If I had life to do over again I would have been one of your students. Did my doctoral study in Sociology and labored at a state institution. Was the faculty sponsor for InterVarsity for 24 years and that led me to go to work for them for 15 years as my career climaxed. All of my theological training/experience was self guided and self taught. Retired now for 13 years, most of my continued study/reading are on spiritual and church issues. Enjoyed reading this a lot as my career spanned the times from a manual typewriter to very fast computers.
I’m thankful for the opportunity that online classes affords, but you can’t beat those in-person, intensive classes. I’m glad I got to have two of them with you.
This was my first classes, and favorite classes (and favorite professor) at TEDS (1980-1985). Thank you, Scot, for making my entrance to graduate school such a warm welcome.
I do not miss typewriters (the footnotes, ack!), and I do love libraries, although I now live far from a good research library and am very grateful for online research and used booksellers. I DO miss in-person classes, and like Bobby, loved the in-person intensives at Northern and Houston. There is no substitute, and I’ll always remember what F.F. stands for!
Thank you Scott. Great photo by the way. As an instructor I do not do the digital books , the only time I’ve taught online was during the pandemic. I guess since I own the school I can get away with not going digital.
I really, really enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing your memories.
I was born in May 1981 - after your first year of teaching!
I'm grateful for both our in-person intensives AND the Zoom classroom that allowed me to get my MA from the Netherlands. You're right -- the in-person time made the online classroom do-able.
I’m an 20-something engineer working in Arizona. For some time now, I believe God has been calling me to attend seminary and become a New Testament scholar. I’m still praying on that, and have been trying to read up on scholars and their backgrounds.
I recently purchased “The Second Testament” to supplement my Bible reading, and it’s certainly made things fresh again. The “chunkiness” has in some ways helped me understand how far removed we are from the time and land of Jesus and made me grateful that we are part of such an ancient faith. All that to say that because of works like yours I’ve gained a greater appreciation for New Testament scholarship.
After doing some research, I believe it’s sensible to study at a British university due to the strength of scholarship in the UK or at a mainline seminary due to the strength of funding.
That being said, I still hope to study under someone who leans evangelical or confessional. Not that we have to agree on every finer detail, but at least share the fundamentals. There’s a few interesting areas of study (Johannine corpus, multicultural exegesis, Lukan studies, Pauline studies especially regarding 1 Corinthians) that I would love to pursue further.
Do you know of any evangelical scholars at mainline seminaries working in these areas or others? Eric Barreto seems promising, especially since it would be wonderful to learn under the tutelage of another Hispanic man. Before looking further into this, I wanted to consult with someone who is already in the academy.
Thanks for your time and whatever help you can offer.
This brought back so many memories! I started seminary in 1981. (It was probably 95/5% male/female). Loved my in person classes and the great discussions. Loved my Selectric II type writer with changeable balls. I used an italics ball in papers when I really wanted to impress. My jaw hit the floor the spring I graduated and a new student showed me his word processor. Whaaaat? I am blessed to be able to teach intensives in person. The few times I taught online or zoom I hated it.
A great trip down memory lane about how us old timers used to do school. I was at the Moody Bible Institute in the early '80s and your picture of the Greek text induced painful memories of Greek class and Mr. Wise saying, "Mr. Roberts, read and translate verses 5-7." He often talked about Greek idioms and my friend and I used to joke that we felt like a word very close to idiom in Greek class.
I like Accordance's research power, but I'm glad I learned without it. Physical books are better, and so is in person class. I do like typing on a computer, but still take some notes by hand.
If I had life to do over again I would have been one of your students. Did my doctoral study in Sociology and labored at a state institution. Was the faculty sponsor for InterVarsity for 24 years and that led me to go to work for them for 15 years as my career climaxed. All of my theological training/experience was self guided and self taught. Retired now for 13 years, most of my continued study/reading are on spiritual and church issues. Enjoyed reading this a lot as my career spanned the times from a manual typewriter to very fast computers.
I’m thankful for the opportunity that online classes affords, but you can’t beat those in-person, intensive classes. I’m glad I got to have two of them with you.
This was my first classes, and favorite classes (and favorite professor) at TEDS (1980-1985). Thank you, Scot, for making my entrance to graduate school such a warm welcome.
The sweet spot of higher education has got to be classroom learning, computers over typewriters, physical books and Zotero.
I do not miss typewriters (the footnotes, ack!), and I do love libraries, although I now live far from a good research library and am very grateful for online research and used booksellers. I DO miss in-person classes, and like Bobby, loved the in-person intensives at Northern and Houston. There is no substitute, and I’ll always remember what F.F. stands for!
Thank you Scott. Great photo by the way. As an instructor I do not do the digital books , the only time I’ve taught online was during the pandemic. I guess since I own the school I can get away with not going digital.
I really, really enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing your memories.
I was born in May 1981 - after your first year of teaching!
I'm grateful for both our in-person intensives AND the Zoom classroom that allowed me to get my MA from the Netherlands. You're right -- the in-person time made the online classroom do-able.
Hi Dr. McKnight,
I’m an 20-something engineer working in Arizona. For some time now, I believe God has been calling me to attend seminary and become a New Testament scholar. I’m still praying on that, and have been trying to read up on scholars and their backgrounds.
I recently purchased “The Second Testament” to supplement my Bible reading, and it’s certainly made things fresh again. The “chunkiness” has in some ways helped me understand how far removed we are from the time and land of Jesus and made me grateful that we are part of such an ancient faith. All that to say that because of works like yours I’ve gained a greater appreciation for New Testament scholarship.
After doing some research, I believe it’s sensible to study at a British university due to the strength of scholarship in the UK or at a mainline seminary due to the strength of funding.
That being said, I still hope to study under someone who leans evangelical or confessional. Not that we have to agree on every finer detail, but at least share the fundamentals. There’s a few interesting areas of study (Johannine corpus, multicultural exegesis, Lukan studies, Pauline studies especially regarding 1 Corinthians) that I would love to pursue further.
Do you know of any evangelical scholars at mainline seminaries working in these areas or others? Eric Barreto seems promising, especially since it would be wonderful to learn under the tutelage of another Hispanic man. Before looking further into this, I wanted to consult with someone who is already in the academy.
Thanks for your time and whatever help you can offer.
Blessings,
David Zaragoza
Thank you for putting the spotlight on the impact and importance of the personal interaction in life shifting learning environments.
This brought back so many memories! I started seminary in 1981. (It was probably 95/5% male/female). Loved my in person classes and the great discussions. Loved my Selectric II type writer with changeable balls. I used an italics ball in papers when I really wanted to impress. My jaw hit the floor the spring I graduated and a new student showed me his word processor. Whaaaat? I am blessed to be able to teach intensives in person. The few times I taught online or zoom I hated it.
A great trip down memory lane about how us old timers used to do school. I was at the Moody Bible Institute in the early '80s and your picture of the Greek text induced painful memories of Greek class and Mr. Wise saying, "Mr. Roberts, read and translate verses 5-7." He often talked about Greek idioms and my friend and I used to joke that we felt like a word very close to idiom in Greek class.
I like Accordance's research power, but I'm glad I learned without it. Physical books are better, and so is in person class. I do like typing on a computer, but still take some notes by hand.
Academic standards have objectively decreased.
Entering-student Bible knowledge has decreased.
Evangelicalism has become less committed to orthodoxy.