Biblical Psychology - Chambers, Oswald
A Series of Preliminary Studies
Oswald Chambers
Introduction
Source
These lectures were given at the bible training col- lege, london, during 1911.1
. Publication history as articles: in gods revivalist magazine, march 1911january 1912.
. As a book: published in 1912 by gods revivalist press, Cincinnati, Ohio.
. Mrs. Chambers reprinted the book in Britain in 1921 and issued a second edition (revised) in 1936. In the years following, various editions were published in Britain and the u. S.
Oswald and biddy spent their honeymoon in America during the summer of 1910. As they traveled to oswalds speaking engagements at camp meetings in Ohio, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Maine, they often pondered what god had in store for them. Two dreams that fired oswalds imagination were a collaboration together in publishing and a shared minis- try through a residential bible training college. When they returned to Britain in September, they faced a full schedule of league of prayer classes in Manchester, Blackpool, and stokeontrent. Instead of preaching or lecturing, Oswald had decided to teach, requiring study and participation from the students. The topic for the classes was biblical psychology.
During the next few years, the biblical psychology material was used for correspondence courses, evening classes, and a core class at the bible training college. Biblical psychology is one of only three Oswald chambers books compiled and printed before his death. The other two are studies in the sermon on the mount (1915) and baffled to fight better (1917). Prefatory and introductory remarks to the earlier editions of biblical psychology are included on the fol- lowing pages.
Chambers use of atoms and molecules in chapter 18, the mundane universe, it may appear to the modern reader that chambers had his atoms and molecules mixed up, but a look at an earlier
Edition of this book reveals that he understood both modern and ancient science. The 1920 edition of biblical psychology read:
Away in the earlier days, when the Greeks tried to explain the material world, they said it was made of atoms, then down the ages they found they could split up the atoms, and they called those split-up elements molecules, then they found they could split up the molecules, and that the split-up molecules were made of electrons, then they discovered that the electron is like a solar system, and that behind it all is force.
In ocs 1911 lectures at the bible training college, he was referring to the Greek understanding of science during the fifth century b. C. , specifically their theory of atomism. The atomists believed that the basic elements of reality were atomsindivisible and indestructible particles of matter. In this case, a slight revision of the text made in 1936 to increase clarity resulted in some confusion for a later generation of readers. Chambers understanding of atomic theory, within the limits of his day, is revealed in this statement from baffled to fight better, lectures given in Egypt in 1917: again, the atomic theory was thought to be the key; then it was discovered that the atom itself was composed of electrons, and each electron was found to be a universe of its own, and that theory too becomes a lock and not a key.
Prefatory note
(1st Edition)
This book is compiled from verbatim reports of my lectures on biblical psychology, delivered at the bible training college, 45, north side, clap ham common, London, during 1911. The reports were taken by my wife and sent on to the editors of the revivalist who now, out of the generosity of their hearts, are publishing them in book form. May this introduction to the study of biblical psychology stir up the minds of the saints, lest satan as an angel of light in stil error (2 peter 1:1213).
1912, Oswald chambers
Introduction to the 1920 edition
This book was originally published in America in 1912. That edition is now exhausted, and a second one has been found necessary. The book was used as a text book at the evening study classes held in the y. M. C. A. , zeitoun, Egypt, 2 after my husband had entered into life. Numbers of the men found it a great stimulus to the study of gods word, and realised the need to bring their thinking into line with the living spirit of god. That god may continue to use the book to this end in many other lives is our prayer in sending out this new edition.
B. Chambers
London, 1920
Preface to the 2 nd edition (1936)
This is a revised edition of a very remarkable book. The first edition of biblical psychology was compiled from reports of lectures on that subject, given by Oswald chambers at the bible training college, London. It was used as a textbook at the evening study classes at the y. M. C. A. , zeitoun, Egypt, after Mr. Chambers entered into life in November 1917; and another edition was published later on. The book ended with these lines by the author himself, the whole book is merely a verbatim report of the lectures, and we have decided to let it go for what it is worth a mere effort to arouse the average christian worker to study the wealth of scripture, and to become better equipped for dividing the word of truth. This new edition has been most carefully revised in the direction of increased lucidity and concentration of statement. It is a great book, and presents the bible psychology of profound thinkers like delitzsch and beck and others, through the media of modern psychological expressions. It is based so surely on scripture that the homeliest mind who studies the word of god can follow it. Yet there are also depths of thought in it for minds of finest training. It is a treasure of wealth for every kind of christian worker, helping them to understand their own psychological experiences, and enabling them to present the truth of god effectively to many minds perplexed by moral problems of their own inner life of feeling, thought, and will.
David Lambert
Contents
I. Man: His Creation, Calling and Communion ………………….. 137
II. Man: His Creation, Calling and Communion
Man’s Making ………………………………………………………………. 140
III. Man: His Creation, Calling and Communion
Man’s Unmaking …………………………………………………………… 142
IV. Man: His Creation, Calling and Communion
Readjustment by Redemption ……………………………………………. 146
V. Soul: The Essence, Existence and Expression …………………… 150
VI. Soul: The Essence, Existence and Expression
Fundamental Powers of the Soul………………………………………… 153
VII. Soul: The Essence, Existence and Expression
Fleshly Presentation of the Soul …………………………………………. 157
VIII. Soul, The Essence, Existence and Expression
Past, Present and Future of the Soul …………………………………… 161
IX. Heart: The Radical Region of Life ………………………………….. 166
X. Heart: The Radical Region of Life
The Radiator of Personal Life …………………………………………… 169
XI. Heart: The Radical Region of Life
The Radiator of Personal Life (continued) …………………………… 173
XII. Heart: The Radical Region of Life
The Rendezvous of Perfect Life………………………………………….. 176
XIII. Ourselves: I; Me; Mine
Ourselves as “Knower.” I the “Ego” …………………………………….. 182
XIV. Ourselves: I; Me; Mine
Ourselves as “Known.” “Me”……………………………………………… 186
XV. Ourselves: I; Me; Mine
Ourselves as “Ourselves.” “Self ” ………………………………………….. 191
XVI. Ourselves: I; Me; Mine
Ourselves and Conscience …………………………………………………. 195
XVII. Spirit: The Domain and Dominion of Spirit
Process of the Trinity……………………………………………………….. 200
XVIII. Spirit: The Domain and Dominion of Spirit
Mundane Universe …………………………………………………………. 204
XIX. Spirit: The Domain and Dominion of Spirit
Man’s Universe ……………………………………………………………… 208
XX. Spirit: The Domain and Dominion of Spirit
Man’s Universe (continued) ……………………………………………… 212