“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:1–4 ESV)
“I am so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.” – J. Gresham Machen, January 1, 1937.
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of the book Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen. It will be advantageous to examine the content and the enduring legacy of Machen’s life and classic work. Let’s begin by identifying the individual and ministry of J. Gresham Machen. Who was this man and why are his writings significant today?
John Gresham Machen (1881-1937) was an American Presbyterian New Testament scholar and educator in the early 20th century. He was the Professor of New Testament at Princeton Seminary between 1906 and 1929.
Machen eventually led a movement against the Modernist Theology at Princeton and formed Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (1929). As the Northern Presbyterian Church continued to embrace modern theological liberalism, Machen also led a small group of conservative pastors and leaders out of the denomination to form the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (1936).
John Gresham Machen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 28, 1881, to Arthur Webster Machen and Mary Jones Gresham. Arthur was a successful Baltimore attorney. While Arthur was an Episcopalian, Mary was a Presbyterian. She taught her three sons, Arthur Jr., Thomas and middle son John Gresham the Westminster Shorter Catechism from an early age. The family attended Franklin Street Presbyterian Church.
Even as a child, evidenced by his report cards that his mother kept, Machen was an intelligent young man and destined to be a scholar. He excelled in geometry, algebra, Latin, Greek, French, natural science and English by age fourteen. The question was not if he would attend college, but where?
Following graduation from high school, Machen attended John Hopkins University where he also excelled. Following graduation, Machen took an extended trip to Europe. He visited many cities and museums. However, what captivated him most were the mountains. Mountain climbing became his favorite recreational activity.
Upon returning from Europe, Machen remained uncertain as to his career. He began graduate studies at John Hopkins, and also spent a summer studying international law and banking at the University of Chicago. Machen eventually decided to enroll at Princeton Theological Seminary. He did not consider a call to the pastorate. However, he became a professor and Princeton would remain his home from 1902 -1929.
Machen loved Princeton. Although he was an avid scholar, his activities were not solely academic. He enjoyed Princeton football. “The football at Princeton is a continual delight to me,” he wrote. He also enjoyed Philadelphia baseball.
Machen would serve alongside fellow professor Benjamin Breckenridge Warfield, known as the “Lion of Old Princeton.” However, it would be William Park Armstrong who taught Machen the New Testament. Armstrong recognized Machen’s potential and following Machen’s professorship, he would become the young scholar’s beloved mentor.
However, theological storms were on the horizon; not only at Princeton but also in Machen’s personal life. He entered into a dark night of the soul. It was this personal and professional period of crisis that we will examine when next we meet.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 