Philip Comfort, former Local Church Elder Turned Scholar Passes Away

[UntoHim]

Below is an obituary announcing the passing of Philip Wesley Comfort.
Philip Comfort Obituary (1950 - 2022) - Legacy Remembers
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One element that's conspicuously absent in the Obit. is Phil Comfort's early involvement in the 'Local Church". Phil Comfort was a 'leading brother' in the Church in Columbus, OH in the early years.

I believe that Phil Comfort along with other brothers from the Cleveland OH area (e.g. Tom McNaughton, Bill Gilbert, Chris Yap, etc.) moved to Columbus as part of a "migration" organized by Bro. Titus Chu --when "migration" was an important component of the "Lord's Recovery"/Local Church movement in the 1970s & early 1980s. In that era the view propagated was that every church & denomination was part of Babylon. Only the Local Church, meeting on the "ground of Oneness, "one church, one city" was a genuine/biblical local church (like in Acts). Hence the mandate of the Local Church was to "capture every city" by establishing the "Church in [city X]" and recruiting believers to join the "local church."

I don't know how much Phil Comfort "bought into that ideology." Phil had a great interest in Scripture and desired to learn & use NT Greek to delve deeper into God's Word. He was especially interested in the Gospel of John. I believe that caused tension between Phil Comfort and the regional apostle--Titus Chu which spilled over to some of the leading brothers in the Ohio churches. The attitude of some was "why are we supporting you (financially?) and giving you a platform to minister when you spend your time equipping yourself as a Bible teacher/writer, etc.

By the early/mid 1980s Phil Comfort was clear "which way the wind was blowing" and left Columbus & the Ohio local churches and pursued his labor in Biblical Greek & NT writings & became widely respected Bible scholar & writer (among evangelicals). Looking back the Local Church movement lost a valuable brother who simply did not "conform to the Local Church mold."

Nigel Tomes
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[Ohio]

Phil Comfort entered the church in Akron in 1971-72, migrated in 1974 to join the church in Willoughby after they met a favorable congregation of believers there. In 1977, he migrated to Columbus. In 1981 TC demanded that Phil Comfort return to Cleveland for what was termed "10 month labor." Phil shared every week from the Gospel of John, his favorite book. Those Saturday night gatherings were always alive with passion and blessed with guests. We only exalted Jesus via John's record of the Gospel. We felt like we were there with Jesus in the Good Land.

Phil returned to Columbus in 1983 shamed, wounded, and almost in a state of shock from his time "receiving further training" in Cleveland. All of those in Columbus who heard what happened to Phil lost all respect for TC. Those in Cleveland, however, were convinced that Phil was merely "doing his own thing," was not at all for "the ministry," did not have the reality of the Spirit, and was not devoted to the practical services." (just the kinds of remarks I had heard from leaders in Cleveland.

At one point Phil wanted to join John Ingalls and his team at LSM in order to help with the translation of the Recovery Version. That incited a little skirmish between Anaheim and Cleveland.

Phil was known in the LC as a "pure Wordist" due to his love and passion for the Bible, even in the Koine Greek. I remember one time in 1978 when Bill Freeman was visiting Columbus, sitting in Lois Cheng's dining room after the meeting, and Phil asked Bill something like, "there are so many NT writings and translations from the Greek, is it worth it to invest our time in study?" Bill Freeman answered simply and emphatically, "God wrote in Greek!" That was a huge encouragement to Phil at the time when he had just begun to serve full-time, quitting his teaching job.

[Ohio]

I don't know how much Phil Comfort "bought into that ideology." Phil had a great interest in Scripture and desired to learn
& use NT Greek to delve deeper into God's Word. He was especially interested in the Gospel of John. I believe that caused tension between Phil Comfort and the regional apostle--Titus Chu which spilled over to some of the leading brothers in the Ohio churches. The attitude of some was "why are we supporting you (financially?) and giving you a platform to minister
when you spend your time equipping yourself as a Bible teacher/writer, etc.

- Nigel Tomes

It was TC who demanded that Phil quite his job as a teacher. Phil had just relocated, started teaching, and had a young family. Phil struggled with TC's demands for some time. Both Phil, the elders in Columbus, and the church were content with Phil teaching by day and sharing from the Bible to the church. Phil was also generous with his time coaching others to know and love the Bible.

It was TC who interfered in Columbus and sowed seeds of dissension between Phil and other leaders outside of Columbus, where there were none prior. Were we not autonomous LC's? Did we not have "administration local, each answering to the Lord?" Obviously those teachings were falsehoods.

[Sons to Glory!]

I'm sorry to hear of Phil's passing (but he's in glory!). How is his brother doing? (forget his name - Greg perhaps?)

We moved to Columbus in 83, some time after a few of us from Cambridge journeyed there to a conference (I think). I didn't know Phil's backstory of the history with TC, etc. Shortly after we moved there, Phil moved away (to Chicago?). All I knew was it was a real treat when Phil would visit the LC in Columbus, as he would always be encouraged to share a word or two about whatever from the word he was delving into at the time. It was always extremely insightful and quite rich. He had a kind and gentle spirit as I remember.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

I'm sorry to hear of Phil's passing (but he's in glory!). How is his brother doing? (forget his name - Greg perhaps?)

We moved to Columbus in 83, some time after a few of us from Cambridge journeyed there to a conference (I think). I didn't know Phil's backstory of the history with TC, etc. Shortly after we moved there, Phil moved away (to Chicago?). All I knew was it was a real treat when Phil would visit the LC in Columbus, as he would always be encouraged to share a word or two about whatever from the word he was delving into at the time. It was always extremely insightful and quite rich. He had a kind and gentle spirit as I remember.

According to the obit, Greg was widowed (Robin) and apparently remarried.

Yes, Phil had a kind and gentle spirit, not at all suited to the Chinese military culture of intimidation and shaming from the LC leadership in Cleveland. Some of the posters here remember “Toledo Tom” McNaughton who had posted on the forum before he passed. Tom may have had a keen wit and great sense of humor, but beneath the surface he was tough as nails, son of a judge, and ex-military commander in Viet Nam. Whereas Phil was quite vulnerable and could be humiliated and beat down by TC, Tom never. I told this story before. Elders meeting in Cleveland. Tom walks in late with others who drove in together. TC begins to scold them for being late. Tom lifted his head high, with one of his famous quips proclaims, “I’m not late, I’m married.” Everyone laughs. TC was silenced. Quite a scene. Unfortunately most of us, including Phil, did not possess such skills.

[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by Ohio

According to the obit, Greg was widowed (Robin) and apparently remarried.

Yes, Phil had a kind and gentle spirit, not at all suited to the Chinese military culture of intimidation and shaming from the LC leadership in Cleveland. Some of the posters here remember “Toledo Tom” McNaughton who had posted on the forum before he passed. Tom may have had a keen wit and great sense of humor, but beneath the surface he was tough as nails, son of a judge, and ex-military commander in Viet Nam. Whereas Phil was quite vulnerable and could be humiliated and beat down by TC, Tom never. I told this story before. Elders meeting in Cleveland. Tom walks in late with others who drove in together. TC begins to scold them for being late. Tom lifted his head high, with one of his famous quips proclaims, “I’m not late, I’m married.” Everyone laughs. TC was silenced. Quite a scene. Unfortunately most of us, including Phil, did not possess such skills.

Ah, so I did remember Greg's name right!

That is a funny story regarding Tom and TC - "I'm not late . . . I'm married!" I will have to use that the next time some brother teases me about being a little tardy . . .

[SpeakersCorner]

Originally Posted by Ohio

”I’m not late, I’m married.” Everyone laughs. TC was silenced. Quite a scene. Unfortunately most of us, including Phil, did not possess such skills.

Thanks for that story, Ohio. I vowed to quit posting here but when I came by and saw this I just can’t resist.

Tom McNaughton was extremely helpful to me personally. He visited our small church on a regular basis for several years, staying in my home overnight. He once told me, “I’m the smartest person you’ll ever know.” How I laughed then and now at this pure Tom comment. Whenever you asked him how he was doing he would drolly reply, “Burning and glorious.” His sense of comic timing was exquisite.

When Tom died way too soon I took a brother with me to his memorial service. It was one for the ages. Tom’s wife said she and Tom’s getting married was like two Mack trucks hitting head on. She said she and Tom couldn’t divorce because they had an agreement the one to leave had to take the seven kids. As we drove home my friend who had known Tom about a year said, “Only America could have produced Tom McNaughton.” I deeply wish the local churches in the U. S. had valued this truth.

I still miss him but he lives on here in northern Indiana where we quote him often.

SC

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by SpeakersCorner

Thanks for that story, Ohio. I vowed to quit posting here but when I came by and saw this I just can’t resist.

Tom McNaughton was extremely helpful to me personally. He visited our small church on a regular basis for several years, staying in my home overnight. He once told me, “I’m the smartest person you’ll ever know.” How I laughed then and now at this pure Tom comment. Whenever you asked him how he was doing he would drolly reply, “Burning and glorious.” His sense of comic timing was exquisite.

When Tom died way too soon I took a brother with me to his memorial service. It was one for the ages. Tom’s wife said she and Tom’s getting married was like two Mack trucks hitting head on. She said she and Tom couldn’t divorce because they had an agreement the one to leave had to take the seven kids. As we drove home my friend who had known Tom about a year said, “Only America could have produced Tom McNaughton.” I deeply wish the local churches in the U. S. had valued this truth.

I still miss him but he lives on here in northern Indiana where we quote him often.

SC

Great stories bro, and I've made the same "vows" on occasion.

I remember the first time I stayed with Tom at some training. Coming from my sheltered parochial home life in SW Cleveburg, I had certain dated prejudices about those with tattoos. Tom was one of those guys who helped you change your thinking about ingrained stereotypes.

Tom and family joined us when we moved to Columbus. Once a few of us zealots stopped by his house one evening and "caught" him and his wife playing Scrabble with friends. Huh? Tom portrayed a certain courageous genuineness sorely needed in those days.

Once I saw Tom's wife spank one of her boys severely, and then hold him lovingly and talked to the child at length how much she loved him. That left a positive impression on me. Growing up I only got the first half of that equation from my father. Tom and his family seemed to model a "normal" Christian family, especially during the difficult times.