Evangelicals Now
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Dr Edmund P Clowney, 1917-2005

Obituary

Edmund P. Clowney was an American evangelical scholar of the highest calibre who had helped many Bible Christians with his joyful and careful expositions of Scripture.

He was born on July 30 1917, and went to be with his Lord on March 20 2005, at the age of 87.

Dr. Clowney has a special place in the story of Evangelicals Now. It was his articles on ‘preaching Christ from the Old Testament’ which were some of the first to be published when EN came into being in 1986. He had been visiting Britain and had given the material at a Saturday conference at Chertsey Street Baptist Church in Guildford, and he graciously agreed that EN could publish the lectures.

Academic life

Born in Philadelphia, Ed received his BA from Wheaton College in 1939, a ThB from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1942, an STM from Yale University Divinity School in 1944, and a DD from Wheaton College in 1966. Ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, he served as pastor of several churches from 1942 to 1946 and was then invited to become assistant professor of practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1952. He became that institution’s first president in 1966, and remained there until 1984, when he took a post as theologian-in-residence at Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1990, Ed and Jean moved to Escondido, California, where Ed was adjunct professor at Westminster Seminary California. In 2001, he took a full-time position as associate pastor at Christ the King Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Houston, Texas. After two years, he moved back to Charlottesville, where he once again became part-time theologian-in-residence at Trinity Presbyterian Church. He remained in this role until his death.

Kingdom dreamer

Ed was a compassionate counsellor; a devoted servant of Jesus Christ, his Word, and his church; a peacemaker; and a true visionary. He dreamed for Christ’s kingdom and was instrumental in the birth or furtherance of such mini-stries as the Reformed Theological Seminary in Aix-en-Provence, France; Westminster Seminary, California; Trinity Church, Charlottesville; the Lausanne Conference; InterVarsity ministries, both in the US and in England; and ‘The Westminster Ministerial Institute’, an inner-city training programme for pastors in Philadelphia, out of which the Lord developed the Center for Urban Theological Studies. He also had a life-long interest in children’s Christian education materials.

Ed will be supremely remembered by many as a preacher, perhaps the most gifted proponent and practitioner of redemptive-historical preaching of this generation. He was unique in his ability to pick up the threads of redemptive history and to weave a rich expositional tapestry that brought Christ in all his perfection and glory before God’s people so that they were drawn to love and worship the Redeemer.

Author of great books

His writing displays the great theme of his life, namely Christ’s presence in the whole of Scripture and his present work in the church. His books include Preaching and Biblical Theology, Called to the Ministry, Christian Meditation, Doctrine of the Church, The Message of 1 Peter, The Unfolding Mystery, and Preaching Christ in all of Scripture. Published by IVP, The Unfolding Mystery is one of the most helpful and stimulating examples of biblical theological exposition. Some of these titles have been translated for the benefit of the worldwide church. His last book, How Christ Transforms the Ten Commandments, was accepted by his publisher only days before his death.

Ed left behind a legacy not only of written books and articles, but a great number of sermons and lectures, as well as magazine columns such as the humour column ‘Eutychus and His Pin’ for Christianity Today and Bible studies for Tabletalk. His sense of humour and love for people left a mark wherever he went. In the last week of his life, one attending nurse, laughing as she left his room, exclaimed: ‘What a sweet man!’ Those who knew and loved him would agree. His tender-hearted encouragement and wisdom will be greatly missed, but his work will be established by his Master who has now welcomed him with those reassuring words: ‘Well-done, good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Lord!’

Dr. Clowney is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean Wright Clowney; by his five children, David, Deborah, Paul, Rebecca Jones, and Anne Foreman; by his 21 grandchildren and his 11 great grandchildren.