Dr. Hoehner

It was only last November that my mentor, Zane Hodges, went to be at home with the Lord. On February 12, 2009, Harold Hoehner, my Doktorvater also went to be with the Lord. (Doktorvater literally in German means, the doctor’s father. It is the term for one’s doctoral dissertation advisor). Besides being my advisor, he was the one who convinced me that Mark was the last synoptic Gospel to be written (Matthew, Luke, then Mark). Last year, I told him that rewriting my dissertation for publication is one of my current projects. I had hoped that he would see it.

Dr. Hoehner contributed so much to me personally in terms of exegetical methodology, biblical chronology, and New Testament Introduction. It is my goal to carry on his legacy.

It was through his recommendation that I was able to contribute chapters to Three Views on the Origins of the Synoptic Gospels, ed. Robert L. Thomas (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002). He also invited me to join a committee overseeing a Ph.D. dissertation on the Synoptic Problem. It was a privilege to serve as the third reader a committee with Dr. Hoehner and Dr. Lowery of Dallas Theological Seminary.

I will miss him, but he is with the Lord. He is in a better place.

Springtime Travels

An opportunity came up for LeTourneau research in my hometown (Stockton, CA) and at the first university I attended (University of California, Davis) during the last week of January. (LeTourneau started his company in Stockton).

On February 2, I presented a paper: “Is John’s Gospel Anti-Semitic?” to the Honor’s Forum at San Diego Christian College at the invitation of Dr. Brian Moulton (a classmate of mine at DTS in master’s and doctoral studies in New Testament).

On April 17, I will present a modified form of the same paper at the same school for the regional meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS).

On March 26–27 will be a time for research on LeTourneau’s early equipment at LeTourneau University in Longview, TX.

On March 29, I will speak at Victor Street Bible Chapel (Dallas, TX), both services. The Grace Evangelical Society national conference will be at the Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. I will present a main paper and a workshop.

Then, on April 4, in Silver Lake, OR. Diane’s parents will celebrate their sixtieth anniversary. I will lead them in saying their vows again.

Longer-Range Plans

From 1995–2006, my main ministry was as a seminary New Testament professor. Circumstances at Grace Chapel late in 2006, required a change in direction. I accepted the role of primary teaching elder. Now, another elder, Ricardo Campos, one of my former seminary students, has shown readiness for increased teaching responsibilities. His teaching role will gradually increase and mine will decrease. By the summer of 2011 the transition will be complete. We plan to move to Denver, so that my teaching role at Rocky Mountain Bible College and Seminary will increase from teaching two-week modules to teaching during regular semesters. From Denver, it will be easier for us to travel further east as we spread the message of life through John’s Gospel.