I am certain of Brevard Childs’ rest with the saints. But he will be missed in a great way. There have been and are Old Testament scholars of enormous gifts and contributions. But Childs almost single-handedly — single-mindedly and single-heartedly — wrested serious Biblical studies away from the diseased grip of historical-critical irrelevance, with its fragmenting of the divine text, with respect to Scripture’s reality as the Word of God. The movement of renewal he inititiated is still in its infancy, and its future for the Christian faith and Church still uncharted. I pray we may be worthy of the legacy he has left. But I would not be surprised if, when histories are written of Scriptural scholarship, he is not viewed as among the greatest in the last 50 years. That he fulfilled his vocation while being a man of humble faith, prayer, and warm affection for students and colleagues is a testimony to the marvelous grace of God. May the Lord bless him in His Kingdom, and may our hearts be thankful.
I add my appreciation to those above. Brevard Childs almost singlehandedly restored “canon” to a theological and spiritual category, rather than merely a list of books. His Introductions and Biblical Theology give a comprehensive embodiment to his program. I predict his work will have its greatest impact on Evangelical theology, e.g., in the recent work by Kevin Vanhoozer.
## 1-8: what you all said. A giant in faithful scholarship for whom the Church will long, long be grateful. He taught ‘mainline’ Protestantism once again to grapple with the unity of Scripture as a symphony of voices, rather than the antagonistic cacophony that modern day liberalism discerns (e.g. setting ‘Jesus’ against ‘Paul’).
A lovely man, a devout Christian, a wonderful teacher. He will be missed.
George,
Yes, indeed, every word that you have said. Fortunately, he formed many others.
One of the best teachers and greatest scholars with whom it was my privilege to study. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful rest in peace.
I am certain of Brevard Childs’ rest with the saints. But he will be missed in a great way. There have been and are Old Testament scholars of enormous gifts and contributions. But Childs almost single-handedly — single-mindedly and single-heartedly — wrested serious Biblical studies away from the diseased grip of historical-critical irrelevance, with its fragmenting of the divine text, with respect to Scripture’s reality as the Word of God. The movement of renewal he inititiated is still in its infancy, and its future for the Christian faith and Church still uncharted. I pray we may be worthy of the legacy he has left. But I would not be surprised if, when histories are written of Scriptural scholarship, he is not viewed as among the greatest in the last 50 years. That he fulfilled his vocation while being a man of humble faith, prayer, and warm affection for students and colleagues is a testimony to the marvelous grace of God. May the Lord bless him in His Kingdom, and may our hearts be thankful.
A wonderful man and a brilliant scholar. I am so thankful that thanks to what was then SEAD (now ACI) I had a chance to meet him.
I was fortunate to have studied under him in the last Old Testament Survey he taught at Yale. A great and kind man. Rest in peace.
I add my appreciation to those above. Brevard Childs almost singlehandedly restored “canon” to a theological and spiritual category, rather than merely a list of books. His Introductions and Biblical Theology give a comprehensive embodiment to his program. I predict his work will have its greatest impact on Evangelical theology, e.g., in the recent work by Kevin Vanhoozer.
It has indeed been inspirational to come to view scripture in the ways this scholar uncovered.
## 1-8: what you all said. A giant in faithful scholarship for whom the Church will long, long be grateful. He taught ‘mainline’ Protestantism once again to grapple with the unity of Scripture as a symphony of voices, rather than the antagonistic cacophony that modern day liberalism discerns (e.g. setting ‘Jesus’ against ‘Paul’).
As Dr. Radner said, he gave the Bible back to the Church. Well done.