The King's Business

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Last updated: Dec 09, 2014
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The King’s Business was a monthly publication of Biola. In the first decades of its publication, it was one of the leading journals for conservative Christianity and the early fundamentalist movement. The King’s Business was one part house organ (reporting the activities of its students in Los Angeles), one part celebrity editorializing (with R. A. Torrey and T. C. Horton reacting to America’s role in the first world war, the depression, prohibition, etc), and one part content provider for the church life of conservative Protestants (publishing vast quantities of Sunday School literature).

Its subscribers looked to it for a reasoned defense against the encroachments of biblical criticism, for a balanced view of phenomena like Pentecostalism, for guidance about “the Best Books” to read, and for inspiration in their spiritual lives.

Influential editors of The King's Business included J. H. Sammis.

Purpose


In the first issue, the editors announced that the monthly publication would be "taking the place of our weekly Sunday School slips." It went on, "We hope to make the little paper a means of blessing to many hearts and a stimulus to definite service for the Lord."
The King's Business, Vol. 1.1, January 1910, pg 4 [ However, at the end of that year, the publication had this to say, "The first volume of The King's Business closes with this issue. Originally intended to supply the interested friends with notes on the Sunday School lesson it has broadened to a larger sphere and is now the medium of communication between the Institute and its friends. We expect through its pages to keep our ever increasing constituency acquainted with its needs and work."The King's Business, Vol. 1.12, December 1910, pg 209, http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/12/19] During the years to follow The King's Business continued to grow and include new columns and foci.

Institute Direction from the King's Business

Every King's Business, when the publication first came out, began with this statement:

Doctrinal Position
The Institute is interdenominational. Its chief textbook is the Bible. The management holds to the Divine Origin, Inspiration, Integrity and Supreme Authority of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. It is in accord with the historic teachings of the church and holds neigher new theologies, fads nor vagaries.
Purpose
The Institute trains accredited men and women, free of cost, in the knowldge and use of the Bible.
Departments
(1)The Institute Classes held daily except Saturday and Sunday.
(2) Extension Work. Classes and conferences held in neighboring cities and towns.
(3) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by competent evangelists under our direction.
(4) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night for Spanish-speaking people and house visitation.
(5) Shop Work. Regular services in shops and factories all the year.
(6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work in homes for the Hebrew people.
(7) Bible Women. House-to-house work and neighborhood classes.
(8) Aqueduct. Work among the 4000 men on the new aqueduct.
(9) Oil Fields. A mission to the men on the oil fields.
(10) Books and Tracks. Sale and distribution of selected books and tracts.The King's Business Vol. 1.1, Jan 1910, pg. 1 http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/view/1/1/2

Biola History in The King's Business

The King's Business is a rich primary source for Biola history. Every issue contains a column called Institute Items, giving brief reports on various spheres of service: Oil Field Work, Aqueduct Work, Shop Work, Car Barn Work, Jewish Work, Spanish Work, the work of the Bible Women, prayer meetings,conferences, etc.

Three specific places stand out as actual "histories" of the Institute giving brief snapshots of the Institute in the first few years of it's founding.

"A Short Story of the Los Angeles Bible Institute" is a historical sketch of the founding of Biola that appeared in The King's Business volume 1 issue 11, 1910, pp 171-173.

"The King's Business, Vol 2.6" retold the history after "the third mile stone in its eventful history." The King's Business, Vol 2.6, June 1911, p. 111.

The next year, "The King's Business, Vol. 3.5" did another history of the school after it's fourth year. The King's Business, Vol. 3.5, May 1912

See Also

External Links

http://www2.biola.edu/kingsbusiness/

References