Background

Charles Erdmanwas was born in Fayetteville, New York. He was the son of the Reverend William Jacob Erdman and Henrietta Rosenbury. His father was a Presbyterian minister and participant in the Bible Conference movement.

Education

During Erdman's pastorate in Jamestown, New York from 1878 to 1885, Charles joined the Presbyterian Church and received his preparatory education privately at home most of the time. He then enrolled at Princeton University, called the College of New Jersey back at the time, graduating in 1886 with a Bachelor of Arts.

At the time, Erdman was an Instructor at the Franklin School of Germantown, Pennsylvania, but returned to Princeton in 1887 to study at Princeton Theological Seminary. He traveled abroad between his last two years and earned his Seminary Degree and his Ministerial License and Ordination in 1891.

Charles Erdman received a Doctor of Divinity degree from the College of Wooster in 1912, a Doctor of Laws degree from Davidson Colledge in 1924, and the Doctor of Divinity degree from Princeton University in 1925.

Career

Charles Erdman started his career as a Schoolteacher in Germantown, which is now a part of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later he became an Ordained Presbyterian Minister in 1891 and was a Pastor at Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pensylvania, from 1891 to 1897, and at the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Pensylvania, from 1897 to 1905. In 1906 Erdman accepted the newly created Chair of Practical Theology at the Princeton Theological Seminary. He worked on his post until 1936.

The same Bible Conference crowds that had gathered to hear Charles Erdman's father eagerly attended his services too. Erdman's most prestigious position was as a Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton, which is now called the Nassau Presbyterian Church, from 1924 to 1934. He also maintained his position at the seminary. Partly because of his inclusivist views and gentle spirit, in 1925 he became a Moderator at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Erman also was a President of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in 1926.

Achievements

• During his life, Erdman preached over ten thousand sermons. He also produced thirty-five books, most of which were expositions of books of the Bible; like his sermons, they were clear and flowing essays written in a loving spirit and designed to both edify and instruct. Many of his New Testament works were translated into other languages.

Works

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  • The Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians

    (These two brief letters are of profound interest to all w...)

    1935
  • The Book of Numbers

    (The Book of Numbers is much more than a muster roll of th...)

    1952
  • The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians

    (This is one of a set of 17 New Testament Commentaries. It...)

    1929
  • The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians

    (Expository commentary on Galatians. Biblical text is the ...)

    1930
  • The Gospel of John 1917
  • The Gospel of Mark 1917
  • The General Epistles 1918
  • The Acts 1919
  • The Gospel of Matthew 1920
  • The Gospel of Luke 1921
  • Within the Gateways of the Far East 1922
  • The Return of Christ 1922
  • The Work of the Pastor 1924
  • The Lord we Love 1924
  • The spirit of Christ 1926
  • D. L. Moody His Message for To-Day, Does the Modern World Need His Evangelism? 1928
  • Paul's Hymn of Love 1928
  • The First epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 1928
  • The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians 1931
  • Epistle of Paul to the Philippians 1932
  • The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon 1933
  • The Epistle to the Hebrews 1934
  • The Revelation of John 1936
  • The Book of Exodus 1949
  • The Book of Genesis 1950
  • The Book of Leviticus 1951
  • The Book of Deuteronomy 1953
  • The Pentateuch 1953
  • The Book of Isaiah 1954
  • The Books of Jeremiah and Lamentations 1955
  • The book of Ezekiel 1956
  • Remember Jesus Christ 1958

Religion

When standing for moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, Erdman declared, "I have always been a Fundamentalist in my beliefs... The platform on which I stand is that of oldfashioned orthodoxy and Christian spirit..."

Views

Despite his theological views, Erdman favored a denomination and seminary that would accommodate a liberal as well as an orthodox Christianity. For him, organizational disunity represented a greater threat than theological heterodoxy.

Personality

While his At Princeton, Erdman was very popular with the ministerial students, who appreciated his clear exposition, inspiration, wit, and personal concern. The skills that made him effective as a teacher also characterized his preaching - his sermons were lucid, engaging, and practical.

Connections

Charles Erdman married Mary Estelle Pardee on June 1, 1892. They had four children: Calvin Pardee, Mary Pardee, Charles R. Erdman Junior, Alice Pardee.

Father:

William Jacob Erdman

Mother:

Henrietta Erdman

Wife:

Mary Estelle Pardee

Son:

Calvin Pardee

Daughter:

Mary Pardee

Son:

Charles R. Erdman Junior

Daughter:

Alice Pardee

References

• Prominent Families of New Jersey