 the Insight for Living radio ministry began; its offices are now located in Frisco . In July 1994, Swindoll became

128-608: A simple, Bible -teaching theological seminary and founded Dallas Theological Seminary (originally Evangelical Theological College). Chafer served as president of the seminary and professor of Systematic Theology from 1924 until his death. He died with friends while away at a conference in Seattle, Washington in August 1952. In 1953, the newly built chapel was designated the Lewis Sperry Chafer Chapel after

160-789: A traveling evangelistic music ministry, he singing or preaching and she playing the organ. Their marriage lasted until she died in 1944. Ordained in 1900 by a Council of Congregational Ministers in the First Congregational Church in Buffalo and in 1903 he ministered as an evangelist in the Presbytery of Troy in Massachusetts and became associated with the ministry of Cyrus Scofield , who became his mentor. During this early period, Chafer began writing and developing his theology. He taught Bible classes and music at

192-629: A two-year program in Christian Education was begun. In addition to these, a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program was opened in 1980. Walvoord retired as DTS president in 1986. From 1986 to 1994, Donald K. Campbell served as president of DTS. During his tenure, DTS opened a three-year MA program in Biblical Counseling and a two-year MA program in Biblical exegesis and linguistics . Chuck Swindoll served as president of

224-483: A visionary Bible teacher, a minister of the gospel, a man of prayer with strong piety. One of his students, Charles Caldwell Ryrie , who went on to become a theologian and scholar, stated that Chafer was an evangelist who was also "an eminent theologian." Chafer was born in Rock Creek , Ohio to Thomas and Lomira Chafer and was the second of three children. His father, a parson , died from tuberculosis when Lewis

256-518: Is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator, and radio preacher. He founded Insight for Living , headquartered in Frisco , Texas , which airs a radio program of the same name on more than 2,000 stations around the world in 15 languages. He is currently the Founding Pastor at Stonebriar Community Church , in Frisco, Texas, and also sits on their elder board. Charles Rozell Swindoll

288-485: The Plymouth Brethren , a mild form of Keswick Theology on Sanctification, and Presbyterianism , all of these tempered with a focus on spirituality based on simple Bible study and living. Chafer's theology has been the subject of much study and debate in and out of the theological community since his death, especially on the two larger topics of dispensationalism and Christian Zionism , specifically that

320-495: The Protestant Bible . In a 2009 study conducted by LifeWay Research, Protestant pastors named preachers who had most influenced them. Three DTS alumni were among the top ten: Chuck Swindoll ('63), founder of radio broadcast Insight for Living; David Jeremiah ('67), founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries; and Andy Stanley ('85), founder of North Point Ministries. Other notable people associated with

352-707: The Jews are a people called unto God with a separate historical purpose and plan from the Church. Chafer held much in common with Free Grace theology and influenced many of its later advocates. Similarly to Charles Ryrie , Chafer defined repentance as being a mere synonym for faith, denying that it refers to sorrow for sin. In 1933, Dallas acquired the periodical Bibliotheca Sacra and began publishing it in 1934. Chafer wrote about 70 articles for this journal (see external links below). In 1947, after 10 years of work, he completed his Systematic Theology in eight volumes. This

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384-556: The Lewis Sperry Chafer Award, every year to the graduating master's student who: "in the judgment of the faculty because of his well‐balanced Christian character, scholarship, and spiritual leadership, best embodies and portrays the ideals of Dallas Theological Seminary." An additional award, the Lorrain Chafer Award, is awarded to the graduating international master's student who: "in the judgment of

416-869: The Mount Hermon School for Boys from 1906 to 1910. He joined the Orange Presbytery in 1912 due to the increasing influence of his ministry in the south. He aided Scofield in establishing the Philadelphia School of the Bible in 1913. 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, an independent church where Scofield had ministered. Then, in 1924, Chafer and his friend William Henry Griffith Thomas realized their vision of

448-521: The Scriptures." Systematic Theology , his eight-volume work describing this approach, was first published in 1948 and is still a required textbook for some courses at DTS. Notable theological beliefs of the school include: premillennialism, dispensationalism, and Biblical inerrancy . The school considers itself non-denominational within Protestantism , and offers classes in all 66 books of

480-633: The additions began in 2005. The church is known for its missionary work in India and in other countries. Though Swindoll is still widely regarded as an Evangelical Free Church of America preacher, the Stonebriar Community Church is not affiliated with any particular denomination . In April 2024, Swindoll announced that he would step down as senior pastor, effective May 1, but would continue preaching at Stonebriar. On June 18, 1955, Swindoll married Cynthia Ann Parker, who used to be

512-895: The clarinet remained his primary instrument. After graduating from high school, he studied mechanical engineering while working for Reed Roller Bit Company in Houston , Texas. Swindoll then fulfilled his military service obligation with the United States Marine Corps , first in San Francisco, then on the Japanese island of Okinawa . Part of his duty included playing in the Marine Corps Marching Band. After his honorable discharge in 1959, he attended Dallas Theological Seminary , where he graduated magna cum laude four years later. Swindoll

544-711: The classrooms of the Dallas Theological Seminary". It has been claimed that "This is the definitive work to use in understanding what Dispensationalism teaches and believes. If you are going to use “straw men” to defeat dispensational theorists, make sure your scarecrow favors Lewis Sperry Chafer." Many of Chafer's books have been reprinted multiple times by several different publishing houses. Some of these include: His Systematic Theology includes, practically word-for-word, some of his other works. Chuck Swindoll Charles Rozell Swindoll / ˈ s w ɪ n ˌ d ɒ l / (born October 18, 1934)

576-562: The faculty, best evidences well‐balanced Christian character, scholarship, and spiritual leadership." The Dallas Seminary Foundation has also set up a charitable giving program called the Lewis Sperry Chafer Legacy, recognizing the graciousness in Chafer's life. Chafer is widely recognized as one of the founders of modern Dispensationalism and was vehemently opposed to covenant theology . Yet, he did not reject

608-478: The first four-year degrees in theology, the Master of Theology (Th.M.). The present location of the school was purchased in 1926 and Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) program was started in 1927. Chafer remained president until his death in 1952. The seminary had a considerable influence in the fundamentalist movement by training students who established various Bible Colleges and independent fundamentalist churches in

640-466: The idea of a covenant of redemption, covenant of works, and covenant of grace. He affirmed all three along with the Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Palestinian, Davidic, and New Covenant. He was a premillennial , pretribulational dispensationalist. His overall theology could be generally described as based on the inductive study of the entire Bible, having similarities to John Nelson Darby of

672-542: The pastors at Stonebriar are graduates of Dallas Theological Seminary . The church first held services at Collin County Community College (now Collin College ), then moved to its permanent home on Legendary Drive. The congregation grew rapidly from a few hundred members to several thousand in the first few years, and this growth has necessitated major expansion of the current facility. Construction for

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704-480: The president of Dallas Theological Seminary, and now serves as its chancellor . He is the author of more than 70 books, most of which are based on his research and preparation for sermons preached each Sunday. In celebration of the magazine's 50th anniversary, Christianity Today produced an article naming Swindoll as one of the top 25 most influential preachers of the past 50 years (1956–2006). In 1998 Swindoll founded Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco. Many of

736-796: The recently passed leader. During his life, Chafer received three honorary doctorates: Doctor of Divinity from Wheaton in 1926, Doctor of Letters from Dallas in 1942, and Doctor of Theology from the Aix-en-Province, France, Protestant Seminary in 1946. Chafer had a tremendous influence on the evangelical movement. Among his students were Jim Rayburn , founder of Young Life (as well as many of Young Life's first staff members), Kenneth N. Taylor , author of The Living Bible translation, and numerous future Christian educators and pastors, including Howard Hendricks , J. Dwight Pentecost , Charles Caldwell Ryrie , J. Vernon McGee , and John Walvoord , who succeeded him as president of DTS. Chafer

768-520: The seminary from 1994 to 2001. Mark Bailey followed, serving as president from 2001 to 2020. Under Bailey's tenure, the seminary added a two-year MA program in media and communication, a two-year MA in Christian leadership, a Spanish D.Min. program, and a multi-lingual online education program. He was succeeded by Mark Yarbrough in 2020. As of Spring 2014, DTS had over 15,000 alumni serving in various ministerial capacities in 97 countries worldwide. DTS

800-466: The seminary include: Lewis Sperry Chafer Lewis Sperry Chafer (February 27, 1871 – August 22, 1952) was an American theologian . He co-founded Dallas Theological Seminary with his older brother Rollin Thomas Chafer (1868-1940), served as its first president, and was an influential proponent of Christian Dispensationalism in the early 20th century. John Hannah described Chafer as

832-448: The southern United States. DTS has continually published a quarterly entitled Bibliotheca Sacra initially edited by Rollin T. Chafer, since 1934. In 1983, a complete collection of "Bib Sac" articles was published as a book commemorating fifty years of the journal. John F. Walvoord took over as president in 1952 after Chafer's death in 1952. In 1974, DTS added a two-year Master of Arts (MA) program in biblical studies, and in 1982,

864-517: Was ordained into the ministry in 1963 and served in Dallas at Grace Bible Church, under J. Dwight Pentecost , for two years. He has since held senior pastorates in Waltham, Massachusetts (1965–67), Irving, Texas (1967–71), and Fullerton, California (1971–94). He started his current senior pastorate in Frisco, Texas , in 1998. Swindoll is the founder of Insight for Living, which broadcasts

896-717: Was 11 years old, and his mother supported the family by teaching school and keeping boarders in the family home. Chafer attended the Rock Creek Public School as a young boy, and the New Lyme Institution in New Lyme, Ohio from 1885 to 1888. Here he discovered a talent for music and choir. Chafer quit his studies at Oberlin to work with YMCA evangelist, Arthur T. Reed of Ohio. From 1889 to 1891, Chafer attended Oberlin College , where he met Ella Loraine Case. They were married April 22, 1896 and formed

928-522: Was born on October 18, 1934, in El Campo in Wharton County, Texas , the third of three children born to Earl and Lovell Swindoll. He attended Charles H. Milby High School in Houston . He credits his drama teacher, Dick Nieme, for helping him manage his stutter . As a member of the school marching band and orchestra, he learned to play all of the instruments in the woodwind section, although

960-701: Was first accredited in 1944 by the Board of Regents, State Education Department of the University of the State of New York of Albany. After that institution stopped accrediting institutions outside of New York, DTS was accredited in 1969 by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and in 1994 by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada . The school is also

992-459: Was recognized among his friends and peers for his balanced, simple life. He was a well-spoken and relaxed leader and was not a fire and brimstone preacher. Chafer believed the basic truths for Christian living are found in Romans 5 , a chapter which teaches about peace, grace, weakness, hope, sacrifice, love, and joy. In recognition of this, Dallas Theological Seminary offers a commencement award,

Dallas Theological Seminary - Misplaced Pages Continue

1024-530: Was the first time that a premillennial, dispensational framework of Christian theology had been systematized into a single format. The books were so popular that it sold out the first printing in six months and needed a third printing within two years. The series has been printed many times since by a number of publishing houses. Chafer's Systematic Theology is a standard dispensational systematic theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote, "These pages represent what has been, and is, taught in

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