February 16, 1921 - B.B. Warfield Dies

BB Warfield - Public domain painted portrait of B. B. Warfield. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Artwork published prior to 1929; no known copyright restrictions.

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield, commonly known as B.B. Warfield, is one of the most influential Reformed theologians of the modern age. He was a leading voice in Reformed theology and a prominent theology professor at Princeton University, and Warfield strongly defended the authority of the Bible, writing extensively on the canon of Scripture and biblical inspiration. As one of the last members of the historic Princeton Theological Seminary faculty to uphold classical biblical orthodoxy, he played a crucial role in shaping Presbyterian theology in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. After falling ill on Christmas Eve 1920, B.B. Warfield appeared to recover and even felt well enough to teach on February 16, 1921. Later that evening, however, he suddenly died, marking the end of an area in American Reformed theology.

Warfield’s memory remains particularly relevant in conversations surrounding biblical authority, Scriptural inerrancy, and Christian doctrine. In a time of growing theological liberalism, Warfield emphasized the reliability and divine inspiration of the Bible, encouraging believers to ground their faith in orthodox Christian theology rather than cultural trends. For modern Christians, studying B.B. Warfield provides a model of unwavering commitment to biblical truth. His life challenges believers to defend historic Christian doctrine and remain steadfast in their confidence in God’s Word.