Noted evangelical theologian Carl Henry dead at 90

WATERTOWN, Wisc. — Carl F.H. Henry, one of the leading evangelical theologians of the 20th century and founding editor of Christianity Today, died Dec. 7 at his home in Watertown, Wis. Henry’s credits also include the co-founding of Fuller Theological Seminary. He was 90.

His book, “The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism,” published in 1947 is considered instrumental in bringing Christians out of the fundamentalist movement of the first half of the 20th century. It arrived at a time when Billy Graham’s influence as a national evangelist was also emerging.

Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, said many people believe that the duo of Henry and Billy Graham helped spark a wave of evangelicalism that has lasted for four decades.

“Carl Henry will never be replaced,” Colson said in a news release. “He was a man God raised up for a particular time to do a mighty work. Others will come along, but they will not be Carl Henrys.

“Those of us who were privileged to know and serve with Carl Henry will sorely miss this gentle, wise, and devoted man—not only for the broad influence he had on the Christian world as a whole, but also for the very personal influence he had on our individual lives. We honor his memory by recommitting ourselves to faithfully serve our risen Savior.”

According to the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Web site, where Henry served and taught, the theologian was born in 1913, the same year that Northern was founded. As a young adult Henry was a journalist, working at the Smithtown Star and The New York Times.

After becoming a Christian, Henry walked away from his journalism career to pursue a life in ministry. He entered Illinois’ Wheaton College in the fall of 1935 where he met classmate Billy Graham. While at Wheaton, Henry completed both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree. He earned his divinity degree from Northern Baptist in 1942.

While still a Northern student, Henry helped launch the National Association of Evangelicals, serving on its board. While earning his doctorate at Boston University, Henry taught theology at Northern. After establishing Fuller Seminary in 1947 and serving as its dean, Henry accepted a job offer by Graham to be founding editor of his fledgling magazine Christianity Today.

“He was an intellectual giant who had the mind of a scholar and a heart for the church,” Northern President Dr. Charles Moore said in a news release. “For Dr. Henry, the pursuit of truth was never merely an intellectual exercise that was performed for the mere sake of inquiry; it was always a path to take in an effort to equip the church to do the work of the ministry for the glory of Christ. He was one of the best practicing theologians that the evangelical community has ever known.”

Henry became professor of theology at Eastern Baptist Seminary in 1969 and visiting professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1971. Three years later he served at various times as lecturer-at-large for World Vision International and Prison Fellowship Ministries.

In 1983, he published his six-volume work, “God, Revelation and Authority,” in which he explored the balance between religious knowledge and the doctrine and revelation of God.

He was a sought-after speaker for conferences, lectures and other events.

“I regarded him not only as an invaluable personal mentor, but as one of the towering figures of our age,” Colson said. “He will be singularly remembered as the man who led the evangelical movement out of its wilderness and brought it into the 20th century.”

Published by Keener Communications Group, January 2004

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