Luther Rice Journal of Christian Studies
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C. I. Scofield: Villain or Vilified? His Multifaceted Influence on American Culture1 Introduction On the Acknowledgements page of the book Progressive Covenantalism, the authors write “‘Always reforming’ is necessary as we seek to bring all of our thoughts captive to God’s Word, but we also realize that when treasured theological systems are questioned, resistance is often experienced.”2 If one fast-tracks back in time to 1909, an ex-Confederate soldier, alcoholic, lawyerturned-minister-theologian by the name of Cyrus Scofield shook the theological world even to this very day by questioning the status quo of the Christian Church which had been held since the second century, even though it was not his intention to do so. The dominant consensus of the church was known as “supersessionism,” a belief that the Christian Church has “superseded” or replaced the Jews in God’s program. Supersessionism is in the DNA of church theology. Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921) is most recognized for the dissemination of dispensationalism in The Scofield Reference Bible.3 Anyone who undertakes to compile the life
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Tim Skinner is Assistant Professor of Bible, Theology, and Apologetics at Luther Rice College & Seminary. Professor Skinner has been associated with Luther Rice College and Seminary since 1997. His area of interest is eschatology, Israel, and Jewish studies. Professor Skinner grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and has been teaching the Bible since 1991 in Atlanta-area colleges. He is currently enrolled at Liberty University and is a member of First Baptist Church Jonesboro. 2
Stephen J. Wellum, Brent E. Parker, Progressive Covenantalism (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2016), ix. 3
Originally published as The Scofield Reference Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1909, 1917), the title was changed to The Scofield Study Bible. “Except for this change of
