- Arthur Cushman McGiffert
Arthur Cushman McGiffert (
March 4 ,1861 - 1933), American theologian, was born inSauquoit, New York , the son of aPresbyterian clergyman of Scots-Irish descent.He graduated at
Western Reserve College in 1882 and at Union Theological Seminary in 1885, studied inGermany (especially under Harnack) in 1885-1887, and in Italy and France in 1888, and in that year received the degree of doctor of philosophy at Marburg. He was instructor (1888-1890) and professor (1890 1893) of church history atLane Theological Seminary , and in 1893 became Washburn professor of church history in Union theological seminary, succeeding Dr Philip Schaff. He became the 8th president of Union Seminary in 1917.His published work, except occasional critical studies in philosophy, dealt with church history and the history of
dogma . His best known publication is a "History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age" (1897). This book, which sustains critical historical eminence to this day, by its independent criticism and departures from traditionalism, aroused the opposition of the General Assembly of thePresbyterian Church ; though the charges brought against McGiffert were dismissed by the Presbytery of New York, to which they had been referred, a trial forheresy seemed inevitable, and McGiffert, in 1900, retired from the Presbyterian ministry and retained his credentialed status by eager recognition from aCongregational Church . Likewise he retained his distinguished position at Union Theological Seminary."A History of Christian Thought" constituted a two volume work (1932, 1933) which established an American standard in theological studies and is still cited regularly by scholars. Among his other publications are: "A Dialogue between a Christian and a Jew" (1888); a translation (with introduction and notes) of Eusebius's "Church History" (1890); and "The Apostle's Creed" (1902), in which he attempted to prove that the old Roman creed was formulated as a protest against the
dualism of Marcion and his denial of the reality ofJesus 's life on earth.----ee also
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Heresy in the 20th Century
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