The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesiological Theology

August 5, 2009 by Gerald Hiestand

No Excuses: Even Hengel Couldn’t Find Time to Write!

One of the challenges facing the serious pastor-theologian is finding time to study and write, particularly in a contemporary ecclesial context that doesn’t place the same value on the pastor-theologian model as in years gone by. But apparently it isn’t only pastors who can’t find time for serious study and writing. In the introduction to his The Atonement: The Origins of the Doctrine in the New Testament, the late Martin Hengel laments,

In it’s present form, this work cannot be more than a fragment. The reason why I have nevertheless allowed it to be published in this form is that the situation in many German universities is fundamentally inimical to scholarly work: the burden of teaching, examining and administration no longer allows the university professor to produce large-scale, comprehensive monographs within a reasonable length of time. Those who are plagued by a chronic lack of time have to approach their goal one short step after another.

In spite of Hengel’s comment, I suspect the modern university professor has a few more hours in the day for study than the typical pastor. Historically, this has not always been the case, nor need it be today. But it is, at least for now. We can hope for and work toward the day when once again the pastoral calling is seen most fundamentally as a theological calling. But until that day, the pastor-theologian does well to heed Hengel’s advice. Slow and steady is better than not at all. Let’s make use of the time we do have, rather than complaining about the time don’t have.

Categories: Martin Hengel | Pastor-theologian