The Presbyterian Guardian The Puritan Board

The Presbyterian Guardian was a monthly conservative Presbyterian magazine. Founded by conservative theologian John Gresham Machen in 1935, it acted as the de facto publication of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, whose members made up most of its readership, despite being officially unaffiliated with... In 1979, it merged with The Presbyterian Journal, which had a significantly larger circulation and similar conservative theological stances.[1] On 7 October 1935, Rev. John Gresham Machen established The Presbyterian Guardian to serve as the voice of conservative Presbyterianism in the United States, the main denomination of which, the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, had... James T.

Dennison Jr., compiler of a cumulative index to the magazine, wrote that The Presbyterian Guardian was "conceived in controversy."[2] Machen had been encountering significant theological disagreements with Dr. Samuel G. Craig, editor of Christianity Today (1930–1949) (not to be confused with Christianity Today, the magazine founded in 1956). In response to perceived modernism in the magazine, Machen began publishing The Guardian with a small group of conservative ministers and laymen, hiring Rev. H. McAllister Griffiths as the first Editor.[2]

The magazine saw eight more editors during its tenure, including Machen himself, as well as Revs. Ned Stonehouse, Charles Woodbridge, and Paul Woolley. Machen's name was proudly displayed on the masthead of the magazine from January 1938 until 1979, reading: "J. Gresham Machen, Editor 1936-37." In April 1978, the Board of Trustees asked J. Cameron Fraser, a native Scot who was then a graduate student at Westminster Seminary to take the position of Managing Editor for 14 months while they contemplated the newspaper's future.

On 30 August 1979, the Board voted to merge The Presbyterian Guardian with The Presbyterian Journal. Fraser's term as Managing Editor was extended into autumn and the final issue was published in October 1979. The Presbyterian Journal ceased publication in 1987, and in the same year the magazine World was created by Joel Belz. World, unlike its predecessor, is not explicitly Presbyterian, but of the same conservative Protestant slant.[3] The following made up the last Board of Trustees of The Presbyterian Guardian: The historical, theological, and cultural differences between Presbyterians and Puritans go beyond simple distinctions.

Both emerged as reform movements during the Protestant Reformation, yet their interpretations of church governance, worship, and societal roles set them apart. While Presbyterians established a structured denomination with a defined leadership hierarchy, Puritans focused on reforming the Church of England, eventually influencing the development of Congregationalist traditions. This detailed breakdown provides a balanced view, making it easy to understand for beginners while offering deeper insights for intermediate readers. Understanding the differences between Presbyterians and Puritans requires looking at their historical roots. Their development was shaped by theological convictions, political struggles, and cultural movements that played out across Scotland, England, and America. Presbyterianism finds its foundation in the teachings of John Calvin, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation.

Calvin’s emphasis on predestination, divine sovereignty, and a structured church government deeply influenced the Scottish Reformer John Knox, who carried Calvinist ideas to Scotland. By the mid-16th century, the Church of Scotland adopted Presbyterianism, rejecting the Anglican and Catholic hierarchies. This marked a fundamental shift in how the church was governed. Instead of bishops, the Presbyterian Church placed authority in the hands of elders and assemblies. I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion on Danny Olinger’s excellent biography of Geerhardus Vos at the Presbyterian Scholars Conference, held at Harbor House, Wheaton College, on Autumn By Geerhardus Vos Translated by Daniel Ragusa Still lingers golden autumn, still stand harvest colors,Ripening in field, still roams through woods and gardensA lovely postlude of summer’s most pleasant

Summer By Geerhardus Vos Translated by Daniel Ragusa Though thousands of signs do brimThat he the land has graced,How shall I ever find him?Where do his footsteps haste?What tidings, O Introduction Richard Burnett’s Machen’s Hope: The Transformation of a Modernist in the New Princeton represents an ambitious effort to offer a fresh perspective on a significant Presbyterian figure—one who is In 1936, at the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America—later renamed the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC)—official greetings were received from the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church The Puritan Board is a forum dedicated to the discussion of Christian theology in a Confessionally Reformed context. We are dedicated to our historic Creeds and Confessions because we believe they are faithful to the Scriptures.

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