Who is Ruckman?

[Dr. Bob]

Oh, boy. Some days are diamonds, some days are stone . .

A poster who cannot post in a Baptist-only forum has asked me to start this thread:

Dr. Bob, I keep reading about Ruckman this and Ruckman that. Who is this man? Why is he so hated? Is he a pastor? Is he a Baptist?Thank you for helping me identify this person and my study of bible versions.

I personally gave another staunch KJVOnly website to the poster http://wayoflife.org/articles/ruckman.htm (David Cloud) but found his was interested in Ruckman's doctrine.

Anyone care to share about his life, ministry and WHY he is "so hated"?

Thanks.

I think.

 

[Roy]

I had a Ruckman book once but read very little of it. I think I finally threw it out. In the few paragraphs that I read, he would take comments made by men, like Martin Luther, (and others who had suffered for the faith) and he would pose disrespectful, sarcastic questions for those deceased heroes of the faith. I wasn't impressed.

Roy

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Here is a link that KJVOs would find interesting. This site exposes Ruckmanism while still holding to a strong KJV stance.

http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/Despatch/vol91_RUCKMAN.html

 

[Bob Rogers]

http://www.biblebelievers.com

Dr. Peter Sturgis Ruckman PhD - President of Pensacola Bible Institute

Dr. Ruckman`s grandfather was a W.W.I Colonel and his father was a Captain. Dr. Ruckman is a W.W.II veteren. He`s from a German Catholic background. The story goes, that after talking with a Catholic priest, he looked back and saw the priest take a puff on a cigar. A puff of smoke rose from the cigar as a red neon sign flashed in the priest`s face. The picture left a lasting impression.

Many rumors have flown around about his personal life. They resulted from the fact, that his wife remained unsaved after his conversion. Since people didn`t see his wife, they concluded she left him. The truth is, that they had nine children. It wasn`t the best relationship; but they remained married. She has since died and he`s re-married. They`ve been married for better than 15 years.

The opposition I`ve heard towards Dr. Ruckman has revolved around his KJVO position. Dr. Ruckman has differed from Dr. Jack Hyles in one way. Dr. Hyles said, that Hyles-Anderson used only the KJV. Dr. Ruckman has said, that PBI uses them all. Dr. Ruckman has written books about modern versions after studying them. The Hyles-Anderson position has been KJVO without even looking at anything else.

Dr. Ruckman is either loved or hated. There`s very little in the middle. I remember Dr. Ruckman as the speaker at camp more than 30 years ago. The campers were all teens. He always draws while preaching. When invitation time came on the friday evening, there was total silence. He clearly impacted those Baby Boom Generation teens.

Bob

 

[mjwegs42]

Bob Rodgers,

Great Post! Glad to see someone cleared the negative up a little. Dr. Ruckman has done some great things for Christ. There would be a few I might question. But the questionable don't really impact me. For I support Christianity not Ruckminism! By the way, would anyone venture a guess as to where to term Ruckminism actually started?

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Originally posted by mjwegs42:
...would anyone venture a guess as to where to term Ruckminism actually started?

Ruckmanism is a little-known system of teaching that has been formulated by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman, head of the Pensacola Bible Institute in Pensacola, Florida. This teaching is basically Baptistic and dispensational, but with some radical twists that set it apart as an unorthodox position.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware and raised in Topeka, Kansas, Mr. Ruckman received his B.A. degree from the University of Alabama in 1944. His early religious connections were with the Episcopal and Roman Catholic Churches, the latter which he prepared to join in 1949.That year marked his conversion to Christ and he pursued Christian training at Bob Jones University. After completion of his studies there he accepted a pastorate of a Baptist Church in Pensacola. In 1959, he was divorced from his wife and subsequently married the wife of one of his students, a matter that has brought personal criticism from some Christian leaders.

LINK

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Originally posted by Dr. Bob:
I personally gave another staunch KJVOnly website to the poster http://wayoflife.org/articles/ruckman.htm (David Cloud) but found his was interested in Ruckman's doctrine.

It is certain that David Cloud does not espouse at least the doctrine of bibliology and perhaps many other doctrines of Ruckman.

- David W. Cloud

"Peter Ruckman is a pastor in Pensacola, Florida, and has created quite a large following in the States. He makes amazing claims for himself and his writings, claims which could only be made for divine revelation.

For instance, he has stated in his paper that his next major work will be the final word on the Bible translation subject until Christ returns. He teaches that the English King James Version is actually better than the Greek and Hebrew Text from which it was translated.

He teaches that men will be saved by works during the Tribulation and that they were saved by works during the period of the Law; yet the Scripture plainly says none are justified by the law or by good works (consider Romans 3-4).

He teaches many other strange things such as the idea that the lost will become literal worms in hell. He is also an amazingly angry man and his writings are literally filled with bitter, unbelievably harsh accusations against everyone who does not agree with him. It is as if he were cursing without cursing – the same spirit. He is also a divorced man who has married a divorcée, yet remains in the pastorate [Editor’s note: Ruckman has been married 3 times, with 2 living ex-wives!]

It is to be regretted that such a man has identified himself so closely with the King James Bible. It’s common for the ‘Ruckmanism’ to be spread across the entire issue of whether the Received Text and KJV are the preserved Word of God.

The weighty proofs for supporting the Received Text and KJV and rejecting the Westcott-Hort Text are conveniently ignored while attention is drawn to Ruckman’s peculiarities... I am convinced that Peter Ruckman has done more harm to the cause of the King James Bible for which he fights than many of its enemies."

 

[Pastor KevinR]

One big problem I have w/ him, besides the version issue, is his absolute disdain for Black folks. It would be nice to know if he mellowed over the years.

 

[Gershom]

What little I have read from him, I took note of his abrasiveness. Not my cup of tea.

 

[Bob Rogers]

The term "Ruckmanite" has been used in reference to people, who never stepped on the campus of PBI. Many have been called Ruckmanites; because they`re among the regular attenders of revivals held by PBI graduates. Many have mimiced Dr. Ruckman. A strong KJVO stance is the only real common denominator.

I`ve heard Dr. Ruckman word some things more bluntly, than some care to hear. He`s pointed out the racial implications of some teachings of evolution. That doesn`t mean Dr. Ruckman is a racist.

I have personally heard Dr. Ruckman preach on the issue of divorce and divorced people in the ministry. I have also personally heard Dr. Ruckman elaborate on his first wife. I have personally heard Dr. Ruckman state, that he doesn`t believe in divorce.(even though in the 1st marriage he had "Biblical grounds")

Bob

 

[LRL71]

When I lived in Lexington, KY, back in the very early 1990's, the local blab-TV channel occasionally showed Ruckman. I had the 'quaint' opportunity to watch this <my own expletive deleted> teaching/drawing. It was interesting, but pretty boring. Lots of bomb-throwing, though. I thought he was cocky and arrogant (still do) even though I was KJVO and unsaved at the time. Would Dr. Bob think that I hate the man? I almost do.

 

[AV Defender]

[Modern Version proponents] fear Ruckman more than they fear God!!

That is the reason for all of the venom against him;he will not show resect for the Alexandrian Cult or any of it's Bible detractors that hide behind the Cult's mask of Scholarship..

The judgement seat will clear ALL of that up sooner than you think!!


I've seen enough...


SEE YA!!!

[ September 12, 2004, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: Pastor_Bob ]

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

 

[HankD]

Bye

Come back anytime.

HankD

 

[superdave]

Ba-bye

 

[AVL1984]

Originally posted by Roy:
I had a Ruckman book once but read very little of it. I think I finally threw it out. In the few paragraphs that I read, he would take comments made by men, like Martin Luther, (and others who had suffered for the faith) and he would pose disrespectful, sarcastic questions for those deceased heroes of the faith. I wasn't impressed.

Roy

Roy, this was one reason I didn't accept any more of his books from well meaning friends. On top of that, after having listened to the man once in person, I found it quite hard to believe much if anything he said.

AVL1984

 

[rsr]

If you want to get the flavor of Ruckman without actually having to hear him, read an exchange of letters between him and James White:

http://www.aomin.org/ruckcor.html

 

[AVL1984]

Thanks for the link, rsr. I had the misfortune of hearing some of his "other" language. Rather salty I might add. He would have made a sailor blush!

AVL1984

 

[paulsfocus]

I have a question.

What where KJVO's considered before Ruckman came on the scene?
And how can someone who hasn't even heard of Ruckman be considered a "Ruckmanite"? (just in case you are curious my family was)

 

[Ziggy]

paulsfocus: "What where KJVO's considered before Ruckman came on the scene?"

I would guess most strongly "KJV-Preferred", as per my first pastor (IFB) back in the mid-60s: fully recognizing that the KJV is a translation, that the underlying Hebrew and Greek are the authoritative source for that translation, that certain places within the KJV could stand a little translational or stylistic improvement, and not being reluctant to let his congregation know these things in his preaching and teaching.

Look how far we've come since then....Now that faithful, soul-winning, church planting IFB pastor (gone to be with the Lord some 20 years back) would be called by some like Ruckman an "apostate fundamentalist Bible corrector".