After sixty-five years of ordained ministry and studying and teaching the Scriptures around the world, I am convinced that C. I. Scofield was taken in by an immense deception that he unwittingly believed and included in his Bible notes to the detriment of all who believe in them.
If the Church is to be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone, then the presumptions and errors of the Scofield Reference Bible must be exposed. We are not his judge. But concerning the Scriptures, we are compelled to judge, 1Th 5:21. We are publishing this booklet that others might be able to know the facts as we have found them to be.
The Weston Study Bible is now on the market. Using the King James Version (KJV) text, it includes the notes Charles Weston pre- pared after thousands of hours of comparing Scripture with Scripture to show how the New Testament writers interpreted the Old Testament. This is a work of great integrity and exposes Scofield's errors and any other heresies. It is available at Christian book stores.
It is incredible that only one book has been written about one of the most influential men in Evangelical history. That book is "The Life Story of C. I. Scofield" by Charles Trumbull, Oxford University Press, New York, 1920. In 1960, William BeVier, a Master's student at Southern Methodist University, completed a thesis, "A Biographical Sketch of C. I. Scofield." This has not been published, but it is found in some Evangelical school libraries and contains important information. In 1942-43, the late Arno Gaebelein wrote a series of articles for Moody Monthly, "The Story of the Scofield Reference Bible."
Until 1984, these were the only sources offered by Evangelicals for material on the life and credentials of their most prominent Bible teacher whose notes have influenced the church and changed its direction. Thorough research was begun in 1984 by Joseph M. Canfield to compile his book, The Incredible Scofield. His information was gleaned from many sources. Genealogical data was supplied by Ruth Scofield Kennedy from a branch of the Scofield clan.
Other records come from:
University of Michigan Historical Society.
Episcopal Historical Society.
Encyclopedia of the History of St. Louis
Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis.
Kansas Historical Society.
U.S. Department of Justice, National Archives.
U.S. Census for Michigan 1869, Lenawee County.
U.S. Census for Tennessee, Wilson County.
Confederate Research Center.
City Directories, court records, newspaper articles of the period, both American and British, ship sailings, etc. Information was obtained from the papers of Emeline Papin's Estate, Cyrus' sister, on file in St. Louis County Courthouse, Clayton, Missouri. Some facts were gleaned from Laura Scofield Lames, another sister, St. Louis Directory, 1877, public libraries, and many other sources too numerous to mention.
Canfield did a masterful job of searching out the material for his book, which may be obtained from J. M. Canfield, 129 Kyfields, Weaverville, N.C. 28887. He gave me permission to write a condensed version.