The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

V. Byse-First Advocate of Conditionalism in French Journals

Next we turn to CHARLES BYSE (1835-1885), ¹²⁴ learned French linguist of Brussels and Lausanne, who was born in Switzerland. He was an expert not only in modern languages and ancient Biblical tongues but in Oriental language as well. He received his training in Berlin and Erlangen, and studied theology at the Free Church College, Lausanne, from 1854 to 1858, tutoring to pay expenses. In 1861 he began his ministry in Paris, in the Free Church of France, continuing in Nesmes and Bex, and in the Englise Cretinenne Missionaire Belge, of Brussels. He also edited Archives of Christianity and Journal of French Protestantism. CFF2 625.1

The years 1872-1873 were spent in England, where he met Dr. Emmanuel Petavel and Edward White. Persuaded of the truths they taught, from thenceforth he championed the doctrine of Conditional Immortality, and is believed to have been the first advocate of Life Only in Christ to appear in French journals. Then in 1879 he was visited by White in Paris, where he was editing a weekly religious newspaper. Inasmuch as he was an accomplished linguist and competent theologian, White asked him to translate his Life in Christ into French, Petavel promising to help. This he accomplished. It was titled L’Immortalite Conditionnelle ou la Vie en Christ. CFF2 625.2

In 1883, while Byse was translating White’s volume, he was put on trial by his own denomination for holding and preaching the “heresy” of Conditionalism, and was dismissed from its ministry by action of the Synod of the Belgian Missionary Church. He was also compelled to relinquish his post as pastor of a congregation. As a consequence, a large proportion of his indignant congregation, a substantial majority of whom believed as he did, followed him, and for two years he preached to them independently. This was believed to be the first church on the Continent to take such a position, and was watched with intense interest in French Protestant circles. However, ecclesiastical persecution and social ostracism became so great that Byse finally left Brussels for Lausanne, Switzerland, where he continued to preach, lecture, and teach with freedom. There he came to be highly respected and honored. CFF2 626.1

Byse rendered conspicuous service to Conditionalism by his competent and judicious translation of White’s volume, to which he wrote the preface. His grasp of the issues involved may be seen in this paragraph: CFF2 626.2

“‘Our principal thesis is not at the circumference but at the centre of Christian dogma. It is a vital germ, a principle of regeneration for contemporary theology and preaching.... Thus rejuvenated and transfigured in its fundamental conception, the religion of the Christ will be able afresh to manifest its legitimacy as the best explanation of our troubled world, as the divine answer to our most agonizing questions. To many sincere and reflective minds, driven in spite of themselves by the parching wind of doubt towards atheism and despair, it will bring an untold peace and a sublime hope.’” ¹²⁵ CFF2 626.3