I recently completed a session at Haus Edelweiss outside Vienna, Austria. For the seventeenth summer I have taught a class for TCM International, and each year I have received so many unexpected blessings as a result of working with students, the short-term workers, as well as the full-time staff. I am a blessed professor. But this year, more than ever, I was reminded about the importance of being a teachable professor among teachable students. Let me explain.
My students at Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln, Illinois, as well as my students scattered throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia have heard me say repeatedly that one of the most important principles for studying Scripture is the principle of humility. Specifically, as students we must submit ourselves to God’s Written Word and allow it to have priority over our agendas, even our prejudices. Far too often in our Bible study, the Word remains the object and we the subject, while ultimately we must acknowledge that we are the object and the Word is the subject because through it we hear God speak.
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No, I have not been re-converted to dispensational premillennialism! But the more I teach in a variety of settings, the move convinced I am that many people in America and elsewhere are dispensational by default. They do not know of any other position to take. They assume it is the orthodox position for one reason or a combination of reasons: (a) Their preacher or professor taught the scheme; (b) Their study Bible was so oriented; (c) Their readings—novels, systematic theologies, commentaries—reflected such an approach; (d) Or their favorite television or radio expositors taught the approach. Of course, there may be other reasons.
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Dear readers,
I am writing this from Heilgenkreuz, Austria while sitting in a small study that overlooks a beautiful pond nestled in the Vienna Woods. It is one of my favorite spots in the world. A beautiful setting in which to reflect and write and teach! Even though I officially began my sabbatical on June 1, I did not want to cancel this teaching assignment. It is my seventeenth year to be teaching students from Eastern Europe, and I am eager to begin. My class is entitled Biblical Eschatology. At lunchtime today I was asked to describe it to the people who will be doing work on the grounds, in the dorms, and in the kitchen. My description was simply this: Eschatology is about how we should be faithful disciples between Christ has come and he is coming back someday. Many of the ideas for my commentary will be tried out on the students beginning next week. Please pray that the classes taught by a number of professors will be a blessing to the students.
But I want to invite you to weigh in on a very important matter.
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NOTE: This post should have been displayed the week of May 25; however, some recently discovered server problems prevented the post from being made public. My apologies–Michael.
This post of the last week of May will be my last until I arrive to teach Revelation to Eastern Europeans at Haus Edelweiss in Austria. This is my seventeenth summer to have this privilege of teaching for TCM International Institute. It is the highlight of my school year, quite frankly. This year I will be lecturing on the entire book of Revelation during a two week conference, and I look forward to learning from my students.
From May 23 through May 30, Marilyn and I will be visiting Disney World with our daughter and son-in-law and their two children, Carissa and Jocelyn. The trip is a gift because of Rachel being graduated by Lincoln Christian College and Marilyn’s upcoming retirement from the State of Illinois. We are looking forward to watching the grandchildren’s response to Mickey and the gang.
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Dear Readers:
Thank you so much for your publicly posted as well as your personal notes to me concerning the tentative title for my commentary on Revelation, Revelation’s Rhapsody: Dancing to the Lyrics of the Lamb. I continue to be fascinated by this metaphor and believe that it will be helpful to unlock Revelation’s message of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.
I have revised an outline and present it below. What I would like to hear from you is that in the days ahead if you take time to read through Revelation with the outline in hand, please offer me reflections on the dominant theme (e.g., Security, Witness, etc.) found in each section. I know that images of the church as well as exhortations and words of encouragement are found scattered throughout the book, including each of these major divisions. So feel free to post your observations and let’s dialogue.
Here is the outline that I am thinking about using in the main portion of the commentary (after I cover some introductory issues like John’s Story in light of the overarching STORY of the Bible, etc.).
1:1-8 Prologue
A. The Disciples’ Community in Christ (1:9-3:22)
B. The Disciples’ Security because of Christ (4:1-8:1)
C. The Disciples’ Witness in the Name of Christ (8:2-11:19)
D. The Disciples’ Conflict on behalf of Christ (12:1-14:20)
E. The Disciples’ Vindication by Christ (15:1-20:15)
F. The Disciples’ Union with Christ (21:1-22:6)
22:7-21
I believe such words as community, security, witness, etc. get at the heartbeat of each of those sections. Perhaps there are better words. In fact, if you think of some, please let me know.
Your participation in this journey is appreciated.