Frank E. Gaebelein

Frank Ely Gaebelein was an American evangelist, educator, author, editor and the founding headmaster of The Stony Brook School (TSBS) (1922-63) in Long Island, New York.
He had a great influence on a number of major Biblical publications in the l1950-1980s. He was vice-chairman of the New Scofield Reference Bible.(1954) He was the style editor for the translation committee of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible (1968) and general editor for the Expositor’s Bible Commentary(1971-83). * He was also co- editor of Christianity Today (1963 +)

Frank was born on 31st March 1899 in Mount Vernon, New York. His parents were German immigrants- his father was a noted preacher.

He earned his BA from New York University in 1920 having served for the US Army in 1918. He earned his MA from Harvard University (1921)

Shortly after graduating, in the Spring of 1921, he was approached by John F. Carson and Ford C. Ottman to be the headmaster at TSBS. It opened in the fall of 1922. On 13th September TSBS was inaugurated with 27 boys and 9 faculty.

Frank was headmaster from 1922-63. The academic reputation of the school grew in prominence. He called the school an 'experiment in Christian education and set the mission of the school as being a rigorous college preparatory school thoroughly rooted in the Christian tradition.
( Read the notes on ‘The Stony Brook School’ )

In 1923 he married Dorothy Laura (nee Medd). They had 3 children.

Besides being headmaster he also served as an ordained deacon and presbyter at the Reformed Episcopal Church.

In 1954 he served as vice-chairman for Oxford University Press’s preparation of the New Scofield Reference Bible

1957 he was on the executive committee for Billy Graham’s 16 week crusade at Madison Square gardens.

On retiring from TSBS in 1963 his son Donn M. Gaebelein became headmaster (1963-76). Frank joined Carl F.H. Henry as co-editor of Christianity Today. In 1968 he became involved with NI version of the Bible.

1969-72 he was director of the faculty summer seminar on faith and learning at Wheaton College, Illinois.

From 1971, until his death, he was the general editor of the 12 volume *Expositor’s Bible Commentary. *

He found time to write more than 20 books ( see ‘Published works’)

TSBS in October 1982 dedicated their hall in his name Frank E. Gaebelein Hall.
In November 1982 he underwent a double bypass surgery - he never recovered. Frank died on 19th January 1983, aged 83 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Minnesota.

in November 1937 Frank reaffirmed the purpose of TSBS. The prime reason for its existence has been to *bring its students into vital contact with the Christian faith *-this was also Frank’s purpose in life.

Sources used
Abebooks
Wikipedia Christianity Today
Frank E. Gaebelein
The Stony Brook School