How did Oswald Chambers come up with the term:  "My Utmost For His
Highest"?

Is it a scriptural quote, a quote from another source, something taken
from context, or his own creation.  And when did he first use it?

Michael Todor

Dear mirthandwarmth-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question.

Oswald Chambers (born in Scotland in 1874; died 1917) is attributed
the phrase, “My Utmost for the Highest" in the devotionals published
in his name in the early 20th century.

There are some unproven references that claim the phrase was coined by
the great artist G. F. Watts (1817-1904), who supposedly derived it
from the commonly accepted underlying message contained in certain
scriptures in The Christian “Holy Bible” (Heb. 11:8 and 2 Corinthians
4:7-11, among others). This is also believed to have been the source
of the phrase as it pertains to Chambers.

One cannot know for certain whether Watts of Chambers should be given
credit for the phrase, but interestingly, there is much more to this
story. You see Chamber’s devotional entitled, "My Utmost for His
Highest", was first published in 1923, some six years after his death
in 1917 from a failed appendix operation. The book hadn’t been written
at the time of his death, and in fact, he did not write it at all; his
wife, Gertrude, did. It turned out that Gertrude “Biddy” Chambers
(nee, Hobbs) had actually been a legal stenographer by profession and
had taken the liberty of compiling her verbatim notes of his lectures
at an English Bible college and in YMCA huts in Egypt. In 1923 she
published one of her compilations of what she claimed was her
husband’s lectures and entitled it “My Utmost for His Highest”.

As I mentioned earlier, it is impossible to determine who actually
coined the phrase first, but if I were to bet my last nickel on it, I
have to say that neither Watts (for whom very little mention of the
phrase exists – and even then, well after his death) nor Chambers (who
was long since dead by the time the devotional was written and
published) first uttered the phrase. According to what Biddy claimed
were verbatim notes, she recorded the phrase being said by Chambers in
one of his lectures some time prior to 1917, but other than that one
reference by her, the utterance of the phrase by Chambers is not
officially recorded ANYWHERE. If you want to know who should be
credited for first PUBLISHING the phrase, and which indisputably
attributes it to a verifiable source…”Biddy” Chambers did it. If I had
to guess who coined the phrase, I’d have to say that she sticks most
prominently as the person who, in all likelihood, originally did that
too.

Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
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future. Thank you for using Google Answers.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga


INFORMATION SOURCES

LOVE – HUMAND AND DEVINE
http://www.seegod.org/love_-_human_and_divine.htm


“George Frederick Watts RA (1817-1904)”
http://www.speel.demon.co.uk/artists/watts.htm


OSWALD CHAMBERS
http://www.oswaldchambers.co.uk/





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"my utmost for his highest" phrase

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Request for Answer Clarification by mirthandwarmth-ga on 05 Jan 2003 17:33 PST

Thank you very much!
  Your answer seems most plausible and probably correct.  The little I
know about "My Utmost For His Highest" is taken from the sketchy intro
by his wife in the preface to the 1965 edition of my copy of the work,
and in it she reveals that she took the notes and did the editing,
therefore, to her is probably due the credit.

I am wondering if this is expounded in any way in the biography on him
that I've seen in Christian Book Stores - written within the past 10
years or so?

The phrase in and of itself has a certain charm and grace; no doubt
influenced by his Victorian education and the syntax of the King
James.

Thanks,

Mirthandwarmth

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 05 Jan 2003 18:19 PST

I don't know if there are profound references in publications to
"Biddy's" work on her husband's behalf, but on the Oswald Chambers
Biography page http://www.oswaldchambers.co.uk/oswald.htm they make no
bones about it. Apprently the source of "his" works is widely known.

You are right, it is a charming phrase, almost biblical in context.
I'm sure this was intentional. I also wouldn't be surprised to look in
a crystal ball (because that's the only way we'll ever know) if
hundreds of people before the Chambers had said this phrase at some
time or another.

I hope you experience here has been a meaningful one.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

It was well researched and gave the sources!  The writing was very
good and clear.  It also opened more doors; which is always good!

Thanks!

Mirthandwarmth

This is a fascinating question. I have found numerous references which
attribute the phrase "my utmost for his highest" to the Apostle Paul,
but I cannot find the phrase in any concordance.

Here is one of the many sites that mentions Paul in connection with
the phrase:

http://members.aol.com/BAMWorks/testsite/bufc/frdm0108.txt

I believe the exact phrase is Chambers' own, expressing his
interpretation of Paul's meaning in Philippians 1:20:   "Paul says --
"My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest."  This can be
found in the opening devotional of "My Utmost for His Highest," titled
"Let us Keep to the Point."