Theology Thursday: The Bible in Theological Education

That’s the warning that Peter Adam gave as his time as Principal of Ridley Theological College, Melbourne drew to a close, and his profound and timely paper ‘May God’s voice be heard and Christ be known’ is a clear call to theological colleges to have the highest ambitions in shaping their students by Scripture. His driving passion is to ensure that ministers are equipped for a lifetime of faithful ministry, serving Christ as He builds churches fully and robustly upon his Word.

It is fair to say that theological education in the Church of England a bit of a curate’s egg. Against that backdrop Adam paints a picture of what Theological Education could and should be. We mustn’t settle for any less than that and as I read it I found myself thinking of a number of people now in or through training who I wish I’d given this paper to before they chose which course to join.

Adam warns us, in a humble and gracious way, of the danger of carrying over assumptions from our culture which deaden us to the voice of God; of the risk of ‘heresy by neglect’ as key doctrines are weakened simply by being marginalised; of the constant danger of listening to countless voices apart from the one Voice which can actually give life.

And of course, as I read, I was very aware that these aren’t simply dangers for the theological student but for all of us. I thank God for the way he used these 15 Scripture-soaked pages of spiritual wisdom to strengthen my resolve, that God’s Voice might be heard and Christ may be Known.

Adam, Peter. “May God’s Voice be Heard and Christ be Known: The Bible in Theological Education.” Churchman 126, no. 3 (2012): 199–214.