William Edwy Vine (1873–1949), commonly known as W. E. Vine, was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

Biblical scholar,

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

, and writer, most famous for '' Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words''.

Life

Vine was born in the second quarter of 1873, in Blandford Forum,

Dorset Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , ...

.THE BRETHREN WRITERS HALL OF FAME
/ref> His father ran the Mount Radford School, which moved to Exeter in 1875, and it was in this location that Vine was raised. He became a Christian at an early age and was baptised in the Plymouth Brethren assembly in Fore Street, Exeter.Biography at PlymouthBrethren.org
/ref> At 17, Vine became a teacher at his father's school, before moving to Aberystwyth to study at the

University College of Wales , mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all , established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'') , former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth , type = Public , endowment = ...

. He later completed his education at the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

, receiving a BA and MA in Ancient Classics in 1906. Vine married Phoebe Baxendale in the 3rd quarter of 1899 in Lancashire, Phoebe's home county. In 1909, he accepted a job at the office of

Echoes of Service Echoes of Service is a missionary support agency founded in 1872 based in Bath, England. Their main purpose is to serve missionaries around the world, and those commended from Christian Brethren assemblies/ churches in particular, amongst whom mis ...

, a missionary-support service and magazine based in Bath. In 1911, the service moved permanently to Widcombe Crescent, Bath. The 1911 census shows Vine as the Vice Principal of Mount Radford School in St Leonards, Exeter. Vine dedicated himself to his work with missionaries around the world and was firm in his doctrine and practice:

"In the mind of God the grand ultimate object of missionary activity is the planting of churches.. The Head of the church who gave His instructions to His Apostles.. .on record for us in the
Scriptures Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual pra ...
, gave therein a body of truth and principles adapted to every age, generation and condition. The pattern is complete, and exhibits the divine wisdom in every part. Human tampering has only marred it in its working... It is incumbent upon all who profess the Christian faith to respect the plainly revealed intentions of the Head of the church, instead of burdening it with doctrines and regulations of human fabrication."

At this time, Vine was an Elder in the assembly at Manvers Hall, Bath, a position that he held for 40 years. He was diagnosed with heart disease in 1927, but lived until 1949.

Writing

Vine began his writing career in 1905, when he conducted a correspondence course, along with C.F. Hogg, for

1 Thessalonians The First Epistle to the Thessalonians is a Pauline epistle of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The epistle is attributed to Paul the Apostle, and is addressed to the church in Thessalonica, in modern-day Greece. It is likely among th ...

and

Galatians Galatians may refer to: * Galatians (people) * Epistle to the Galatians, a book of the New Testament * English translation of the Greek ''Galatai'' or Latin ''Galatae'', ''Galli,'' or ''Gallograeci'' to refer to either the Galatians or the Gauls in ...

. He is best known for his work '' Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words'', first published in four parts in 1940. This lexicon traces the words of the

King James Version The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...

of the Holy Bible back to their Ancient

koine Greek Koine Greek (; Koine el, ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος, hē koinè diálektos, the common dialect; ), also known as Hellenistic Greek, common Attic, the Alexandrian dialect, Biblical Greek or New Testament Greek, was the common supra-reg ...

root words and to the meanings of the words for that day. Vine also wrote a number of commentaries and books on biblical subjects.

List of Complete Works

* ''An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Original Greek Words with their Precise Meanings for English Readers'' (1940) *''The Scriptures and How to Use Them'' (1910?) *''The Divine Inspiration of the Bible'' (1923) *''Isaiah: Prophecies, Promises, Warnings'' (1946) *''The Leading Themes of the Gospel of John'' (1924) *''John: His Record of Christ'' (1948) *''The Epistle to the Romans: Doctrine, Precept, Practice'' (1948) *''Commentary on 1 Corinthians'' *''Commentary on Galatians'' *''Commentary on Philippians'' *''Commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians'' *''Commentary on 1 & 2 Timothy'' *''Commentary on Titus'' *''Commentary on Hebrews'' *''Commentary on James'' *''Commentary on 1, 2, & 3 John'' *''Christ's Eternal Sonship'' *''The First and the Last'' *''The Coming Priest-King'' *''Christ the Firstborn'' *''The Atonement'' *''The Gospel of the Bible'' *''B.C. and A.D.'' *''The Gospel of the Glory'' *''The Twelve Mysteries of Scripture'' *''The Church and the Churches'' (nd) *''Divine Headships in the Bible: or, Whence this Authority?'' (1924) *''Baptism'' *''The Ministry of Women'' *''Leading in Prayer'' *''The Mistaken Term "The Brethren"'' *''The Origin and Rise of Ecclesiasticism and the Papal System'' *''The Divine Plan of Missions'' *''A Guide to Missionary Service'' *''Approved of God'' *''Service'' *''Touching the Coming of the Lord'' *''Witnesses to the Second Advent'' *''The Church and the Tribulation'' *''The Rapture and the Great Tribulation'' *''The Roman Empire in the Light of Prophecy'' *''The Four Women of the Apocalypse'' *''The Evolution Theory in the Light of Genesis'' *''Spiritism Unmasked'' *''New Testament Greek Grammar: A Course of Self Help for the Layman''

References

Biography at PlymouthBrethren.org

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vine, William Edwy English theologians British Plymouth Brethren People from Blandford Forum Alumni of Aberystwyth University Alumni of the University of London People educated at Mount Radford School 1873 births 1949 deaths