CU to feature Dr. Craig Blomberg for January Bible Preview Aug. 6

 

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Dr. Craig Blomberg, a distinguished professor of New Testament at the Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colo., will be the speaker at Campbellsville University's January Bible Preview Thursday, Aug. 6, in the Banquet Hall of the Student Union Building on the main campus.

Blomberg will speak on: “Parables of the Kingdom from the Gospel of Matthew.” The event is from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the CU School of Theology and the Church Relations Council.

“Craig Blomberg is one of the most recognized evangelical New Testament scholars in the world today,” Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the CU School of Theology, said.

“Campbellsville University is honored indeed to welcome a scholar of Dr. Blomberg's distinction and prominence to our campus.”

Hurtgen said the January Bible Study is an initiative of the Southern Baptist Convention and usually consists of a multi-week study of either an Old Testament or New Testament book of the Bible.  The January Bible Study for 2010, however, is thematically focused on parables of the kingdom in the gospel of Matthew.

Hurtgen said Blomberg earned his doctorate at the prestigious Aberdeen University in Scotland, where he studied the parables of Jesus and the writings of the Luke-Acts. He received a master of arts degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a bachelor of arts degree from Augustana College.

Before joining the faculty of Denver Seminary in 1986, he taught at Palm Beach Atlantic College and was a research fellow at Tyndale House, Cambridge, England.

“While most of his research and writing has focused on Jesus and the gospels-with a particular focus on the historical Jesus-as an evangelical scholar he has courageously tackled such issues as women in ministry, socio-economic issues and Christian and Mormon dialogue,” Hurtgen said.

Hurtgen said Blomberg's introductions to Jesus and the gospels, the parables of Jesus, and the historical reliability of the gospels are used as standard texts in seminaries and universities all around the world.

In addition to writing numerous articles in professional journals, multi-author works and dictionaries or encyclopedias, he has authored or edited 15 books, including Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey (which Broadman & Holman is just releasing in its second edition); The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Interpreting the Parables; Matthew (New American Commentary); 1 Corinthians (NIV Application Commentary); Neither Poverty nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions; Making Sense of the New Testament; Preaching the Parables; Contagious Holiness: Jesus' Meals with Sinners; and From Pentecost to Patmos: An Introduction to Acts through Revelation.

Hurtgen said Campbellsville University offers the January Bible Study Preview annually to “all who love God's word.” The event is open to laypersons as well as pastors and other ministers in the church.

Hurtgen said CU wants to offer pastors, who may lead the study themselves in their churches, the opportunity to have “excellent preparation by a leading biblical scholar.” He said the School of Theology also has several persons who attend “because they love Bible study.”

He said, “The January Bible Study Preview also allows the School of Theology a chance to showcase one of the passions of the School of Theology - God's powerful word - to Kentucky churches (Baptists and non) in our surrounding communities.”     Hurtgen said CU has a full academic program called Biblical Studies (at the undergraduate level) and an 18-hour emphasis in the Master of Theology program (at the graduate level).

The January Bible Study Preview, which is at no charge to attendees, consists of four sessions. Registration is from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. with a welcome at 1 p.m., and the first session starting at 1:15 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m., and the session closes at 8:30 p.m.

Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.