1952 Bible Conference (Adventist)

Seventh-day Adventist conference in Takoma Park, Maryland, US April 2025 April 2025 December 2013 The 1952 Bible ConferenceCottrell 1985 was a Seventh-day Adventist conference in the Sligo Church in Takoma Park, Maryland from September 1–13, 1952. There were 498 people listed as attending this meeting with worldwide representation (with at least 3 people from every division of the General Conference). From published reports it appears that there were on average 450 people in attendance during the presentations. The Conference was the second major Bible Conference held by Adventists during the twentieth century, and the next major meeting of its kind after the 1919 Bible Conference. According to the then General Conference president, W. H. Branson, these meetings were regarded as "one of the most important meetings in our history."Branson 1952 Reasons for the Conference In 1943, Seventh-day Adventist college bible teachers formed the Bible Research Fellowship. According to Raymond Cottrell, secretary for the fellowship, a misunderstanding of the group's relationship to the church led to its discontinuation and to the "official" 1952 Bible Conference.Cottrell 1978 In the July 1952 issue of Ministry magazine, W. H. Branson, President of the General Conference, listed three reasons for the bible conference:Branson 1952 Since the last conference (1919) a new generation of administrators and bible teachers had come on the scene. The conference was to increase the preaching efficiency of the minister by giving a "new lift to our hearts and minds and spirits." The political, social, economic and religious world had changed over the past decades. "The question that should ever concern us is not whether we have a great and true message but whether we are presenting that message in its true greatness." He spoke against theological conferences where every man sets forth that which is right in his own eyes, and where the distinguishing symbol of the meeting is a question mark. "We have great verities to preach." He said. "The purpose of this Bible conference is to help us all to see how we can present those timeless truths most effectively in these changing times." As the church uses a searchlight to intensely explore and promote the truths it already has, it sees further areas of truth. "That is why we believe that the safe and Scriptural way to advance the message of this movement is by giving first and major attention at this conference to the great truths that have made us a people, and by keeping the searchlight of those truths ever focused forward toward the New Jerusalem. Those who address us will tell us what the searchlight reveals to them of greater depth and distance to the message we have been proclaiming for well over a century." Conference Structure There were 82 presentations with a devotional lecture each day at noon; Sabbath (Saturday) programs were open to the public. The meeting commenced with a communion service on Friday afternoon and a "revival" church service on Sabbath led by the former General Conference (GC) president, J. L. McElhany. The sessions were chaired by the General Conference president, W. H. Branson, and fellow GC Vice-presidents. Planning Committee A planning committee of 23 members asked participants to present. Potential speakers were asked to write up their presentations and submit them to the committee. They were then "preached" (as opposed to reading them). In only a "few" cases were individuals asked to leave things out of their prepared presentations, and most of the suggestions were given to help avoid repetition among presenters. The planning committee consisted of W. H. Branson, L. K. Dickson, E. D. Dick, H. L. Rudy, A. V. Olson, R. R. Figuhr, W. B. Ochs, R. A. Anderson, C. L. Torrey, D. E. Rebok, L. E. Froom, W. A. Spicer, Glenn Calkins, E. E. Cossentine, J. E. Weaver, M. V. Campbell, L. L. Moffitt, T. H. Jemison, W. E. Read, F. D. Nichol, M. L. Rice, F. H. Yost, and C. L. Bauer. Seventh-day Adventist leaders set a goal to double church membership from 1950 to 1953. Therefore, revival was needed among church leaders to help further this evangelistic goal. It was furthermore believed that because a whole new generation of leaders had "come on the scene of action" that they would benefit by a series of revival meetings centered on Bible study. Furthermore, a re-examination of doctrinal positions would help "make sure that they are setting forth the truth in a way that most fully explains the meaning of the times."."Branson 1952 In addition, events surrounding World War II caused Adventist prophetic expositors to re-examine some points of prophetic exposition. Highlights and Analysis Siegfried H. Horn spoke several times at the conference. The year before, he had received a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. He studied briefly under William F. Albright. Two of Horn's presentations have been preserved as audio recordings. He provided a review of archaeological discoveries relevant to the biblical record and reported recent discoveries in both archaeology and palaeography, a few of which he gave eye-witness accounts. In the first of the two published volumes of the conference, fifty-five pages cover his report. Another significant lecture was given by W. E. Read on the topic of Armageddon. His lecture represented a dramatic shift in Adventist eschatology. During and prior to World War II Adventists had interpreted Armageddon as a battle between the Oriental and Western nations. Read argued that the battle of Armageddon was instead a battle between the forces of good and evil. This position has since become an accepted stance in the denomination. Several presentations focused on attacks by Bible critics. According to Francis D. Nichol, one of the leaders of the conference, Adventists needed to take "these very missiles that are so confidently hurled at them . . . [and] even more confidently hurled [them] back at the Bible critic."Nichol 1952 In this light, several presentations focused on recent archaeological discoveries as "evidence for Bible inspiration."."Nichol 1952 Study was also given to the relation of "science to Adventist faith."Nichol 1952 Edward Heppenstall's presentations on the Two Covenants became the normative interpretation on the topic in the denomination to the present day. Heppenstall emphasized the importance of the heart in obeying the Ten Commandments a view taught by Ellen G. White. Early Adventists had tended to emphasize legalism (i.e. "obey and live") and during the early twentieth-century had felt the influence of the dispensationalist view of the covenants (that the old covenant belonged to the Old Testament). Heppenstall re-emphasized the church belief,The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets, by Ellen G. White. Chapter 32: The Law and the Covenants http://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-patriarchs-and-prophets-pp-32.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20141227163212/http://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-patriarchs-and-prophets-pp-32.htm December 27, 2014 live 2014-12-20 mdy Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old http://www.gilead.net/egw/books/manuscript-releases/Manuscript_Releases_Volume_One/index.htm?http&url=www.gilead.net/egw/books/manuscript-releases/Manuscript_Releases_Volume_One/10_The_Covenants.htm 2014-12-20 live https://web.archive.org/web/20141220141032/http://www.gilead.net/egw/books/manuscript-releases/Manuscript_Releases_Volume_One/index.htm?http&url=www.gilead.net/egw/books/manuscript-releases/Manuscript_Releases_Volume_One/10_The_Covenants.htm 2014-12-20 that the old and new covenants are part of an everlasting covenant. Legacy Shortly after the Bible Conference, the Biblical Research Committee was founded by the General Conference.Cottrell 1978 This new organization was created to encourage biblical research and to provide guidance to those who have new biblical ideas.General Conference Committee Minutes 1952 The committee was chaired by W. E. Read until 1956 and became the Biblical Research Institute in 1975.Biblical Research Institute https://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/about-us/ 24 Feb 2024 Seventh-day Adventist Church The 1952 Bible Conference opened the way for new scholarly projects like the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (published 1953–1957) and Problems in Bible Translation (1954).Cottrell 1985 Some contend that it also showcased new biblical and archaeological research that affirmed traditional Adventist beliefs.Campbell 2011 Research The edited transcripts of the 1952 Conference were published as Our Firm Foundation.Our Firm Foundation 1953 In addition, the recordings of the Bible Conference have recently been conserved and digitized at the Loma Linda University Archives & Special Collections. They are also available at Adventist Archives.Audio Recording 1952 See also History of the Seventh-day Adventist church 1888 Minneapolis General Conference 1919 Bible Conference Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventist theology Notes References Campbell Michael W. Adventist Theology Comes of Age Adventist Review 24, 25 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Washington, D.C. http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/MIN/MIN19520701-V25-07__B.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194858/http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/MIN/MIN19520701-V25-07__B.pdf#view=fit dead March 2, 2012 December 2, 2022 2011 http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=240&SortBy=0&ShowDateOrder=True https://web.archive.org/web/20110928100241/http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=240&SortBy=0&ShowDateOrder=True dead September 28, 2011 Audio Recordings of the 1952 Bible Conference September 18, 2011 1952 Audio Recording 1952 Branson W. H. The Bible Conference The Ministry XXV 7 4, 5 Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventists Washington, D.C. http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/MIN/MIN19520701-V25-07__B.pdf#view=fit https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194858/http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/MIN/MIN19520701-V25-07__B.pdf#view=fit dead March 2, 2012 September 16, 2011 July 1952 Cottrell Raymond F. The Bible Research Fellowship: A pioneering Seventh-day Adventist organization in retrospect Adventist Heritage 5 1 41–54 Loma Linda University Library Loma Linda, CA http://archives.llu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/advhert&CISOPTR=595&REC=5 0360-389X September 17, 2011 Raymond Cottrell attended all the meetings of the original Fellowship as well as all the meetings of the Biblical Research Committee dating from 1943 to 1975. Summer 1978 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194914/http://archives.llu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Fadvhert&CISOPTR=595&REC=5 March 2, 2012 dead mdy-all Cottrell Raymond F. The untold story of the Bible Commentary Spectrum 16 3 35–51 Association of Adventist Forums Takoma Park, MD http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive16-20/16-3cottrell.pdf September 16, 2011 August 1985 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110728044652/http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive16-20/16-3cottrell.pdf July 28, 2011 mdy Nichol Francis D. The Bible Conference Review and Herald 129 35 1, 13, 14 Review and Herald Publishing Association Washington, D.C. August 28, 1952 http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH19520828-V129-35__B.pdf#view=fit https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194918/http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH19520828-V129-35__B.pdf#view=fit dead March 2, 2012 September 16, 2011 http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=94&SortBy=0&ShowDateOrder=False Our Firm Foundation DjVu Review and Herald 1953 Our Firm Foundation 1953 April 15, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080503192052/http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=94&SortBy=0&ShowDateOrder=False May 3, 2008 live mdy Two hundred fourth Meeting of the General Conference Committee: Biblical exegesis and research General Conference Committee Minutes 925, 926 September 24, 1952 http://www.adventistarchives.org/search.asp?CatID=2&CatName=General+Conference+Committee+Minutes&Search=%22give+guidance+to+those+who%22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194939/http://www.adventistarchives.org/search.asp?CatID=2&CatName=General+Conference+Committee+Minutes&Search=%22give+guidance+to+those+who%22 dead March 2, 2012 September 16, 2011 General Conference Committee Minutes 1952 External links Frederick Lee. Historic Bible Conference Convenes. Review and Herald. September 25, 1952May 2020 InternetArchiveBot yes Francis D. Nichol. Looking Back on the Bible Conference. Review and Herald. October 23, 1952, p. 10February 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Category:History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Category:Seventh-day Adventist theology Bible Conference, 1952 Category:1952 in Christianity Category:Adventism in the United States