Posted on 07/01/2019 7:29:05 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Apologist, prolific author, and theology professor Norman Geisler has passed away at age 86, about two months after he retired from Southern Evangelical Seminary over undisclosed health issues.
The Norman Geisler Ministry Page on Facebook announced Monday that he died peacefully earlier that morning, twenty days shy of his 87th birthday.
“He has left behind an amazing legacy that will continue to have a ripple effect for many years to come,” they stated. “We will be sending you further details today as to where the funeral will be and it will be open to the public.”
In the announcement, the ministry also asked for prayers for Geisler’s family, noting that funeral services will be held on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Born on July 21, 1932 in Warren, Michigan, Geisler graduated from Wheaton College in 1958 with a bachelor of arts in philosophy, received a master’s in theology from Wheaton Graduate School in 1960, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago in 1970.
Geisler often participated in academic debates and wrote extensively on topics like creation and evolution, humanistic ethics, sexual morality, and the existence of God.
“Norm has authored or co-authored over 100 books and hundreds of articles. He has taught theology, philosophy, and apologetics on the college or graduate level for over 50 years,” noted an entry on his website.
“He has served as a professor at some of the finest Seminaries in the United States, including Trinity Evangelical Seminary, Dallas Seminary, and Southern Evangelical Seminary.”
In 1992, Geisler co-founded Southern Evangelical Seminary along with evangelist and former Calvary Church pastor Ross Rhoads, who passed away in 2017.
“Pastor Rhoads’ burden for evangelism and Professor Geisler’s concern to defend the historic Christian Faith combined in the two-fold vision of the seminary to evangelize the world and to defend the historic Christian Faith,” explained SES.
“The Seminary grew rapidly, attracting students from all over the United States and several other countries; from the beginning it attracted national attention by its unique program in evangelism and classical apologetics. In 1995 the first graduate received his degree.”
In late April, SES announced that Geisler was retiring from his teaching position at the seminary due to undisclosed health problems.
SES President Richard Land, who also serves as executive editor of The Christian Post, said in the press release after his retirement that Geisler was “the pre-eminent Christian apologist of the past half-century.”
“If they ever construct a Christian apologists’ Mount Rushmore, they would unquestionably start with Dr. Geisler’s visage. He has truly been one of God’s great gifts to His church,” stated Land at the time.
“Southern Evangelical Seminary would not exist without Dr. Geisler’s vision and dedicated service over the past 27 years.”
In 1957, Geisler married Barbara Jean, with the couple having six children. Geisler himself lived to see his grandchildren have children.
As a Catholic, I had many disagreements with Dr. Geisler, but he was a brilliant man and I respected him deeply. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. By the mercy of God, may he rest in peace. Amen.
Brilliant man.
I could tell stories.
A very good man. I have enjoyed reading some of his books. He had a positive influence on so many people. God bless his family and friends.
Dr. Geisler was an amazing man of God! He spoke at my Bible college numerous times. He is safely within the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and hearing Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant...enter the joy of your Lord.”.
I have many of Dr. Geisler’s books - they made an enormous impact on my understanding of the Great Commission. RIP Dr. G! Your reward will be great!
Glad to see the misguided freeper's daily devotional to Osteen is gone.
Osteen and his fake, money grubbing ilk are pure satanic evil.
Sad news. I’m right in the middle of reading “Chosen but Free”. This is not a book that you read fast.
God gave us a wonderful gift to the church for a time, and he woke up in glory.
RIP in the arms of Jesus.
A brilliant and anointed man.
Listened to a lot of his lectures, and have two of the books above in my library. Read them a lot of times, and still refer to the Baker Encyclopedia.
SOURCE:
https://www.christianpost.com/news/a-personal-tribute-to-dr-norman-geisler.html
A personal tribute to Dr. Norman Geisler
As I was processing the fact of Dr. Geisler’s homegoing to be with Jesus for eternity, a flood of memories flashed across my mind.
I had known about Norm since I was a seminary student in the early 1970s. Along with my fellow conservative classmates, we eagerly awaited Dr. Geisler’s latest article, tape, or book defending the historic Christian faith in powerful, articulate, and exhilarating ways. For us, Dr. Geisler’s latest defense of the faith was like a long drink of cold water in the midst of what was too often an arid and sterile theological landscape.
Dr. Geisler has been the “go to” authority for more than two generations of evangelical seminary students who were looking for a bold, erudite, and uncompromisingly faithful defense of the inerrant, infallible Word of God and the historical doctrines of the Christian faith. His ministry was invaluable, and his influence incalculable.
I first met Dr. Geisler personally while he was a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and I was a Dean and professor at Criswell College in the same city. At that time (ca. 1977) he was the guiding force behind what became the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy and its strategic and invaluable defense of Holy Scripture.
Along with legions of Christians across the globe (his books have been translated into multiple languages), I owe an incalculable debt to Dr. Geisler for his indelible impact on my life and ministry.
It has been very meaningful to me to get to know Norm in a more personal way during my now six years of service as President of Southern Evangelical Seminary, the school he co-founded almost three decades ago. As I sit here at the desk he used as president to put these thoughts down on paper, I am reminded of how much I, and all of us in the SES family, will miss his reassuring presence and helpful ministry in our lives.
We are all aware that a spiritual giant walked among us, and he will be missed. We can take comfort in the fact that the prodigious work product he left behind will continue to inform us and to equip us more ably to fulfill God’s purposes for our ministries. And, as Christians, we also know that at some point in our future we will be reunited with Norm at the feet of our Lord and Savior.
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Dr. Richard Land is president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and executive editor of The Christian Post.
This is the followup to that book.
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