Edwin R. Thiele
- September 10, 1895
- April 15, 1986
- 90 years
About Edwin R. Thiele
Edwin R. Thiele, 90, American archaeologist and missionary.
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Full Biography
|Edwin Richard Thiele (10 September 1895 – 15 April 1986) was an American Seventh-day Adventist missionary in China, editor, archaeologist, writer, and scholar of the Old Testament. He is best known for his chronological studies of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
Biography
Thiele was born on September 10, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up there. He graduated from Emmanuel Missionary College (which became Andrews University in 1960) in 1918 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in ancient languages. After two years of work as home missionary secretary for the East Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, he left in 1920 for mission service in China. During his 12 years in China, he was an editor and manager for the Signs of the Times Publishing House in Shanghai.
After returning to the United States, Thiele studied archaeology, obtaining a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1937. He then joined the religion faculty of Emmanuel Missionary College while continuing his doctoral work at the University of Chicago. He obtained a PhD in biblical archaeology in 1943. His doctoral dissertation, The Chronology of the Kings of Judah and Israel, was later expanded and published as The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings which became widely regarded as an important work on the chronology of Hebrew kings. He traveled extensively throughout the Middle East in the course of his research.
Later Thiele also authored a popular book on Christianity, Knowing God. After his death, his widow Margaret completed his study of the Book of Job entitled Job and the Devil.
From 1963 to 1965 he served as Professor of Antiquity at Andrews University. After retiring from teaching in 1965, he moved to California, where he continued to write. He died in St. Helena, California, in 1986. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Reception of chronological work
Thiele's chronological reconstruction has not been accepted by all scholars. Nonetheless, the work of Thiele and those who followed in his steps achieved acceptance across a wider spectrum than that of any comparable chronology; as Assyriologist D. J. Wiseman (1993) wrote, "The chronology most widely accepted today is one based on the meticulous study by Thiele." More recently in 2010, Leslie McFall asserted that "Thiele's chronology is fast becoming the consensus view among Old Testament scholars, if it has not already reached that point."
Although criticism has been leveled at numerous specific points in Thiele's chronology, his work has won considerable praise even from those who disagree with his conclusions. On the other hand, even scholars sharing Thiele's religious convictions have sometimes maintained that there are weaknesses in his argument such as unfounded assumptions and assumed circular reasoning.
In his desire to resolve the discrepancies between the data in the Book of Kings, Thiele was forced to make improbable suppositions ... There is no basis for Thiele's statement that his conjectures are correct because he succeeded in reconciling most of the data in the Book of Kings, since his assumptions ... are derived from the chronological data themselves ...
In response to the "circular reasoning" criticism, Kenneth Strand has pointed out several archaeological finds that were published after Thiele produced his chronology and that verified Thiele's assumptions or conclusions as against the chronological systems of other scholars such as Albright that were posited before Thiele's work.
Despite the various criticisms Thiele's methodological treatment remains the typical starting point of scholarly treatments of the subject, and his work is considered to have established the date of the division of the Israelite kingdom.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_R._Thiele
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 25, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Edwin R. Thiele's archived record and the sources above.
1.Who finished Edwin R. Thiele's book on the Book of Job after his death?
- A.Margaret Thielecorrect
- B.Kenneth Strand
- C.Leslie McFall
- D.D. J. Wiseman
Edwin R. Thiele's widow, Margaret, completed his study on the Book of Job titled Job and the Devil.
Source: Biography section
2.Where did Edwin R. Thiele serve as a Professor of Antiquity from 1963 to 1965?
- A.Signs of the Times Publishing House
- B.University of Chicago
- C.Emmanuel Missionary College
- D.Andrews Universitycorrect
Edwin R. Thiele served as Professor of Antiquity at Andrews University between 1963 and 1965.
Source: Biography section
3.In which city did Edwin R. Thiele die?
- A.Berrien Springs, Michigan
- B.Chicago, Illinois
- C.St. Helena, Californiacorrect
- D.Shanghai, China
Edwin R. Thiele died in St. Helena, California, in 1986.
Source: Biography section
4.Where is Edwin R. Thiele buried?
- A.The cemetery at Andrews University
- B.St. Helena Cemetery in California
- C.A private plot in Chicago, Illinois
- D.Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs, Michigancorrect
Edwin R. Thiele is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery located in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Source: Biography section
5.According to the biography, what specific historical event did Edwin R. Thiele's work help establish?
- A.The fall of Jerusalem
- B.The date of the division of the Israelite kingdomcorrect
- C.The birth date of the Hebrew kings
- D.The construction of the First Temple
Edwin R. Thiele's work is considered to have established the date of the division of the Israelite kingdom.
Source: Reception of chronological work section
6.Which scholar wrote that the chronology most widely accepted today is based on Edwin R. Thiele's study?
- A.D. J. Wisemancorrect
- B.Valerius Coucke
- C.Kenneth Strand
- D.Leslie McFall
Assyriologist D. J. Wiseman wrote that the chronology most widely accepted today is one based on the meticulous study by Edwin R. Thiele.
Source: Reception of chronological work section
7.How long did Edwin R. Thiele live in China?
- A.10 years
- B.12 yearscorrect
- C.15 years
- D.20 years
Edwin R. Thiele spent 12 years in China working as an editor and manager.
Source: Biography section
8.What criticism was directed at Edwin R. Thiele's chronological arguments by some scholars?
- A.Assumed circular reasoningcorrect
- B.Failure to visit the Middle East
- C.Lack of archaeological evidence
- D.Reliance on outdated texts
Some scholars argued that Edwin R. Thiele's arguments relied on unfounded assumptions and assumed circular reasoning.
Source: Reception of chronological work section
9.Who stated in 2010 that Edwin R. Thiele's chronology was becoming the consensus view?
- A.D. J. Wiseman
- B.Leslie McFallcorrect
- C.Kenneth Strand
- D.Valerius Coucke
In 2010, Leslie McFall asserted that Edwin R. Thiele's chronology was becoming the consensus view among Old Testament scholars.
Source: Reception of chronological work section
10.What institution was Emmanuel Missionary College renamed to in 1960?
- A.Signs of the Times Institute
- B.California Bible College
- C.University of Chicago
- D.Andrews Universitycorrect
Emmanuel Missionary College became Andrews University in 1960.
Source: Biography section
11.Where was Edwin R. Thiele born?
- A.St. Helena, California
- B.Shanghai, China
- C.Chicago, Illinoiscorrect
- D.Berrien Springs, Michigan
Edwin R. Thiele was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 10, 1895.
Source: Biography section
12.In what year did Edwin R. Thiele graduate from Emmanuel Missionary College?
- A.1937
- B.1920
- C.1943
- D.1918correct
Edwin R. Thiele graduated from Emmanuel Missionary College in 1918.
Source: Biography section
13.What role did Edwin R. Thiele fulfill during his time in China?
- A.Middle East archaeological consultant
- B.Editor and manager for Signs of the Times Publishing Housecorrect
- C.Professor of Antiquity
- D.Old Testament translator
During his 12 years in China, Edwin R. Thiele served as an editor and manager for the Signs of the Times Publishing House in Shanghai.
Source: Biography section
14.What subject did Edwin R. Thiele study for his Bachelor of Arts degree?
- A.Biblical archaeology
- B.Theology
- C.Ancient languagescorrect
- D.Middle Eastern history
Edwin R. Thiele received his Bachelor of Arts degree in ancient languages in 1918.
Source: Biography section
15.In what year did Edwin R. Thiele receive his PhD in biblical archaeology?
- A.1960
- B.1943correct
- C.1963
- D.1937
Edwin R. Thiele earned his PhD in biblical archaeology in 1943.
Source: Biography section
16.What was the original title of Edwin R. Thiele's doctoral dissertation?
- A.The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings
- B.Knowing God
- C.The Chronology of the Kings of Judah and Israelcorrect
- D.Job and the Devil
Edwin R. Thiele's doctoral dissertation was titled The Chronology of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
Source: Biography section
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