Old Princeton Seminary: 4 Feb 1856--Birthday of Prof. Robert Dick Wilson

4 February 1856. Mr. (Rev. Dr. Prof.) Robert Dick Wilson’s Birth



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Robert Dick Wilson (February 4, 1856 – October 11, 1930) was an American linguist and Presbyterian scholar who devoted his life to prove the reliability of the Hebrew Bible. In his quest to determine the accuracy of the original manuscripts, Wilson learned 45 languages, including Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, as well as all the languages into which the Scriptures had been translated up to 600 AD.

Contents

• 1 Biography
• 2 Works
• 3 See also
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Biography

Wilson was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania. He proved himself an outstanding language student even as an undergraduate. While at Princeton University, he was able to read the New Testament in nine languages. He graduated from Princeton at the age of 20, later receiving a master's degree and doctorate before doing post-graduate work in Germany at the Humboldt University of Berlin. In 1883, Wilson became Professor of the Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary (later known as Pittsburgh Theological Seminary), where he had done some of his graduate studies. In 1900, he returned to Princeton as the William Henry Green Professor of Semitic Languages and Old Testament Criticism at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Throughout his career, he opposed the higher criticism, which held that the Bible was inaccurate on many points and not historically reliable. Professor Wilson wrote, "I have come to the conviction that no man knows enough to attack the veracity of the Old Testament. Every time when anyone has been able to get together enough documentary 'proofs' to undertake an investigation, the biblical facts in the original text have victoriously met the test" (quoted in R. Pache, The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture).



In the late 1920s, he left Princeton to teach at the new, conservative Westminster Theological Seminary. Among his other works, Wilson contributed articles to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a noted Bible reference of the early 20th century.

Works

• Introductory Syriac Method and Manual (New York: Scribners, 1891).
• Elements of Syriac Grammar by an inductive method (New York: Scribners, 1891).
• Notes on Hebrew Syntax (Allegheny: no publisher, 1892).
• The Lower Criticism of the Old Testament as a preparation for the higher criticism (Princeton: C.S. Robinson, 1901).
• A Hebrew Grammar for Beginners (Leipzig: W. Drugulin, 1908).
• The Present State of the Daniel Controversy (New York: Bible Teachers Training School, 1919).
• Is The Higher Criticism Scholarly? (Chicago: Sunday School Times, 1922).
• A Scientific Investigation of the Old Testament (Philadelphia: Sunday School Times, 1926).
• The Radical Criticism of the Psalter (London: Victoria Institute, 1927).
• Studies in the Book of Daniel 2 Vols. (Vol. 1: New York: Putnam, 1917; Vol. 2: New York: Revell, 1938; 2 in 1 vol, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979).
• The Robert Dick Wilson Manuscript Collection. Special Collections, Princeton Theological Seminary Library.

See also

• Christian apologetics (field of study concerned with the defense of Christianity)

References

• Jackson, Wayne. "The Remarkable Robert Dick Wilson." Christian Courier (24 April 2000). Online. Last updated 28 January 2005. Viewed 3 April 2005.
• Allis, Oswald T., "Robert Dick Wilson--Defender of God's Word" Christianity Today, December 1930. Online. Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) Historical Center. Viewed 3 April 2005.
• David B. Calhoun, Princeton Seminary, Vol. 2: The Majestic Testimony 1869-1929 (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1996), pp. 211–212.
• Walter C. Kaiser, "Robert Dick Wilson," in Bible Interpreters of the Twentieth Century: A Selection of Evangelical Voices, Walter A. Elwell and J. D. Weaver, eds., (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999), pp. 73–81. ISBN 0-8010-2073-5

External links

• Is the higher criticism Scholarly? By Robert Dick Wilson, Ph.D., D.D.
• Who's in Charge Here?
• Bibliography of the Writings of Robert Dick Wilson (1856-1930)
• Robert Dick Wilson, from Book of Daniel Study Resources
• Robert Dick Wilson Papers, at the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) Historical Center
• Humorous anecdote about Dr. Robert Dick Wilson, from inSpire (Summer/Fall 2000 issue; Vol. 5 No. 1), the magazine of Princeton Theological Seminary.
• Today in History (February 4) From Concordia Historical Institute, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Brief biography of Robert Dick Wilson

1812, a Very Good Year: Formation of Princeton Seminary

http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2012/08/august-12-princeton-theological-seminary/

Eighteen Twelve was a Very Good Year

It was clear that something had to be done. Princeton College was not being the source any longer for Presbyterian ministers, and for that matter, any ministers. The school had turned into a secular school for careers, like law, politics, and education.

The reason for this was varied, Some saw the problem in the new president, Samuel Stanhope Smith. It wasn’t that he had no qualifications for the presidency. He himself was a graduate of the college. He had started what later became Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. He had tutored under his father-in-law John Witherspoon as the Vice-President of Princeton, when the latter was unable physically to do it. So he had all the academic qualifications.

Of more troublesome however were questions about his lack of Calvinistic distinctives. It seemed that they were in word only as there were suggestions of an emphasis on free will in man plus scientific suggestions in place of supernatural miracles. Add to that a student rebellion, the trustees were beginning to have questions on his ability to solve these challenges in the right way.

With 400 vacant pulpits in the Presbyterian Church, the sentiment began to build for a separate theological seminary separate from Princeton College as early as 1800. By 1805 and 1808, each General Assembly was being besieged with calls for more ministers, on the mission field and in the congregations of the land. An overture to decide what kind of school was sent to the presbyteries. While hardly overwhelming for any one choice, by 1811, over $14,000 had been raised for the prospective seminary. Any professor would have to subscribe to the Westminster Standards, and the Form of Government of Presbyterianism.

On August 12, 1812, while the nation was already at war against Great Britain, people packed the town’s Presbyterian Church for the inauguration of Dr. Archibald Alexander as the first professor of Princeton Theological Seminary. He had been chosen by the General Assembly. He preached his inaugural sermon for the worshipers, including taking his vows regarding the confessional standards and the Presbyterian form of Government. The seminary had begun, with three students. It would soon pick up and begin to send out laborers into the fields, which were white unto harvest.

Words to live by: Every reader of this historical blog should read the fine summary of Dr. David Calhoun’s two-volume work on Princeton Seminary, published by the Banner of Truth Trust in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Filled with persons, places, and events from the founding of the school in 1812 to 1929, when it ceased to be a Reformed biblical seminary, this school was the pillar of orthodoxy for the Presbyterian Church. When we forget the past, we lose hope for the present and the future. When we study the past, we learn how to live in the present and the future. You will not be able to put down the two books. The contributor promises you that!

Faculty of the Princeton Theological Seminary, 1896: G.T. Purves, J.D. Davis, G. Vos, B.B. Warfield, W.B. Greene, Jr., J.H. Dulles, H.W. Smith, F.L. Patton, W.M. Paxton, C. Martin, W.H. Green, J. De Witt.

Theological Assessment of B.B. Warfield

A wonderful blog, "Pilgrimage to Geneva," although these able thinkers miss it when it comes to the Book of Common Prayer. They get much right, but get this point wrong.  Nontheless, this is a blog to follow.

http://pilgrimagetogeneva.com/2012/06/27/theological-assessment-of-b-b-warfield/

Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
2012 Spring Theology Conference
A Commemoration of Princeton 1812 -2012

Theological Assessment of B. B. Warfield Dr. Carl Trueman Professor of Historical Theology and Church History and academic dean/vice president for academic affairs at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. A Commemoration of Princeton 1812 -2012, Benjamin B. Warfield, Calvinism, Confessional, Confessions, Dr. Carl Trueman, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Spring Theology Conference, Old Princeton Seminary, Old School Presbyterian, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Pastoral Ministry, Presbyterian, Princeton Theological Seminary, Ref 21, Reformation 21, Reformed Audio, Reformed Podcasts, Reformed Theology, Theological Assessment of B. B. Warfield, Westminster Standards, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia