Robert Lowery

It will surely come as no surprise to anyone that my model exegete is Tom McGee (I call him “Dad”). He was the first (but not the last!) to teach me the most important issue in exegesis has to do with the exegete’s attitudes. Specifically, one should approach the test with humility, a teachable spirit, and anticipation God will communicate what He put there.

1977-78 … a freshman at Lincoln Christian College … a class appropriately titled “How To Study the English Bible” … taught by some guy named Lowery … Robert Lowery if memory serves me correctly … learned the importance of context, how to do word studies, and so much more … has served me well for thirty or so years of ministry. Thanks Dr Bob!

I am thankful to have had men like Jim Johnson, Mark Scott, Mark Moore, and Bob Lowery from whom I have tried to model my own exegesis…

Bob…I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to sit in your classes and to have had you as my model. For many years I have thanked God for the tools given to me by you, Gary Hall, Bob Rea and John Castelein.

Every year, at some point, I teach my Sunday School class the same exegetical steps you shared with us. Your ministry is being replicated in those men and women who have had the priviledge to learn from you.

Thank you for your servanthood and thank you for one of my favorite statements…”Do your best exegesis and share your work in humility.”

I learned how to structure a message in a simple and linear way from Professor John Webb. His model was Charles W. Koller, and Prof. Webb taught Koller’s method very well.

However, I felt that I took a huge leap forward in preaching through Dr. Wayne Shaw’s classes. Dr. Shaw is simply one of those amazing teacher/preachers who can passionately communicate truth in the classroom as he can in the pulpit. He encouraged us to be creative and vary our methods of outlining and delivery, but always within the boundaries of sound Biblical exegesis. Then, of course, I heard him model that when he spoke in chapel or in churches where I served.

Lincoln has many fine preachers and teachers, but I consider myself to be one of the very fortunate ones to have studied under Dr. Shaw.

Here are my top 3:

During my one year at Ozark Christian College, JK Jones and Mark Scott opened my eyes to the beauty of Scripture and how we can see straight into the heart of God through it. I was introduced to a whole new World which has changed my life forever.

The third is you, Dr. Lowery. Several years after Ozark when I decided to go to Seminary, this is the method I used to determine where to go: got out my old OCC catalog and picked out my favorite professors and looked up where they went to seminary–whoever had a part in making them who they were must be worth my time and money. I was surprised (not being the Christian church realm) that the common denominator between them ALL was LCS! And most of them studied under you! So that is where I went and I will never regret it! You, Bob, are the one I have learned the most about being a Bible exegete. I went to seminary primarily b/c I was so tired of hearing people answer questions about the Bible by giving answers that came from their pastor’s pulpit, rather than from their own study! I didn’t know where I would go or do after school, but I knew I would be sharing the Bible with people and I wanted to be informed about the study of Scripture, while knowing I still have a lot to learn. Thanks for playing huge role, whether knowingly or not, in my Christian life and my story.

Marion Henderson was the one I remember the most. He had a way of giving you snapshots of Christ and the Scriptures from the original language that made me fall in love with study. Carl, “Does that mean that Christianity is a way of life?” (Jn. 14:6). Prof. Henderson, “No, Mr. Somers, it means that Christianity is THE way of life.” It was always a joy to pick up the gold nuggets he left behind.
It is also fun to pass them on to others.
Love you in Christ,
Carl

I sat in Dan Clymer’s 1 Peter class when the Bible came alive for me. For the first time, I really began to understand context, and that these were not just collections of obscure or religious sounding words, but they actually spoke to people and situations. I began to see how words were really clues to what was going on, and how these words and themes related to each other. My excitement for Bible study was born there.

Though I was not a NT major, the many classes I had under you, Bob, helped me build on that spark from Clymer’s class. You were the king of context. And you also speak so compellingly, you could make a lecture on belly button lint have us sitting on the edge of our seats (in anticipation . . . not to rush out of class!).

The one exegesis class I had under Dr. Hall (Exodus) was a kind of revelation to me. I began to see the importance (and presence) of structure in the OT, and how that helped us uncover the “key point” of certain texts. I was blown away.

Thanks to you all, and many others at Lincoln that helped me love Bible Study.

What a fascinating question! Thanks for asking it. I come from a different perspective from (apparently) most of the respondants above, but the qualities they describe in their models are similar in those who have ‘taught’ me through their ministry.

In chronological order: first Dr. Warren Wiersbe. As a twenty-something, listening to his sermons at The Moody Church in Chicago, I learned the simplicity and logical-ness of The Word, but also to consider how a text fit into The Whole Counsel of God. He may focus on a specific passage, but his vision encompasses Genesis to Revelation. His humility before God was an example hard to overlook.

Secondly, I was in my late thirties when I learned how to study the Bible inductively using materials developed by Precept Ministries/Kay Arthur- a study method which you apparently also espouse. (How I envy your students who learn it at a much younger age!) I watched Mrs. Arthur humbly express an intense love of, and the necessity of obedience to, The God who has spoken.

And thirdly, in my fifties, I sat under the ministry of “Sparky” Pritchard in Richmond, VA. His deep respect for the call to preach The Word, and the solemnity of standing at “the sacred desk” (the pulpit) taught me the awe-full and holy seriousness of The Ministry. His use of (what Dr. Wiersbe calls) “sanctified imagination” awakened my heart and mind to the LIVING Word, and how to present God’s Word in such a way that The Spirit can “write these words” on people’s hearts and minds.

And then, of course, there is Paul- not to mention The Lord Jesus, Himself. (Smile!)

Thank you, Dr. Lowery, for the thought-provoking question.

Jim (“No-Relation-Except-in-The-Lord”) Lowery
Richmond, VA

I owe a tremendous debt to you, Bob, whom I consider my mentor as a teacher who taught me to study and love the scriptures. I had many teachers in my home church and since seminary to whom I owe a great debt, but Bob is the number one person who comes to mind for teaching me how to unlock the scriptures.
I want to say that I owe a debt to my home church preachers, but John Webb, Fred Craddock and the folks at the College of Preachers in Washington, DC particularly, and Wayne Shaw and Bruce Shields in a secondary way have had the most influence on me as my models for preaching.

I’d like to jump on the bandwagon of praise for Dr. Lowery in a different way. In my online classes at Dallas Christian College, I made a huge leap under the constant questioning of one of your former students, Derek Voorhees. His leading questions and follow up questions had me saying, “Aha!” At the exact same moment I was saying, “Oh, I haven’t thought about that, let me look into it.”

Since graduating I have enjoyed listening to lectures from another former student of yours, Shane Wood. His understanding of the circuit of context (big picture, not-as-big picture, detailed picture) absolutely astounds me. I appreciate growing from his teachings without ever having met him. So thank you for pouring yourself into those who are then pouring themselves into others!

Being apparently older than most of those who have responded to your question my list will be different.

A preacher who influenced me to consider studying in Bible college and for ministry was Kenneth Martin. His sermons were thoroughly steeped in Scripture, organized, understandable, and practical, and so consequently I was changed and encouraged.

While I was attending Lincoln Bible Institute, Earl Hargrove’s homiletics class was a tremendous help in that his emphasis was on preaching exegetical messages that were in harmony with not only the immediate context, but also the whole book or letter of which the sermon text was a part. He also encouraged us to know the main point or proposition of every book of the Bible

Brother Hargrove also taught us the importance of knowing our audience and our prospects, and that was not just an academic exercise for him, since when he was minister of First Christian in Lincoln, it was said that he acquainted himself with nearly every family in the city.

The two teachers at Lincoln who most shaped my approach to scripture were Bob Lowery and Lynn Hieronymus. I remember sitting in classes with them and hearing them preach in Chapel and at local churches and thinking, “This is so practical…so refreshing and interesting.” I always took away a desire to dig deeper and to consider the broader context. Taking Greek with Neal Windham was also helpful to me in examining the bones of scripture.

All have (had, in the case of Dr. Hieronymus, who is sadly missed) such a down-to-earth and approachable attitude both teaching in the classroom and preaching from the pulpit, and a humble and I’m-still-learning-too approach that is welcome in a world where pride and arrogance prevail.

Three men come to mind, Paul McAlister, James Strauss, and Robert Lowery. I will always remember the short time I stayed in your home as I was working on a paper for Revelation class on chapter 20:4-6. You taught me to view all of scripture with importance, even small words like akri (until). Thank you for your dedication to detail and investing your life into mine and so many others.

I have enjoyed reading the comments as well as the question. The web is an amazing thing with regards to the connection it can facilitate between believers who might otherwise never had the opportunity to speak. I am a psychologist in neuropsychology who actually was raised by an ordained minister & had wanted very much to go to Bible college but was directed elsewhere. I am humbled by the depth of knowledge in exegesis of all of the responders & am quite frankly out of my league by responding. However, I thought I’d provide a “lay person’s” perspective that may add some sort of diversity to the discussion. Therefore an added question could be posited in the following: Who influenced the everyday believer’s approach to exegesis as one who worships among scholars ofthe Bible as a part of the body of Christ? (I hope you do not mind my addition, Bob).

The answer for me in part, is Beth Moore. I realize my beliefs fall within the realm of the Christian church and she personally approaches eschatology from the perspective of the Southern Baptist tradition. However, I came across this blog after a friend recommended it when I posted notes on my Face Book page. I had written a piece on my reflection after reading my father’s sermon based upon Revelation 19:4 entitled “The Relevence of Worship To Life”. At the time I was in Beth Moore’s study on the book of Revelation & simultaneously had saved my father’s sermon to read at the point in which the Bible study had reached Rev 19. I also had searched on my own and found a book by Rick Warren “Bible Study Methods”. As a result of that book & the various Beth Moore studies I had completed over the years, I had decided several years ago to do a word study on “murky pits” which was based on an analogy I use all the time in Christian counseling that I do. I decided to learn what the Bible says about situations in which a person finds themselves in a miry or murky pit that psychologically they cannot seem to climb out of on their own. Besides Rick Warren & Beth Moore, I have been heavily influenced by my former pastor if many years Chuck Sackett who was one if the two best preachers I have ever had the privilege of worshiping with and the other is my pastor now, Jerry Harris of The Crossing in Quincy, Illinois. Finally, my father has had the most influence upon me and I am carefully reviewing his sermons which have been a legacy really, that I enjoy reading. I then take poignant statements & the scripture references from his sermons as I go along and use them for further study. From this process I discovered thus far that I naively thought I randomly chose sermons to read. Instead I quickly realized that it was my heavenly father speaking to me who actually chooses each sermon I read at any given point in time. I am writing a book on father- daughter chats (both horizontally & vertically speaking).

I am a bit embarrassed to say that I had never even heard the word exegesis until early October. I had asked Chuck Sackett to help give guidance about the orientations of the various reference books & commentaries I have in my personal Bible reference library. Lastly, I finally was provided the opportunity by God to fulfill a promise I made to Him in 1986 when I vowed I would go to Ozark for college. When my parents did not support that my father stressed he hoped I did go to Bible college someday. In God’s goodness Jehovah Jireh provided a way in such an incredible manner. Through my church I am now in MDI (Ministry Development Institute) which has followed Ozark curriculum to a certain extent & I will obtain a certificate in ministry. Therefore, the influences of my approach to exegesis will continue to evolve. I would have loved to gave been privileged to study under Bob Lowery as well as Chuck Sackett. But this was not my path. Bob I look forward to your commentary & I plan to purchase it for my library. However, it was Beth Moore who introduced me to the book of Revelation. She did so in a way that I couldn’t wait to continue study & reading on the subject matter. I found that while she is transparent about her orientation to eschatology, she presented other scholarly viewpoints and makes a conscious effort to present a well balanced nondenominational viewpoint. She’s deep & I personally found all other Bible studies written fir the lay person are not deep enough for my analytical mind. Since completing the study on Revelation inhale purchased two additional commentaries on Revelation.

I do not know if this added any interesting points for consideration. I am in awe a bit of the knowledge of all the respondents. However, I leave you with an additional question to ponder if I may be so bold to ask. I respectfully pose the question: How do you as scholars of exegesis of the Word, teach and/or influence the average church member who may sit next to you in worship on Sunday so that they in turn study the Word for themselves?

I thank you to those who read this & I believe Bob’s question was an excellent one for me to consider this morning. (I apologize for any typographical errors since this was written from an iPhone that has auto correction features.) Cara Rae Bainum, e-mail: dr.bainum@sbcglobal.net

Bryan Blakemore