C. I. Scofield
An American minister whose reference Bible became the defining textbook for a generation of fundamentalist Christians.
1843–1921 (age 78)·American theologian, minister and writer·Birthday: August 19
Biography
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield's life was a tale of dramatic transformation. Before his ministry, he worked as a lawyer and served in the Confederate army, a past he rarely discussed. A profound conversion experience in the 1870s set him on a new path. Though lacking formal theological training, he became a compelling preacher and a driven writer. His monumental work, the 'Scofield Reference Bible', published in 1909, was not just a scripture but a system of belief. Its extensive footnotes and cross-references packaged and popularized a specific interpretation known as dispensationalism—a view that divides history into distinct periods of God's covenant and predicts a premillennial rapture. This Bible became a cornerstone of 20th-century American fundamentalism, shaping the theology of countless believers, pastors, and institutions, and its influence echoes powerfully in modern evangelical thought.
#1 When C. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1843
C.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1843Born
1848Started school
1856Became a teenager
1859Could drive
1861Could vote
President: Abraham Lincoln
1864Turned 21
President: Abraham Lincoln
1873Turned 30
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1883Turned 40
President: Chester A. Arthur
1893Turned 50
World's Columbian Exposition dazzles Chicago
President: Grover Cleveland
1903Turned 60
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Turned 70
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Died at 78
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
Key Achievements
- Published the immensely influential 'Scofield Reference Bible' in 1909, which sold millions of copies.
- His work systematized and popularized dispensationalist theology among Protestant fundamentalists in America.
- Was a founding figure and key correspondent of the Niagara Bible Conference, which helped define fundamentalist doctrine.
Did You Know?
He served as a private in the 7th Missouri Infantry for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
He was granted a pardon for a forgery conviction in Kansas, an episode from his pre-conversion life.
Despite his massive influence, he never attended seminary or received formal theological education.
He was a close associate of evangelist D.L. Moody and worked with his Bible institute.
“The Bible is not a book of science, but when it speaks on scientific subjects it speaks with absolute accuracy.”
