Philip W. Comfort, 72, scholar led New Testament translation
January 19, 2023
Philip Wesley Comfort of Hagley Estates, a Bible scholar, author and surfer, died Dec. 31. He was 72.
He was born Oct. 28, 1950, in Sewickly, Pa., the son of Richard and Dorothy Comfort. He grew up in Ohio and attended Kent State University. He earned a doctorate in literary interpretation from the University of South Africa.
Mr. Comfort worked for Tyndale House Publishers in Chicago as senior editor for 33 years. He was coordinating editor/translator of the New Testament of the New Living Translation of the Bible. The project took seven years, he recalled in a 1999 interview. It was his job to review the work of other scholars and come up with a translation on which they could agree.
“The Bible didn’t come with a handbook on how to interpret it,” he said. “The basic message of the Bible that Jesus was the son of God and died for our sins, all the basics. Millions of Bible readers agree on these certain things. But on other issues, there are thousands of interpretations.”
He was married for 50 years to Georgia Comfort, a pianist and music teacher. They raised their family in Chicago before moving to Pawleys Island in 1997.
Mr. Comfort authored more than 15 academic books and six books of poetry. One of his books was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.
He took up surfing at age 47. That led to his first novel, “Rescued Retriever,” inspired by the dog he and his wife found abandoned along Highway 17 in Francis Marion National Forest.
“Everyone knew Charlie,” Mr. Comfort said after the novel was published in 2005. “He would follow me into the ocean and watch me surf, and then he would get on the board himself and ride in.”
The couple saw God move many times in their lives. In 1989, Mrs. Comfort was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She was given a year to live.
“I’m a walking miracle,” she said in an interview 25 years later. She wrote about her faith in God and her battle with cancer in a book, “Dying to Live.”
Mr. Comfort continued to work for Tyndale from home after moving to Pawleys Island, traveling to Chicago for meetings. Known in New Testament circles as a Bible scholar’s scholar, he also taught English, the New Testament and Greek at several colleges including Trinity Seminary and Wheaton College and Coastal Carolina University. He taught a bible class at Pawleys Island Community Church for 20 years.
“I love teaching. I love the interaction,” he said. “I even love the arguments.”
His writing and teaching made an untold impact on the Christian community world-wide.
In addition to surfing, he was an avid soccer fan and coached the JV boys team at Waccamaw High for many years.
While he had an amazing intellect, it was his heart that set him apart. He would spend each morning on the beach in worship of God’s creation and talking to Jesus.
He is survived by his sons Jeremy Comfort, John Comfort (Angela) and Peter Comfort; his grandsons, Sage Cross, Jonah Comfort, Reid Comfort and Drake Comfort; his brothers, Richard Comfort Jr. (Carolyn) and Gregory Comfort (Maureen); his mother-in-law, Joan Algeo Riser; a sister-in-law, Sally Nachamkin; his brothers-in-law Bob Riser and Ted Riser; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Georgia Comfort died in December 2021. Along with his parents, his father-in-law, George Riser, and another sister-in-law, Robin Comfort, died before him.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. at Pawleys Island Community Church.
Condolences and memorials can be sent to the church, P.O. Box 777, Pawleys Island, SC 29585.
