Merrill C. Tenney
Encyclopedia
Merrill Chapin Tenney was an American professor of Old Testament
and Greek and author of several books. He was the general editor of the Zondervan
Pictorial Bible Dictionary, and served on the original translation team for the New American Standard Bible
, to Wallace Fay Tenney and Lydia Smith Goodwin. He earned his Th.B.
from Gordon College of Theology and Missions
(1927), his A.M.
from Boston University
(1930), and his Ph.D.
in Biblical and Patristic Greek from Harvard University (1944). He briefly served as pastor of Storrs Avenue Baptist Church in Braintree, Massachusetts
(1926–1928), before joining the faculty at Gordon College. Tenney was professor of New Testament and Greek until moving to Wheaton College
in 1943, where he would eventually become dean of the graduate school in 1945. He married Helen Margaret Jaderquist (1904–1978) in 1930, and together they had two sons, Robert Wallace and Philip Chapin.
Tenney was Dr. Henry Clarence Thiessen's chosen associate and (accordingly) an advocate of fundamentalism.
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and Greek and author of several books. He was the general editor of the Zondervan
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :...
Pictorial Bible Dictionary, and served on the original translation team for the New American Standard Bible
New American Standard Bible
The New American Standard Bible , also informally called New American Standard Version , is an English translation of the Bible....
Background and education
Tenney was born in 1904 in Chelsea, MassachusettsChelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
, to Wallace Fay Tenney and Lydia Smith Goodwin. He earned his Th.B.
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
from Gordon College of Theology and Missions
Gordon College (Massachusetts)
Gordon College is a liberal arts college located on the former Princemere estate in Wenham, Massachusetts, northeast of Beverly. Founded by Baptist minister A. J...
(1927), his A.M.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
(1930), and his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Biblical and Patristic Greek from Harvard University (1944). He briefly served as pastor of Storrs Avenue Baptist Church in Braintree, Massachusetts
Braintree, Massachusetts
The Town of Braintree is a suburban city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law. The population was 35,744...
(1926–1928), before joining the faculty at Gordon College. Tenney was professor of New Testament and Greek until moving to Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
in 1943, where he would eventually become dean of the graduate school in 1945. He married Helen Margaret Jaderquist (1904–1978) in 1930, and together they had two sons, Robert Wallace and Philip Chapin.
Tenney was Dr. Henry Clarence Thiessen's chosen associate and (accordingly) an advocate of fundamentalism.
Selected publications
- John: The Gospel of Belief (1948, 1997) ISBN 0802843514
- Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty (1957, 1989) ISBN 0802804497
- Interpreting Revelation (1957, 1988) ISBN 0802804217
- New Testament Survey (1961, 1985) ISBN 0802836119
- Zondervan's Pictorial Bible Dictionary, with J. D. Douglas (1964, 1988) ISBN 031023560X
- New Testament Times (1967, 2001) ISBN 1565636570