Foreword

Dr. Eric Tully joins Dr. Michelle Knight and Dr. Josh Jipp for this week’s episode. Eric is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and he also directs the PhD. in Theological Studies. He completed his MDiv. at TEDS and also holds a BA from Moody Bible Institute and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Eric begins with a recounting of his childhood in the mission field in central Africa, a time during which he grew to appreciate the spiritual benefits of the Old Testament. From that point onward, he was committed to helping the church understand it well. This leads into a discussion of Eric’s course on the “Book of the Twelve,” commonly known as the “Minor Prophets,” and the most coherent reasons we have for reading them as a unified set of texts. There is also an insightful conversation about the eschatological vision of the prophets, and how one’s relation to God determines where one stands in relation to such a vision. Eric also expatiates on the importance of focusing on the Hebrew text for interpretation, both in his work in Hosea and in his co-taught course on the Psalms with Dr. David Luy. Finally, Eric shares his wisdom about the benefits of getting a PhD., especially the kinds of intellectual virtues one is able to cultivate through the process.

Along the way, listeners will discover… 

• Who shot first, Han or Greedo, and why?
• Eric’s favorite drink.
• What the prophets uniquely contribute to what we know about God, and what we’d lose without them.

To learn more about Dr. Eric Tully, visit his faculty page, or explore one of his many books, whether his Hosea commentary, his introduction to textual criticism, or his forthcoming work on the prophets, due March 2022. He has also done a recent chapel message. Thanks for listening!

Dr. Fellipe do Vale and Dr. Madison Pierce interview Dr. Manuel Rauchholz, who is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Manuel has been teaching at TEDS for three years, and he also is an alumnus. He completed a ThM under Paul Hiebert at TEDS before going on to doctoral work in cultural anthropology at Heidelberg University.

The episode begins with Manuel sharing the fascinating trajectory his life has taken, beginning with his birth in Germany, through to his family’s missions work in Micronesia (especially the island of Chuuk), and followed by stretches of time in Illinois, Germany, and Japan. Manuel brings his cultural expertise and curiosity to his work, and in the episode, he emphasizes the importance of a careful and detailed understanding of human communities, both in their beauty and in the difficult things one encounters therein. Such a practice enriches seminaries and churches, for it is a way to become “all things to all people,” maintains Manuel, and doing so demonstrates love and self-giving to those communities. Manuel himself has exhibited this nuanced anthropological work in his studies on human trafficking in small island communities, and concludes with some recommendations for how Christians can be agents of good in such spaces.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Why Manuel thinks his wife is more German than he is
• Some of the challenges of being a cultural anthropologist, especially since people, unlike books, do not stay in one place
• How theologians, pastors, and ministers can learn from the study of culture

To learn more about Dr. Manuel Rauchholz, visit his faculty page, read one of his publications in journals like the Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, watch his recent interview on abuse and the church with the Koinonia network, or better yet, come study with him at TEDS!

This week, the Foreword Podcast returns with an interview of cognitive psychologist of religion Dr. Justin Barrett, president and co-founder of Blueprint 1543, an organization working at the intersection of Christian theology and the sciences. Justin is also Honorary Professor of Theology and the Sciences at the University of St. Andrews, and has served at Calvin University, the University of Michigan and the University of Oxford. He is interviewed by Drs. James Arcadi and Fellipe do Vale.

Justin begins by describing the path that brought him to doing what he does now, a path that winds through multiple states and countries and involves writing a book as a stay-at-home Dad and serving with YoungLife. On this path, Justin developed a passion for integrating his scientific work with his Christian faith, which eventually led to his work in the cognitive psychology of religion, a discipline he had a significant hand in shaping. Justin reflects on how to integrate science and theology well, which occupies so much of his work today. He also discusses his recent book, Thriving with Stone Age Minds, where he explores what it means to thrive as human beings living in an ever shifting environment always placing new demands on our natures.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Why it is not a good idea to wear a necktie with batteries
• Why cities just might be bad for us
• Why donuts are so amazing (from a scientific point of view)

To learn more about Dr. Justin Barrett, you can explore the rich resources he and his team provide at Blueprint 1543 including videos, free courses curated for theologians and ministers (through the TheoPsych program), as well as articles on the integration of science and theology. Consider also his most recent book and the series of interviews he did with Closer to Truth.

Episode four introduces listeners to Dr. Craig Ott, Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies, ReachGlobal Chair of Mission and Director of the PhD.in Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Craig also received his MDiv and PhD from TEDS, and his familiarity with the school stretches a long way. 

Dr. Josh Jipp and Dr. James Arcadi have a lively conversation with Craig, ranging from his upbringing and conversion in Southern California during the Jesus Movement through to his current work on contextualization in teaching and learning. Craig eventually found his way to TEDS as a student, where he discusses the impactful experiences with professors who sustained intellectual rigor with passionate evangelism (not to mention his experience meeting his now wife and fellow colleague, Alice). Craig and Alice now both teach at TEDS, and they bring with them rich experiences of having served as missionaries to Germany and as church planters, a time during which they had to learn lessons about how to bring the gospel to new places, with new questions and challenges. Apologetics, missions, intercultural studies and evangelism integrate into a profound set of sensitivities that Craig now brings into the classroom and beyond.

Along the way, listeners will discover… 

• How much Josh knows about the Premier League (speaking of cross cultural experience…)
• Whether it is a good idea for spouses to edit one another’s books
• Which board game serves as a helpful analogue to contextualization

To learn more about Dr. Craig Ott, have a look at the PhD. in Intercultural Studies program at TEDS, at his new book Teaching and Learning across Cultures, his earlier book The Church on Mission or his recent chapel message.

In the third episode of the season, Dr. Michelle Knight and Dr. Fellipe do Vale sit down with President Felix Theonugraha of Western Theological Seminary and alumnus of the MDiv and PhD in Educational Studies at TEDS. Felix previously served as Dean of Students and VP of Student Life and University Ministries at TEDS.

Michelle and Fellipe engage Felix about his experiences as the President of a seminary—both the joys and the challenges. The inevitable complexities of leading during the pandemic are discussed, and Felix offers wise and compassionate insight. He also describes the journey into his current role, a path that involved both great hope and the recognition of the pressures of the task. From there, the conversation transitions from past to future as Felix lays out his hopes for the role of a seminary within the United States and throughout the world. Chief among them is the hope that the people who make up a seminary genuinely know God and see their education as an act of worship and spiritual formation. He also hopes that seminaries take seriously the global and racial diversity they ought to nurture. Questions of the relationship between strategies that have been good and worked in the past and those that need to change for the future are also broached.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Which member of the Foreword crew is in a picture Felix has hanging in his house
• Which TEDS professors have been most formative for Felix in thinking about institutional leadership
• Of which club Michelle was the treasurer

To learn more about President Felix Theonugraha, visit his website bio, the President’s page at WTS (where you can find statements and interviews), or watch his talk from Mosaic at TEDS.

In this episode, Dr. Madison Pierce and Dr. Josh Jipp interview Dr. David Pao, the newly-appointed Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. David is not only Dean of TEDS, but is also Professor of New Testament and an accomplished author and scholar.

Josh and Madison talk to David about the key experiences that led him to vocational ministry, including encounters with doubt and the role of Scripture in shaping his way of seeing reality. The conversation then shifts to what David perceives the key challenges to theological education to be, and he maintains that a strong commitment to what Christians hold in common enables a community to interact charitably with one another, even in the midst of differences and struggles. David also shares about his recent research on the Pastoral Epistles, the importance of cultural context for biblical interpretation and his excitement about the ability of Scripture to speak subversively to cultural norms. 

Along the way, listeners will discover:

• David’s favorite places to travel
• David’s favorite extra-canonical book to study
• Which member of the Foreword crew’s mom pranked them with the help of David

Finally, David shares a pastoral word on the true meaning of success in ministry as an alternative to the common desire for success and popularity. 

To learn more about Dr. David Pao, see his excellent commentary on Colossians and Philemon, his book Acts and the Isaianic New Exodus, or you can watch his recent chapel message here.

As the Foreword crew returns for the season three premiere, there are many new things to get excited about. They are back in the on-campus studio, which has a fresh new look. Perhaps most surprisingly of all, Josh unveils his first smartphone and ranks his favorite apps.

 We are also introduced to the crew’s newest host, Dr. Fellipe do Vale, who has recently joined the Systematic Theology faculty at TEDS. Each host takes an opportunity to ask Fellipe questions ranging from his favorite TV shows to his research on the theology of gender, from his background living in Brazil and Seattle to what advice he has for ministers looking to navigate many of the truly hard things facing churches today. Along the way, the wisdom of Ted Lasso is invoked for good measure.

After, Fellipe takes over hosting duties and asks the rest of the crew a series of “Would You Rather” questions. 

●      Who prefers to live in a tree house over a cave? 
●      Who would rather be a reverse centaur than a reverse merman or mermaid?

Listen to find out!

To learn more about Dr. do Vale, visit his faculty page, his list of publications, or simply keep listening to future episodes!

In this episode, our last of our second season (!), the Foreword podcast hosts (Drs. Knight, Jipp, Pierce, and Arcadi) reflect on all that we have learned over the past year from our incredible colleagues and alumni.

We hope you enjoy these reflections on our teaching and interdisciplinary conversations, as well as our hopes of carving out space for listening and persevering in hope and faithfulness.

Thank you, dear Listeners, for your time and support. Please be in touch ([email protected]) if you have thoughts about Season 3—coming this fall!

This episode is also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OetIjryKosg

In this episode, Dr. James Arcadi and Dr. Madison Pierce interview Dr. Steven C. Roy, Chair of the Pastoral Theology Department, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Madison and James learn more about Steve's background, especially his work in systematic theology, and how that shapes his theology of worship and pastoral care. Steve also shares his desire to create space for "lament" in our corporate worship gatherings and then offers his perspectives about some of the most important thing that he feels are facing people in ministry today.

Be sure to tune in to learn more about Steve and his life shaped by pastoral care, and here's some of his recent work:

• "Broken Hearts and Bold Faith: Psalm 74 and the Power of Lament" (EFCA Today, 2015)
• What God Thinks When We Fail (IVP, 2011)

And before the interview, we learn a little about the "critical reception" of James' recent book in the Arcadi household...

This episode is also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cH8ciUGLAuI

In this episode, Dr. Madison Pierce and Dr. Josh Jipp interview TEDS alumna Rev. Sandra María Van Opstal, Co-founder and Executive Director of Chasing Justice, a movement led by people of color to mobilize a lifestyle of faith and justice.

Josh and Madison talk to Sandra about her calling to equip BIPOC leaders and to help predominately White organizations develop hospitable and multi-ethnic spaces characterized by mutual love and respect.

We hope you learn as much as we did!

Want to check out more of the Rev Van Opstal's work? Check out her Amazon author page (here). Some recent highlights:

• Forty Days on Being an Eight (IVP, 2021)
• Her recent contributions to The Rhythm of Prayer (Convergent, 2021; NYT Bestseller) and  No Longer Strangers (Eerdmans, 2021)
• The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World (IVP, 2015)
• Seminary Now curriculum on The Next Worship 

This episode is also on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/bj6NLq-VJm0