The Incredible Scofield and His Book

by Joseph M. Canfield

The Incredible Scofield"Almost everyone knows about the Scofield Reference Bible. But no one before this has worked out a detailed account of the life of Cyrus I. Scofield. And yet here is such an amazing amount of material that should be known about this man that everyone who is at all interested in the dispensational system should read this book.This is a powerful book. The material is well documented. Anyone who gets this book and reads it will find here some amazing things about a man whose book is well known, but whose life we believe concerning many of its most important features has been purposely concealed lest it be found to contradict his teachings.This is one of the most powerful books that has ever been written against the dispensational system. It is powerful because it shows how the book that has had the most to do with promotion of that system, The Scofield Reference Bible, originated. Here is a book that dispensationalists as well as others will do well to read. It is powerful, so powerful we dare say, that if disensationalists would read it carefully, perhaps half of them would turn from that system."-- Loraine Boettner, author of The Atonement and The Millennium.

Genres: Biography, Religion, Christianity, Theology

406 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Paul Sheldon Foote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worse than an Infidel

1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
The Incredible Scofield and His Book by Joseph M. Canfield

Joseph M. Canfield’s thorough, critical review of the legends and historical inaccuracies about Cyrus Scofield and the Scofield Reference Bible (and later editions revised by others) included extensive documentation relating to Scofield’s divorce of his first wife and of his failure to provide for his daughters. Canfield observed that you will not find any Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition) for 1 Timothy 5:8 and for many other verses relating to Scofield’s personal failings. Even worse, Scofield’s notes have promoted dispensationalism and other false teachings used to promote endless wars and the destruction of Christianity.
As a boy, I bought a Scofield Reference Bible because of its cross-referencing system. This system meant that I did not need to carry with me a Bible and a concordance. Luckily, I ignored Scofield’s notes and Ussher dates as being only opinons. Unfortunately, many Christians assumed that anything appearing in a Bible was sacred.
Scofield’s Qualifications

Scofield claimed to have a Doctor of Divinity degree and used the title Dr. Scofield. However, researchers have been unable to verify any studies or any degree. Scofield did not study the languages of the Bible. Born in Michigan, Scofield moved to Tennessee, where he served in the Confederate Army during part of the Civil War (War Between the States). In Kansas, he was a lawyer, a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, and a United States Attorney for Kansas. He spent time in jail for fraud.
Divorce

Scofield’s first wife came from a prosperous fur-trading family. He spent long periods of time away from his wife and daughters. Later, when he decided to enter the ministry, he divorced his Catholic wife and married a woman who attended his church.
Free from the Law by Grace

Instead of advocating a straight and narrow path of moral behavior, Scofield promoted antinomianism. Since people can never be perfect, the saved are free from the law by grace.
Failing Churches

Scofield claimed that Christian churches were failing in a decaying world. However, if there will be a rapture soon, why bother to improve?
Avoid Politics

Even though Scofield had held political positions, he advocated that Christians stay out of politics because the world cannot be converted. While he supported having missionaries, his advocacy was based upon evangelizing, not on ultimate conversions. Powerful political elites will appreciate not having to worry about Christians who stay out of politics.
Rapture

Scofield must have been surprised on his death bed because he claimed to believe in the rapture. He wrote extensive notes about Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Wheat and Tares (weeds, used to refer to wicked people). In this parable, Jesus spoke of burning the tares first and placing the wheat in the barn. Scofield twisted this to meaning set aside the tares for later destruction and take the wheat first. Hal Lindsey and others have sold millions of books based upon Scofield’s notes and other proponents of dispensationalism, such as: The Late Great Planet Earth, The Rapture, and The Everlasting Hatred: The Roots of Jihad.
Millennial Kingdom on Earth

While Scofield promoted the Postponed Kingdom theory, he provided few notes to the Bible to support the theory. Jesus disappointed those who wanted a Messiah to rule the world. Canfield critiqued the theory that Jesus will return to impose political or theocratic rule for 1,000 years and yet many will choose not to believe during that period.
Scofield’s Expensive Lifestyle

Canfield documented Scofield’s earnings as a minister and his royalties. Scofield could not have made trips to Europe and have lived in several homes on his income. Scofield was a member of The Lotos Club in New York City. Neither his wealth nor his literary achievements were similar to those of other members of this expensive club. Hopefully, future researchers will be able to discover the sources and the agenda of those who promoted the works of Scofield.
Peace or Endless Wars?

Scofield’s views ranged from having a world government and world police to Armageddon prospects for endless wars.
Words Have Consequences

Canfield provided detailed explanations of the errors and omissions in an earlier book about Scofield (The Life Story of C. I. Scofield by Charles Gallaudet Trumbull), a thesis, and in articles. Charles Carlson has posted more recent critiques of Scofield and of the Scofield Reference Bible. After comparing these sources, readers will be able to decide whether Scofield rightly divided the word of truth:
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

[Scott Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canfield brings research, source material and documentation to bear to show that Scofield's character was severely lacking. The man was a fraud, deceptive, and lacking in character. His work in light of that is questionable. One comes away with the impression that Scofield and con-man Joseph Smith of Latter Day Saint's infamy would have been great partners in crime.

Others have commented on Canfield's opining judgments regarding some of Scofield's theology, perhaps I did not pick up on those as quickly but they are present. Ultimately, Canfield rightly estimates the devastating nature of Scofield's theology. This is a very eye-opening book. I dare my dispensationalist friends to read it.

[Nathan Battey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A no-holds barred approach to one of the more famous and obscure figures in Evangelical history over the past 150 years. Canfield meticulously documents the movements and facts of Scofield’s life and contrasts the facts with the legends. The result is not flattering to say the least. Scofield appears to have been a crooked individual from pillar to post. If only more people knew the real Scofield maybe his study Bible wouldn’t have such an impact. But then again, as Canfield points out repeatedly, many don’t appear to care about the facts anyway.

[Scootsmagoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather thorough expose on a “father” of dispensationalist/pre-millenarian eschatology, which is prominent in the United States, and has been imposed through the foreign policy of the United States quite frequently in wars being fought for Israel. I only deducted stars from my review of this biography as I didn’t find the writing to be particularly engaging, and I thought some of the conclusions to be a bit too opinionated. However, to learn that the creator of the Scofield Reference Bible is a deadbeat dad, abandoning his first two daughters from his first marriage, leaving them nothing from his ample estate, and even neglecting to leave anything from his estate to support the Christian movement he ostensibly supported for reasons beyond profit was rather surprising, although perhaps this revelation (pun unintended) shouldn’t have been. This book also left me wanting to read more on “The Secret Six”, an apparent ensemble of financially well-endowed individuals from Boston who perniciously and unscrupulously funded the hardcore abolitionist movement, including John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry along with the Bleeding Kansas skirmishes leading up to the Civil War. I’d known nothing about that!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story most Dispensational Christians have no knowledge of, despite Scofield having such an outsized impact on what modern Christians believe.

Scofield was, for most of his life, a common con man. He lied as it suited his purposes. And his behavior both before and after his conversion don't reflect the Christian life.

To the point, he abandoned his first wife and children and never provided any child support to them. He dated another woman while still married to the first. He eventually married this second woman and had a child with her also.

Later, when one of the daughters from his first marriage needed financial help, he pretended he had no money despite large royalties from the Scofield Reference Bible. Etc.

Ultimately, family was always secondary to Scofield's aspiration to fame and fortune.

Scofield reminds me of another religious con man, namely Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism.

I wish the author had been clearer about who comprised "The Brethren" and what their motives might have been for funding Scofield's work. Canfield alludes to some connections, but never plainly states what he thinks. Maybe that's because he wanted to stick to facts as much as possible. (Previous biographical work on Scofield is riddled with inaccuracies.)

I give this book 4 stars for the content it contains, but 3 stars for writing style. So maybe a 3.5 overall. If you have any interest in learning more about the man who popularized Dispensational ideas like "the Rapture," read this book.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is important. While Canfield is clearly not a trained writer, he is a talented researcher. Driven by his convictions, he explores the historical record on Cyrus Scofield, a man who was more than a little bit a confidence man. He also happened to become famous for his minimal and dispensationalist notes in what was to become the Scofield Reference Bible. Somewhat unaccountably published by Oxford University Press, the Scofield Reference Bible deeply influenced evangelicalism in America. It can be plausibly stated that this book has influenced the outcome of elections in the United States and helped give birth to the Tea Party. It can also be said that Scofield held no degree, abandoned his wife and daughters, drank heavily, and had a penchant for self-promotion. This character went on to be one of the most influential Fundamentalists of the past century, without having any credentials to his name. This book should be read and shared widely. And scholars should perhaps be writing a more polished account for the sake of society.

A few more thought on this book appear here: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Ya Ling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like for him to write one about Darby as well.

[John Barbour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Canfield has tackled a very interesting subject with some good and useful research but I have to only give it 3 stars because it is not very readable.

This should have been two books. The first one would cover the common misconceptions regarding Scofield as held by many Dispensationalists, Trumbull, and even Who's Who. This book would be written in logical order covering the salient points with historical documentation and proof.

The second book would be a readable, flowing narrative of Scofield's life based on this corrected view.