Category: Philip Yancey

Reflections on Fall Semester 2010

The Fall 2010 semester is my second to last semester here in the MA (Theological Studies) program at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. It was an intense semester in which all areas of my life were affected. I will highlight some of the events that had considerable significance.

(1) Death of my grandfather. The loss of a loved one is tough when school is in progress. My grandfather and I were close, so he is dearly missed. I have noticed that much of his way of doing things have become a part of the way I do things—in particular, the way he strives to do things well. In losing him, I really found great love and support in the George Fox community.

(2) Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting. This came between my grandfather’s death and his funeral. It was helpful to take some time to get away, and to be immersed in an academic environment. The SBL experience broadened my thinking and inspires me to become a better contributor to academia and the world.

(3) Spirituality and the Mind. This was a much-needed spiritual formation class. Intellectual pursuit that lifts one up to God is a spiritual matter. Because I am wired this way, I found myself at home in this class.

(4) Christology of the New Testament. This was a class beyond classes—no kidding! Not only did we read Larry W. Hurtado’s Lord Jesus Christ, Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the God of Israel (2008), and Contours of Christology edited by Richard Longenecker, and Philip Yancey’s The Jesus I Never Knew (with a four-page book review), but we had to read whole gospels and epistles, plus other supplementary articles and notes. To top that off, we were required to read 150 pages of our own choosing on Christology, and write a 5oo-word report on that. The other writings we did were a 3,000- to 4,000-word research paper and an application paper of 750 words. On top of all of this, we had weekly discussion and worksheet posts. Say, WOW!

Beyond the great textbooks and the discussions, the required extra-textbook reading was most helpful because it helped me to grasp better some of Bultmann’s ideas and his significance to biblical studies.

(5) Bi-Optic Project Paper. This was a 20-page of the research that I done for Dr. Paul Anderson on the bi-optic gospels. This was a important because it taught me how to take observations and explain them through written media. I learned how to sustain an argument through many words and pages, interact with scholarship in a more thorough manner, and to establish a rhythm of writing.

Now that a writing rhythm has been ingrained in me, and that I have done a course that appears to mimic the Ph.D. load, I feel that no class is unconquerable. For now, however, I have a break that is waiting to be enjoyed.

In the Mail: Christology Course Books

I received my Christology syllabus today and am quite pleased with the reading list:

I have read parts of some of these books and thought they were good, so I am glad to be forced to add them to my collection. For NT Christology, what other books would be worth considering?

Books That Changed My Life

Over at Patheos.com several people were asked to note books that have changed their faith-lives (not including the Bible) over the last ten years (see here). For those who care I thought I’d list mine as well. Here is my list:

(1) Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, The Great Divorce, and The Screw Tape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I know many have been influenced by C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. In the Problem of Pain he provided me with some satisfying intellectual answers to the subject of the book though I would argue you can’t understand Lewis in this book without reading his personal memoir on suffering A Grief Observed. The Great Divorce helped me think more broadly about the doctrine of hell which has always been a difficult pill to swallow. Finally, the Screwtape Letters but a “personal” spin on demonology making it apparent that any interaction with this subject must include the fact that whatever demons do it is not computerized, it can be planned, and it must be logical. As one who has spent much time around Pentecostalism I appreciated the warning against fascination with the demonic; as one who has been studying in an academic setting for years I appreciated the warning against ignoring the demonic.

Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If anyone can tell stories about being abused by fellow Christians it is I. For a long time I wanted to be one of those “non-religious” Christians who “followed Jesus” while being critical of the church. This seems a bit impractical in a religion with sacraments like baptism and the Eucharist that are both religious and ecclesiologically centered. In Bonhoeffer’s book I finally found myself comfortable as part of the church realizing that he was right when he said you have to love the church as she is now if you will ever see her become greater. In addition, I have come to realize that I am often as much a shame to Christianity as those I have judged. The beauty of our faith is not our success but the grace of God.

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey

This book was recommended to me by my pastor, Jeff Garner. I read it over a Christmas Break from school. It changed the way I viewed Jesus forever. It put a face on what seemed like a ghost. I realized that the complexity of the gospel traditions is what makes the Jesus we have received so glorious.

The New Testament and the People of God, The Challenge of Jesus, The Last Word, Surprised by Hope, and After You Believe by N.T. Wright

The New Testament and the People of God was my introduction to reading N.T. Wright and it shaped my epistemology as well as my interest in how I approach New Testament studies. The Challenge of Jesus was peaked my interest in historical Jesus studies. The Last Word helped me think about the role of Scripture in the life of the church. Surprised by Hope confirmed so many things I was noticing in my own study of Scripture as regards eschatology and it cemented Romans 8 as my favorite chapter in all of Scripture. After You Believe provided me with a framework for Christian morality that I had not firmly established since leaving a very legalistic version of Christianity while in college.

Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

This books was so witty and brilliant it made me what to convert to Roman Catholicism. I have remained a Protestant for many reasons but this book, like Bonhoeffer’s, reinforced my commitment to the historical church and her teachings. It is one of the few books I have read more than a couple of times.

On the Incarnation by Athanasius of Alexandria

This book introduced me to the beauty of the Nicene Creed as well as the Greek Fathers like Basil, the Gregories, John Chrysostom, and so forth. Often it seems that Athanasius noticed aspects of Scripture, especially Paul, that modern commentators ignore. For all the criticism the Western church has launched against theosis it is obvious to me that Athanasius and others realized the essential need to be united with God by Christ through the Holy Spirit. This book made me see how important Christ is to this aspect of our salvation and the redemption of the cosmos.

Unlocking Romans by J.R. Daniel Kirk

This book reformatted my reading of Romans. It has long been my favorite book of the Bible but there were so many pieces that seems to be disconnected. Kirk helped provide a structure by emphasizing how the doctrine of resurrection functions in the epistle. It has led me to see the importance of the Adam-Christ contrast, the role of the Holy Spirit in the new humanity, and the destiny of the entire creation.

God’s Empowering Presence by G.D. Fee

I read this entire massive exposition on all references or allusions to the Holy Spirit in the letters of Paul. It changed my life. I was raised around Pentecostalism and I knew the Spirit was important but the framework with which I was provided (Spirit =  essentially tongues) seemed a bit limited. This book expanded my Pneumatology like no other.