Donald G. Bloesch
Encyclopedia
Donald G. Bloesch was a noted American evangelical
theologian. For more than 40 years, he published scholarly yet accessible works that generally defend traditional Protestant beliefs and practices while seeking to remain in the mainstream of modern Protestant theological thought. The ongoing publication of his Christian Foundation Series, has brought him recognition as an important American theologian.
He characterized himself a "progressive evangelical" or "Ecumenical orthodox" criticizing the excesses of both the theological left and right. He often decried the abandonment of traditional values among liberals, but also the ugly, reactionary habits of some conservatives.
His own denomination, in which he was an ordained minister, is the United Church of Christ
. He was raised in the Evangelical and Reformed Church
, now merged with the UCC, in which his father and both his grandfathers were also ordained ministers. The "E and R" was a representative of evangelical pietism
, a movement that emphasized personal piety, a discerning, educated laity, a reliance on Scripture, and an acceptance of the mystical side of Christianity.
Bloesch's pietistic background and personal spiritual life lay at the heart of understanding his theology and how Christianity is to continue into the future. In his view, much of American Protestantism has entrenched itself into narrow intellectually-based definitions of doctrine which omit, exclude and even prohibit the mystical element as the governing element of the faith (i.e., the action of the Holy Spirit). Much of his critique is in fact directed at his own denomination, the United Church of Christ
; he worked with a conservative lobbying group, the Biblical Witness Fellowship
, to protest against its more liberal theological and ethical streams.
From 1957 until his retirement in 1992, he was a professor of theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
in Dubuque, Iowa
, where he continued as a professor-emeritus. The Theological Seminary's library serves as the repository of his papers.
He received his undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College
in Elmhurst, Illinois
. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity (BD) at Chicago Theological Seminary
and his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago
. He did postdoctoral work in Europe at Oxford
, Basel
, and Tübingen
. He served as president of the Midwest Division of the American Theological Society.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
theologian. For more than 40 years, he published scholarly yet accessible works that generally defend traditional Protestant beliefs and practices while seeking to remain in the mainstream of modern Protestant theological thought. The ongoing publication of his Christian Foundation Series, has brought him recognition as an important American theologian.
He characterized himself a "progressive evangelical" or "Ecumenical orthodox" criticizing the excesses of both the theological left and right. He often decried the abandonment of traditional values among liberals, but also the ugly, reactionary habits of some conservatives.
His own denomination, in which he was an ordained minister, is the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
. He was raised in the Evangelical and Reformed Church
Evangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
, now merged with the UCC, in which his father and both his grandfathers were also ordained ministers. The "E and R" was a representative of evangelical pietism
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
, a movement that emphasized personal piety, a discerning, educated laity, a reliance on Scripture, and an acceptance of the mystical side of Christianity.
Bloesch's pietistic background and personal spiritual life lay at the heart of understanding his theology and how Christianity is to continue into the future. In his view, much of American Protestantism has entrenched itself into narrow intellectually-based definitions of doctrine which omit, exclude and even prohibit the mystical element as the governing element of the faith (i.e., the action of the Holy Spirit). Much of his critique is in fact directed at his own denomination, the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
; he worked with a conservative lobbying group, the Biblical Witness Fellowship
Biblical Witness Fellowship
Biblical Witness Fellowship is an evangelical renewal movement composed of members of the United Church of Christ. Founded in 1978 as the United Church People for Biblical Witness, the movement reorganized as the Biblical Witness Fellowship at a national convocation in Byfield, Massachusetts in...
, to protest against its more liberal theological and ethical streams.
From 1957 until his retirement in 1992, he was a professor of theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
University of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is...
in Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, where he continued as a professor-emeritus. The Theological Seminary's library serves as the repository of his papers.
He received his undergraduate degree from Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College is a comprehensive private liberal arts college in Elmhurst, Illinois with a tradition of service-oriented learning. It has a rich affiliation with the United Church of Christ.- History :...
in Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
. He earned his Bachelor of Divinity (BD) at Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago Theological Seminary
The Chicago Theological Seminary is a seminary of the United Church of Christ. It prepares women and men for leadership in the church and society through Master of Divinity , Master of Arts in Religious Studies , Master of Sacred Theology , Doctor of Ministry , and Doctor of Philosophy programs...
and his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. He did postdoctoral work in Europe at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Basel
University of Basel
The University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
, and Tübingen
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen is a public university located in the city of Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of Germany's oldest universities, internationally noted in medicine, natural sciences and the humanities. In the area of German Studies it has been ranked first among...
. He served as president of the Midwest Division of the American Theological Society.
Sources
- 1996 personal and intellectual biography by colleague Elmer M. Colyer
- Dubuque Theological Seminary
- Theopedia article
- Inter-Varsity Press bio
- The Boston Collaborative Encyclopedia of Modern Western Theology
- Elmhurst College distinguished alumni
- an encomium
- another encomium (search for "Bloesch"
- DTS library, repository for his papers
- Donald G. Bloesch's Obituary in Dubuque's Telegraph Herald
Books
- Systematic Theology:
- Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Volume 1: God, Authority and Salvation, 1978 ISBN 006060798X
- Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Volume 2: Life, Ministry, & Hope, 1984 ISBN 0060607998
- Christian Foundation Series:
- A Theology Of Word & Spirit: Authority & Method In Theology, 1992 ISBN 0830814116
- God The Almighty: Power, Wisdom, Holiness, Love, 1995 ISBN 0830814132
- Jesus Christ: Savior & Lord, 1997 ISBN 0830814140
- The Holy Spirit: Works & Gifts, 2000 ISBN 0830814159
- The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission, 2002 ISBN 0830814167
- The Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory, 2004 ISBN 0830814175
- Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation 2006 ISBN 0830814124 (cloth), ISBN 0830827528 (pbk)
- Theological Notebooks:
- Theological Notebook: 1960-1964: Spiritual Journals of Donald G. Bloesch, 1989 ISBN 0939443120
- Theological Notebook: 1964-1968: Spiritual Journals of Donald G. Bloesch 1991 ISBN 0939443139
- Theological Notebook: Volume 3: 1969-1983: The Spiritual Journals of Donald G. Bloesch, 2005 ISBN 1597523119
- Centers of Christian Renewal, 1964 ISBN 0060607998
- The Christian Life and Salvation, 1967, 1991 ISBN 0939443244
- The Christian Witness in a Secular Age: An Evaluation of Nine Contemporary Theologians, 1968, 2002 ISBN 1579108547
- Christian Spirituality East & West, 1968 (with co-author Jordan Aumann)
- The Crisis of Piety: Essays Towards a Theology of the Christian Life, 1968, 2nd ed., 1988 ISBN 0939443058
- The Reform of the Church, 1970, 1998 ISBN 579101747
- The Ground of Certainty: Toward an Evangelical Theology of Revelation 1971, 2002 ISBN 1579108776
- The Evangelical Renaissance, 1973 ISBN 0802815278
- Wellsprings of Renewal: Promise in Christian Communal Life, 1974 ISBN 0802815006
- Light a Fire: Gospel Songs for Today, 1975
- Jesus is Victor! Karl Barth's Doctrine of Salvation, 1976 ISBN 0687202256
- The Invaded Church, 1977
- The Orthodox Evangelicals: Who They Are and What They Are Saying, 1978 (co-editor) ISBN 0840756542
- Life, Ministry, and Hope, 1979 ISBN 0060607998
- Faith & Its Counterfeits, 1981, ISBN 087784822X
- Is the Bible Sexist?: Beyond Feminism and Patriarchalism 1982 ISBN 0891072438
- Crumbling Foundations: Death and Rebirth in an Age of Upheaval, 1984 ISBN 0310298210
- The Battle for the Trinity: The Debate Over Inclusive God-language 1985, ISBN 0892832304
- Freedom for Obedience: Evangelical Ethics in Contemporary Times , 1987 ISBN 0060608048
- The Future of Evangelical Christianity: a Call for Unity Amid Diversity, 1988 ISBN 0939443104
- The Struggle of Prayer, 1988 ISBN 093944304X
- Reinhold Niebuhr's Re-evaluation of the Apologetic Task (unknown date)
Festschriften
- Daniel J. Adams, editor, From East to West: Essays in Honor of Donald G. Bloesch, 1997 ISBN 0761808019