| Articles by George Peters |
George Nathaniel Henry Peters 1825-1909
(A short biography by John H. Stoll, the then Chairman, Department of Biblical
Studies, Grace College as recorded in The Theocratic Kingdom)
In 1883 an obscure work by an unknown author was published in three
volumes entitled, The Theocratic Kingdom. This work was to ultimately
have a profound influence on the eschatalogical thinking of students of
the Bible. In 1952, Dr. Wilbur Smith writing a preface to the reprint of
this work said in his opening sentences, "No writer of a major work in
the field of Biblical interpretation in modern times could have lived and
died in greater oblivion, and experienced less recognition for a great
piece of work, than the author of these three great volumes devoted to
Biblical prophecy . . . Yet, this clergyman, never becoming nationally
Studies, Grace College as recorded in The Theocratic Kingdom)
In 1883 an obscure work by an unknown author was published in three
volumes entitled, The Theocratic Kingdom. This work was to ultimately
have a profound influence on the eschatalogical thinking of students of
the Bible. In 1952, Dr. Wilbur Smith writing a preface to the reprint of
this work said in his opening sentences, "No writer of a major work in
the field of Biblical interpretation in modern times could have lived and
died in greater oblivion, and experienced less recognition for a great
piece of work, than the author of these three great volumes devoted to
Biblical prophecy . . . Yet, this clergyman, never becoming nationally
famous, never serving large churches, passing away in such comparative obscurity . . . wrote the
most important single work on Biblical predictive prophecy to appear in this country at any time during
the nineteenth century."
These three volumes of over 2200 pages give an exhaustive treatise on the whole field of Eschatology.
Dr. Smith was quick to point out in his preface that, "the author of these volumes must have read
everything of importance in the major areas of history, science, literature, and theology. From an
examination of the index, one learns that over four thousand different authors are quoted from the
Church Fathers of the second century down to his own decade. No one else has ever written a work
on predictive prophecy in which statements are so heavily supported, with reference to the relevant
literature, as has Peters."
George N. H. Peters, son of Isaac Cyrus and Magdalene Miller Peters, was born November 29, 1825
in New Berlin, Pennsylvania. He was married to Caroline Hersheiser, who was born August 27, 1826
and died in Springfield, Ohio, April 11, 1890. To this union were born two sons, Edgar Edwards
Peters and Charles Cyrus Peters. George Peters came to Springfield, Ohio from New Berlin,
Pennsylvania when he was ten years of age. He attended grammar school in Springfield and later
Wittenberg College, a Lutheran school, also in Springfield.
After graduation from college, Peters first pastored a Lutheran church in Mansfield, Ohio where he
met his wife, and his first son was born there in 1854. His second charge was in Plymouth, Ohio
where his other son was born. Subsequently, he pastored a number of churches in Ohio and
concluded his ministry at the First Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ohio.
Some years ago while teaching at a college in Ohio, I became acquainted with a grandson of George
N. H. Peters. From him were gained many interesting facts concerning his grandfather. I was
privileged to visit the Peters home, originally constructed by this great writer, and to see the room in
which he studied and wrote his great work, The Theocratic Kingdom. George N. H. Peters was truly a
remarkable man, versatile in many areas such as carpentry, farming, preaching, and writing.
George Peters, by his family's evaluation, was a generous man. He owned a considerable piece of land
at the edge of Springfield. If anyone wished a parcel of ground, all he had to do was ask Mr. Peters,
and he gave him what he wanted. One day he decided he was going to do a good deed and go out
West and help the Indians. He went to Omaha, Nebraska and started a general store. He laid aside an
amount of money to help the Indians, and when they would come to the store their credit was always
good. But when it came time to pay, no one would come around and settle. Finally he returned to
Springfield broke and disgusted. His faith in humanity greatly faltered. He was a very poor business
man, and when he died he left no estate.
From those who knew him well, it was said that he was the kindest and most generous person one
could know. However, he did not see eye to eye with the other ministers in the city of Springfield and
consequently never took an active part in their meetings, though he was the treasurer of the
Wittenberg Synod from 1853-58 and a member of the board of directors of Wittenberg College from
1855-59. Much of the disagreement that he experienced professionally with other clergymen in his
denomination centered around the fact that he was pre-millenarian in eschatology, while the
denomination was predominately post-millenarian. The Theocratic Kingdom reflects very well his
position on this subject.
George Peters spent great amounts of time in study, often-times eighteen to twenty hours per day for
days at a time. Many nights he wrote all night long. This is readily seen from this prodigious work on
the Kingdom which is an exhaustive study on the subject. Though The Theocratic Kingdom is his only
work in print, there are at least 13 other manuscripts, written in longhand, which are extant. From a
cursory glance of them, I would judge them to be equally exhaustive. They include expositions of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy,
Titus, and the Revelation. In addition there are two other manuscripts on "The Lord's Supper," and
"The Predicted Future."
It is interesting to read what Dr. Wilbur Smith noted in his preface to The Theocratic Kingdom (1952
ed.) when he said, "One does not need to agree with all of his statements, nor even with all of his
interpretations, to recognize the greatness of this work that must have cost him a lifetime of research,
prayer, investigation, and laborious writing — these were the days before typewriters."
Wittenberg College, from which he received his bachelor's degree, was not in accord with pre-
millennial position, and therefore cool in its reception of his massive work. The Lutheran church as a
whole felt much the same, so that any recognition of George Peters as a person, as well as that of his
work, would have had to come from outside his own denomination. Thus the reason for his seeming
obscurity. However, in 1907, two years before his death, Wittenberg College bestowed upon him the
honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity, thereby admitting the value of his contribution in the field of
eschatology, though its position and that of the Lutheran denomination was different from the views of
Peter's Theocratic Kingdom.
Through the years the value of this work has manifested itself in the reception it has received from
Biblical scholars. The relevancy of the Word of God and the continuing interest in prophetical themes
is attested to by the continuing demand for reprints of such lasting works as this. George Peters gave
to the Christian public a memorable work, which testifies to the ever-lasting Grace of God in the
hearts of believers.
most important single work on Biblical predictive prophecy to appear in this country at any time during
the nineteenth century."
These three volumes of over 2200 pages give an exhaustive treatise on the whole field of Eschatology.
Dr. Smith was quick to point out in his preface that, "the author of these volumes must have read
everything of importance in the major areas of history, science, literature, and theology. From an
examination of the index, one learns that over four thousand different authors are quoted from the
Church Fathers of the second century down to his own decade. No one else has ever written a work
on predictive prophecy in which statements are so heavily supported, with reference to the relevant
literature, as has Peters."
George N. H. Peters, son of Isaac Cyrus and Magdalene Miller Peters, was born November 29, 1825
in New Berlin, Pennsylvania. He was married to Caroline Hersheiser, who was born August 27, 1826
and died in Springfield, Ohio, April 11, 1890. To this union were born two sons, Edgar Edwards
Peters and Charles Cyrus Peters. George Peters came to Springfield, Ohio from New Berlin,
Pennsylvania when he was ten years of age. He attended grammar school in Springfield and later
Wittenberg College, a Lutheran school, also in Springfield.
After graduation from college, Peters first pastored a Lutheran church in Mansfield, Ohio where he
met his wife, and his first son was born there in 1854. His second charge was in Plymouth, Ohio
where his other son was born. Subsequently, he pastored a number of churches in Ohio and
concluded his ministry at the First Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ohio.
Some years ago while teaching at a college in Ohio, I became acquainted with a grandson of George
N. H. Peters. From him were gained many interesting facts concerning his grandfather. I was
privileged to visit the Peters home, originally constructed by this great writer, and to see the room in
which he studied and wrote his great work, The Theocratic Kingdom. George N. H. Peters was truly a
remarkable man, versatile in many areas such as carpentry, farming, preaching, and writing.
George Peters, by his family's evaluation, was a generous man. He owned a considerable piece of land
at the edge of Springfield. If anyone wished a parcel of ground, all he had to do was ask Mr. Peters,
and he gave him what he wanted. One day he decided he was going to do a good deed and go out
West and help the Indians. He went to Omaha, Nebraska and started a general store. He laid aside an
amount of money to help the Indians, and when they would come to the store their credit was always
good. But when it came time to pay, no one would come around and settle. Finally he returned to
Springfield broke and disgusted. His faith in humanity greatly faltered. He was a very poor business
man, and when he died he left no estate.
From those who knew him well, it was said that he was the kindest and most generous person one
could know. However, he did not see eye to eye with the other ministers in the city of Springfield and
consequently never took an active part in their meetings, though he was the treasurer of the
Wittenberg Synod from 1853-58 and a member of the board of directors of Wittenberg College from
1855-59. Much of the disagreement that he experienced professionally with other clergymen in his
denomination centered around the fact that he was pre-millenarian in eschatology, while the
denomination was predominately post-millenarian. The Theocratic Kingdom reflects very well his
position on this subject.
George Peters spent great amounts of time in study, often-times eighteen to twenty hours per day for
days at a time. Many nights he wrote all night long. This is readily seen from this prodigious work on
the Kingdom which is an exhaustive study on the subject. Though The Theocratic Kingdom is his only
work in print, there are at least 13 other manuscripts, written in longhand, which are extant. From a
cursory glance of them, I would judge them to be equally exhaustive. They include expositions of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy,
Titus, and the Revelation. In addition there are two other manuscripts on "The Lord's Supper," and
"The Predicted Future."
It is interesting to read what Dr. Wilbur Smith noted in his preface to The Theocratic Kingdom (1952
ed.) when he said, "One does not need to agree with all of his statements, nor even with all of his
interpretations, to recognize the greatness of this work that must have cost him a lifetime of research,
prayer, investigation, and laborious writing — these were the days before typewriters."
Wittenberg College, from which he received his bachelor's degree, was not in accord with pre-
millennial position, and therefore cool in its reception of his massive work. The Lutheran church as a
whole felt much the same, so that any recognition of George Peters as a person, as well as that of his
work, would have had to come from outside his own denomination. Thus the reason for his seeming
obscurity. However, in 1907, two years before his death, Wittenberg College bestowed upon him the
honorary degree, Doctor of Divinity, thereby admitting the value of his contribution in the field of
eschatology, though its position and that of the Lutheran denomination was different from the views of
Peter's Theocratic Kingdom.
Through the years the value of this work has manifested itself in the reception it has received from
Biblical scholars. The relevancy of the Word of God and the continuing interest in prophetical themes
is attested to by the continuing demand for reprints of such lasting works as this. George Peters gave
to the Christian public a memorable work, which testifies to the ever-lasting Grace of God in the
hearts of believers.
|
George N. H. Peters
| Peter's Book: The Theocratic Kingdom |