MESSAGES, TRIBUTES AND COMMENTS

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Norm Bomer, Senior Editor, GWP
Hi Paul, June McGraw asked me to tell you the whole story about your dad's trip in my Corvette. Actually, I believe June already told the whole story. That's about all I remember. Dr. Clowney needed a car to go to a meeting somewhere in South Carolina, I believe, and I offered him the Vette. I guess I was having a weak moment, since the car had recently been painted and your dad seemed a little bamfoozled with the thing. But, you know, this was Dr. Edmund Clowney, and I was sort-of awestruck by nobility. And besides, he returned the car in a day or two with only a couple of thousand bucks damage. It was worth it. (JK)

Dan Deaton, San Diego, CA
Edmund Clowney was a rare fountain of wisdom, a treasured gift of Christ to his church. I loved him deeply. What distinguished him even more than his brilliant mind was the way he dispensed his wisdom with heaping portions of grace, and not a trace of pride or self-righteousness. In Ed Clowney, I saw a clear and remarkable reflection of the Savior he loved and to Whom his teaching and life unmistakably pointed.

Paul David Tripp, CCEF/WTS, Philadelphia, PA
The last time I saw Dr. Clowney is when I was privileged to preach at Trinity PCA in Charlottsville, VA. Ed was sitting right down in front of me. Throughout my sermon, I kept thinking of the profound influence this man had had on my life and ministry. After I was done speaking, he commented kindly and encouragingly on my sermon. I told him that he had taught a whole generation of us what it meant to preach the Bible biblically. Dr. Clowney was humble in his response as always.

I have regretted that converstion ever since, not for what I said, but for what I failed to say. The influence of Dr. Edmund Clowney on this man's life runs much deeper than an ability to craft a biblical sermon. His influence penetrated to the deepest recesses of my stubborn and idolatrous heart. Dr. Clowney taught me to see Christ on center-stage in every passage of the biblical narrative. He taught a Christ who loomed large and glorious. He taught me to keep this glorious Christ with his glorious grace central not only in my preaching and teaching, but in my life as well. For this I will be forever grateful. I regret that I did not thank Ed for this. Edmund Clowney's legacy is not just that he gave preaching back to the church. No, his real legacy is that he gave Christ back to the church. I am so thankful that I am part of that legacy.

Paul David Tripp, Faculty and Counselor,
Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation,
Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology,
Westminster Theological Seminary

Tim Keller, New York City
When I was a student at Bucknell (1971) our Inter-Varsity group invited Ed to do an evangelistic talk on Christianity and Existentialism. To Ed's shock 400 students showed up, but his talk was absolutely masterful. I had no idea that a Christian scholar could be that conversant with modern thought. Several students came to Christ as the result of that weekend. Everytime I ever ran into him after that he treated me like an old friend or a son--it was very startling to me--even though I had gone to Gordon-Conwell and not Westminster. When I was at GCTS Ed came and did the Staley lectures on Preaching Christ from the Old Testament and I was electrified by them. I decided that when Ed was at his best he was the most melting, moving, Christ-exalting preacher I had ever heard with my ears. I still think that is the case. Co-teaching a D.Min. preaching course with him (at RTS-Orlando) for three years has been the greatest privilege and honor I've ever had in my life. One more thing. Harvie Conn used to tell me that Ed's Doctrine of the Church material was the richest, most radioactive stuff on the church ever. He said that the average student of Clowney, however, sat through his classes and then went out and presided over very conventional church-life, not realizing the radical implications of what Ed had taught. I must confess that I'm one of those students. I hope in my remaining years to do a better job of unpacking all the wonderful teaching Ed gave us.


craig wilkes, first pres columbia sc
Dear Jean,
I am so sorry about the loss of Dr. Clowney. He will be sorely missed. He has been a great servant to the church and to his Lord. It was my pleasure to visit in your lovely home in behalf of Mission To The World a few years ago. I am now Pastoral Care Pastor here at First Presbyterian in Columbia S.C.
May the Lord confort you in these days.
In Christ,
Craig Wilkes

Larry Knowles, Vernon, VT
Among the many classes, books and sermons by Dr. Clowney to which I had the privilege of being exposed during three years at Westminster, two small, but indelible memories stand out. I trust my mind isn’t failing me when I recall it being him who conveyed the story of an early personal struggle with the sovereignty of God in salvation. It prompted a march through the Bible to “settle” the matter…only to reach unexpected resolution in the book of Jonah: “Salvation belongs to the Lord.” Second, a simple line from a chapel message: “Don’t try to be important. Only One is important.” Nothing terrible profound there, but it was etched in my memory for reasons that are embarrassing: I must have needed to hear it. The man was a gentle prophet in the pulpit.

Geoff Thomas, Aberystwyth, North Wales
There was no kinder nor more incisive an analyser of sermons than Ed Clowney. His own emphasis was on the value of the insights of the history of redemption and applying them to the text under consideration. This approach tended to be absolutised by his students. Some of his own sermons on Luke's gospel were outstanding in their freshness and piety, as was also one which many spoke about concerning David's men entering Bethlehem and filling a pitcher of water and bringing it to David. There was no one more approachable on the faculty for helpful advice than Ed Clowney. Modest and encouraging, one conversation I had with him during the last months of studies in Philadelphia in 1964 was the decisive point in my determination to become a gospel preacher. I will always be greatly in his debt for that.

A few years ago I was at Westminster Seminary Escondido and he wanted to see me. "Geoff, I have prayed for you every day since you graduated from Westminster. It does get a bit demoralising saying, 'Lord, bless Geoff Thomas.' Is there anything in particular I can pray for in these days?" He had prayed for me each day for 35 years.

Sandra Flanigan Zull, Detroit, MI
I have been privileged to spend many years crossing paths with Edmund Clowney at Cedar Campus in Michigan. I can still see him there, I can remember his words of faith, and my life is very much the richer for it. I send my condolences to his family and my gratitude that you shared him with so many.

Tom Faichney, Fort Shafter, Hawaii
As gracious and humble as Dr. Clowney was, he was equally tough. He was a refining fire through which my "intellectual" dross melted away and my faith in the glory of God's grace in Christ multiplied. Today, I give Christ to soldiers and not moralism because I sat under the teaching of this scholar, pastor and church father. I am still Dr. Clowney’s student and hope to persevere in this race as he has. His commitment to equipping future leaders who faithfully declare the gospel of Christ was wholehearted and lifelong. What is retirement? For Dr. Clowney it was serving in the local church as an Associate Pastor and Theologian. Dr. Clowney led the way.

To God be the Glory!

CH (CPT) Thomas J. Faichney
US Army


Mark Strom, Auckland, New Zealand
A race well run indeed. Ed played a large role in my life. Many at WTS looked askance at this application from a very unsophisticated Australian. Ed argued for me (so I learned later). He invited me to breakfast and prayer with him every Wednesday morning for 2 years with two fellow students. He treated us as friends. Two of us would join him on the golf course from time to time. Never have I seen such a totally obsessive, passionate, and good-humored golfer with such a bad swing! But we played golf not to play golf - but to be with "The Man" who inspired in us a love of Christ, a love of His Word, and a love of finding Him in His Word. My deep thanks to you, Ed, and to our great Friend.