Daniel (Edward J. Young)

Daniel

“The people that do know their God shall be strong,” wrote Daniel. It was not as a learned exegete, but as a humble pupil in the school of God that E. J. Young taught the Scriptures until his death in 1968. His commentary on Daniel is one of the most valuable portions of the legacy he has left to the church.

About the Author

Edward Joseph Young (1907-1968) was Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary from 1936 until his death. He also edited the Westminster Theological Journal.

He had an early interest in languages.  Having sensed a call to the ministry when only fifteen years old, and a student at Lowell High School in San Francisco, he started studying Greek. Following his graduation from Stanford University in 1929 (A.B.), he spent a year in Palestine.  There he taught school in Bethlehem and studied Syriac with a priest of the Syrian Church. During this same year, he crossed the Sinai desert with another American guided by two Arabs. The trip took a month and was made by camel. His second year abroad was spent travelling through Europe, learning more and more languages, seeing the places where Paul preached, studying in Germany and Spain, cycling through England.

Language with Young was more than a routine study; it was a work of love. He had a speaking or reading knowledge of at least 26 languages, and most of these were self-taught. He could pursue studies in Ugaritic, speak German fluently, and preach in Spanish. He reported that he could find a use for every one of his languages in his Old Testament studies.

Highly esteemed by his peers

F. F. Bruce said of him, ‘Young speedily established a reputation for himself as the most outstanding Old Testament scholar in America belonging to the older conservative school. His standard of orthodoxy was high, as was his standard of scholarship. He commanded the respect of many scholars who disagreed totally with his theological position, both because of his learning and because of his courtesy. His own beliefs on critical problems were firmly held and faithfully proclaimed, but he did not misrepresent the beliefs of others. He could always be counted upon to state them fairly and not to indulge in denunciation of those with whom he differed.’

E. J. Young’s foremost work was probably his book on the inspiration of Scripture, Thy Word is Truth. 

John Murray, a former colleague at Westminster, said of him: ‘Edward J. Young adorned his Christian profession. So many were the virtues making up this adornment that it is difficult to single out any for special appreciation. But his humility was so conspicuous that no one could fail to mark it. For those who knew him more intimately his circumspect consistency was no less evident. Unassuming and reluctant to make his own voice heard he was always ready to speak out when the honor of Christ and the claims of truth demanded it. He burned with holy jealousy for the integrity of God’s Word and for the maintenance of the whole counsel of God.’