The Pastor Theologian and Scholarship
Douglas Estes
Douglas Estes (PhD, University of Nottingham) is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology and director of the DMin Program at South University in Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to this appointment, he served as a pastor for 16 years. He has written or edited seven books, including Questions and Rhetoric in the Greek New Testament (Zondervan, 2017) and How John Works (SBL Press, 2016), as well as contributed to a variety of publications including Bible Study Magazine and Christianity Today. He is the editor of Didaktikos: Journal of Theological Education (Lexham).
Abstract: There is a critical need today for pastor-scholars to serve the Church and to advance theological knowledge. The pastor who is a scholar will utilize the format of the written word to dialogue with an important part of modern society—scholars and educated readers—through the form of scholarly discourse. Though the pastor-scholar is not a common calling, once one embraces this calling, there are several essential characteristics that can positively impact the pastor-scholar’s profession and standing.
Key Words: pastor-scholar, pastor theologian, ecclesial theologian, scholarship, academics, writing, Augustine, Jonathan Edwards
