The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesiological Theology

June 10, 2010 by Gerald Hiestand

Piper on PhD’s

This video made the rounds awhile back, but if you haven’t watched it yet, it’s worth watching. I think Piper is mostly correct here. Pastors don’t need to be doing academic theology; someone needs to, but not pastors. But more pastors do need to do PhD’s, with a view to ecclesial theology. I’m not sure Piper fully appreciates the distinction between academic theology and ecclesial theology.

Frankly, I’m not convinced most pastors need to bother with a PhD unless they plan to engage in some sort of theological writing ministry. An MDiv or a ThM is generally sufficient for what most pastors will face in the context of parish ministry.

HT: Dane Ortlund

Categories: John Piper | Pastor-theologian