Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos

 

Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos (1855 - 1942)

Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos

 

Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos (1855 - 1942) was a minister for 60 years, a professor for 50 years, seminary dean for 20 years, and author. He was born in Constantinople on August 13. 1855. A Greek orphan, he took the last name, Zenos, which means "stranger" in Greek. He married the former Ruth Schlager and together had three daughters – Mrs. Clinton Lowrie, Mrs. Julia Linnell and Mrs. Elene Parkhill. He passed away on January 25, 1942 in Chicago at the age of 86.

Dr. Zenos was educated at Robert College in Constantinople, graduating in 1872 with a B.A., and lived in Athens and attended the University of Athens before before coming to the United States in 1876. In 1877, Andrew Constantinides Zenos attended Princeton University and graduated from the Princeton University Seminary in 1880 with an M.A.and D.D. In 1888, he earned his LL. D. from Princeton University.

He was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church on September 29, 1881 and was a pastor in Brandt, Pennsylvania from 1881 to 1883. In 1883, Reverend Zenos moved to Lake Forest, Illinois and joined the faculty of Lake Forest University. He was the professor of Greek at Lake Forest University until 1883. Between 1888 and 1891, He was the Professor of New Testament Exegesis at Hartford Theological Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1891, Andrew Constantinides Zenos returned to Chicago and was a professor at McCormick Theological Seminary. At McCormick, he served as Professor of Bible and Ecclesiastical History (1891-1894), Professor of Biblical Theology (1894-1912) and Professor of Ecclesiastical History (1912-1940). Starting in 1920, he also served as Dean at McCormick Theological Seminary for twenty years retiring in 1940. During this time, Dr. Zenos also served as secretary of the Chicago Presbytery for twenty-five years, retiring in 1941; appointed as a Trustee Lake Forest University in 1896; served as a Trustee at the Lake Forest Academy for Boys; and was Dean Emeritus of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Chicago.

In 1954, Lefferts Augustine Loetscher wrote the following about Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos – the learned scholar and eloquent preacher – considered by many a man of deep, sympathetic nature.

In 1891 there came to the McCormick faculty one who &nash; excluding of course those now living – influenced the seminary perhaps more than any other professor in its history, Andrew Constantinides Zenos. Born in Constantinople, educated at Robert College and Princeton Seminary, he was at once recognized by Drs. William Henry Green and A. A. Hodge as a scholar of promise. At first, probably reflecting his training under Dr. Green, he was decidedly cool toward negative conclusions of the higher criticism. But even before he came to McCormick, and increasingly through the years, he held a theory of progress which enabled him to make adjustments to new critical and theological views while still keeping evan gelical faith warm and bright. "It behooves the scientific investigator," [Andrew Constantinides Zenos] said two years before coming to McCormick Seminary, "to watch lest he clog the way to true progress, on the one hand, by a fanatical adherence to the old, after it has been proved wrong; or lead and be led to ruin … by readily falling in with every new theory, or even by giving it the presumptive right against the old…. That which has been accepted for a long while and proved a source of comfort and a means of guidance has some foundation of truth …. True progress must from the nature of the case be the result of slow processes."

Source: Loetscher, Lefferts Augustine. "The Broadening Church." Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1954.

Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos was also a distinguished religious author having authored, edited, translated and annotated a number of books.

Dr. Zenos, Noted As Presbyterian Leader, Is Dead

 

Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos (1855 - 1942)

Andrew Constantinides Zenos (Source: Chicago Tribune)

 

Dr. Andrew C. Zenos, dean emeritus of the Presbyterian Theological seminary and for more than half a century a prominent figure in the Chicago presbytery, died last night in Presbyterian hospital. He was 86 years old, and lived at 834 Chalmers Place, on the seminary campus.

Dr. Zenos was a minister for 60 years. During this span he also was a professor for 50 years, seminary dean for 20, and secretary of the Chicago presbytery for 25 years.

He retired as dean In 1940 and as secretary in 1941. He continued teaching until last Christmas. Dr. Zenos was born of Greek parentage in Constantinople. He was graduated from Princeton University in 1880. He was considered an authority on historical theology and wrote several books on religious subjects.

Dr. Zenos leaves his widow, the former Ruth Schlager; three daughters, Mrs. Clinton Lowrie, St. Paul, Minn.. Mrs. Julia Linnell, Chicago. and Mrs. Elene Parkhill, Lansdowne, Pa. and four grandchildren.

Source: "Dr. Zenos, Noted As Presbyterian Leader, Is Dead." Chicago Tribune. 26 Jan 1942, p. 12

Rev. Dr. Andrew Constantinides Zenos Books

Zenos, Andrew C. "The Son of Man – Studies on the Gospel of Saint Mark." Charles Sribners: New York, 1914.

Zenos, Andrew C. "The Teaching of Jesus Concerning Christian Conduct." New York: American Tract Society, 1905.

Zenos, Andrew C. "Xenophon's Anabasis." Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1889.

Zenos, Andrew C. "The Elements of Higher Criticism." New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1895

Zenos, Andrew C. "The Presbyterian Churches: Their Place and Power in Modern Christendom." Philadelphia : Westminster Press, 1897.

Zenos, Andrew C. "Compendium of church history." Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1900.

Zenos, Andrew C. "The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopaedia and Scriptural Dictionary." Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1904.

Co-Editor "A Standard Bible Dictionary." New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1909.

Zenos, Andrew C. "The Theology of the New Testament." 1921

Zenos, Andrew C. "Presbyterianism in America." New York: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1937.

"Presbyterianism in America" passes before the eyes like a pageant under the skillful hand of Dr. Andrew C. Zenos' book, published in 1937, is probably the outstanding work on the subject available for general consumption. Dr. Zenos' study of the subject is a worthy manual for the Presbyterian layman. Besides providing historical knowledge, it clarifies Presbyterian theology and system of organization.

 


Bibliography

Loetscher, Lefferts Augustine. "The Broadening Church." Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1954. "General Register of Lake Forest College, 1857-1914." Lake Forest, IL: Lake Forest College, 1914

"Our Birthdays." The Inter Ocean [Chicago], 13 Aug 1913, p. 6