Dr. S. Maxwell Coder, 95, former editor-in-chief of Moody Press in Chicago and vice president and dean of education at Moody Bible Institute, died Monday in the Johnson Health Care Center in Carol Stream.
Born in Straight, Pa., Dr. Coder wrote 24 books covering subjects including the prophecies of the Bible and a Bible correspondence course titled Youth Triumphant. He also edited manuscripts for the Wycliffe Series of Christian Classics, a 40-volume project launched by Moody Press in 1946. The series includes reprints of great religious literature from the last four centuries.
Dr. Coder was a salesman and sales supervisor prior to graduating from Temple University Teachers College in Philadelphia and Dallas Theological Seminary, where he received his master of theology degree in 1948.
For five years, Dr. Coder was pastor of the Chelsea Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City, later serving in the Evangel Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He was appointed to the Moody Institute staff as a faculty member and writer in 1945, becoming editor of Moody Press a year later.
In 1949, a doctor of divinity degree was conferred upon him by the Bible Theological Seminary of Los Angeles.
Five years later, Dr. Coder toured Africa and the Near East, with a view of keeping Moody Bible Institute’s missionary training methods up to date with actual trends in the field.
“My father helped bring the institute into the 20th Century through his hard work and dedication,” said his daughter, Maxine Howard. “He was highly educated and always open-minded. He knew the word of God like the back of his hand.”
In 1959, Dr. Coder was one of 20 Bible teachers in the country asked by Sacred Records of Los Angeles to produce a series of 33 1/3 r.p.m. records covering various Bible books and doctrinal studies. The series, titled Audio Bible Studies, has been praised as a rare synthesis of the entire Bible and certain doctrines.
A longtime Evanston resident, Dr. Coder lived at Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream for the past four years and was working on a book about his life and his work at the institute.
“My father worked right up until the end,” said Howard. “He was very vital and into his daily routine.”
Other survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; a son, Dr. Donald Coder; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. Friday until services at 10 a.m. in Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton.
