Beeson Divinity School celebrates Reformation Heritage week

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A German monk named Martin Luther looms as one of the most pivotal personalities in the history of Christianity, and he'll be remembered by Protestants in observances of Reformation Week.

On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 theses for church reform, starting the Reformation. That began Protestantism and became the spark for most of the modern Christian denominations that broke away from the Roman Catholic Church.

Samford University's Beeson Divinity School will celebrate the Reformation this week with a series of lectures by a scholar from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Historical theology Professor John L. Thompson will present this year’s Reformation Heritage Lectures Oct. 29-31.

The theme of Beeson’s 25th annual Reformation Week series is “Beliefs and Believing: Reformation Insights into What and How We Believe.” Thompson, who has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., since 1989, will speak three times.

Lecture dates and topics are: Tuesday, Oct. 29, Calvin on Things Essential and Otherwise; Wednesday, Oct. 30, Conscience and Confession(s); and Thursday, Oct. 31, the Mystery of Believing. All sessions will be at 11 a.m. in Andrew Gerow Hodges Chapel. The lectures are open to the public.

“John Thompson is one of the most able Reformation scholars working in the field today,” said Beeson dean Timothy F. George. “He has developed a special expertise in the history of exegesis, which is evident in his recent book, Reading the Bible with the Dead.”

Thompson’s research and writing interests address gender issues as well as the question of how the history of interpretation can serve as a resource for the proclamation of the gospel. His many essays and other writings include a contribution to A Companion to Paul in the Reformation (2009).

A member of the Advisory council for The Reformation Commentary on Scripture (InterVarsity), Thompson recently edited the RCS volume on Genesis 1-11. George is general editor of the RCS and Beeson faculty members Gerald Bray, Carl Beckwith and David Hogg are volume editors.

Thompson’s visit, George said, will help Beeson highlight the 28-volume series of biblical commentary from the Reformation. “I also hope that our Beeson students will gain an even greater appreciation of first-rate scholarship done in the service of the church,” he said.

Active in various church history, Reformation and Calvin studies societies, Thompson participates in the International Congress for Calvin Research. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Samford University's Beeson Divinity School will celebrate the Reformation this week with a series of lectures by a scholar from Fuller Theological Seminary. Historical theology Professor John L. Thompson will present this year’s Reformation Heritage Lectures Oct. 29-31. The theme of Beeson’s 25th annual Reformation Week series is “Beliefs and Believing: Reformation Insights into What and How We Believe.” Thompson, who has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., since 1989, will speak three times....

....A member of the Advisory council for The Reformation Commentary on Scripture (InterVarsity), Thompson recently edited the RCS volume on Genesis 1-11. George is general editor of the RCS and Beeson faculty members Gerald Bray, Carl Beckwith and David Hogg are volume editors.

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