Raymond Collins
Encyclopedia
Raymond Francis Collins is a Roman Catholic priest
of the Diocese of Providence
, and an exegete of the New Testament
. Recently retired, he has taught as a professor at a variety of institutions of higher education, including most prominently Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
and Catholic University of America. He also served the American College of the Immaculate Conception as its ninth rector.
, Rhode Island
, on 12 May 1935. He completed his primary and secondary education within his home state. He became a seminarian for the diocese of Providence and his bishop, Russell McVinney
, sent him for theological studies at the newly reopened American College of the Immaculate Conception in 1953. At the Catholic University of Leuven
, he obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
in 1959 and a License in Sacred Theology in 1961. In 1962, only a year after completing his license, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, which was entitled The Berith-Notion of the Cairo Damascus Covenant and its Comparison with the New Testament.
in 1968, Collins returned to Leuven
to teach New Testament. In 1971, he was appointed rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception, his alma mater, where he had been living since his return to Leuven.
As rector of the seminary and, starting in 1977, a full professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, Collins strengthened the relationship between the two institutions, and was heavily involved in the cooperative effort to produce the English-language theological journal Louvain Studies. At the American College, he expanded the pastoral formation program for the seminarians, opened up the college's doors to graduate studies for priests and religious, and started the college's sabbatical program.
Collin's term as rector of the American College came to a close in 1978, and he thereafter focused more on academic pursuits. He briefly took up a half-time position teaching at the University of Notre Dame
, but then returned to Leuven full-time until 1993. That year, he left Leuven for a position as a professor of New Testament at the Catholic University of America, where he taught until his retirement in 2006.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of the Diocese of Providence
Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
, and an exegete of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. Recently retired, he has taught as a professor at a variety of institutions of higher education, including most prominently Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
and Catholic University of America. He also served the American College of the Immaculate Conception as its ninth rector.
Early life and education
Collins was born in ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, on 12 May 1935. He completed his primary and secondary education within his home state. He became a seminarian for the diocese of Providence and his bishop, Russell McVinney
Russell McVinney
Russell Joseph McVinney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Providence from 1948 until his death in 1971.-Early life and education:...
, sent him for theological studies at the newly reopened American College of the Immaculate Conception in 1953. At the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, he obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology
Bachelor of Sacred Theology
The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is a graduate-level academic degree in theology.The Bachelor of Sacred Theology is offered by a number of Pontifical Universities. It is sometimes offered as a graduate degree, for students who have already completed a B.A. or other first degree...
in 1959 and a License in Sacred Theology in 1961. In 1962, only a year after completing his license, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, which was entitled The Berith-Notion of the Cairo Damascus Covenant and its Comparison with the New Testament.
Teacher and rector
Returning to the United States as a young priest, he taught New Testament first at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, and moral theology at Pope John XXIII National Seminary. With the division of the Catholic University of LeuvenCatholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
in 1968, Collins returned to Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
to teach New Testament. In 1971, he was appointed rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception, his alma mater, where he had been living since his return to Leuven.
As rector of the seminary and, starting in 1977, a full professor at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, Collins strengthened the relationship between the two institutions, and was heavily involved in the cooperative effort to produce the English-language theological journal Louvain Studies. At the American College, he expanded the pastoral formation program for the seminarians, opened up the college's doors to graduate studies for priests and religious, and started the college's sabbatical program.
Collin's term as rector of the American College came to a close in 1978, and he thereafter focused more on academic pursuits. He briefly took up a half-time position teaching at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, but then returned to Leuven full-time until 1993. That year, he left Leuven for a position as a professor of New Testament at the Catholic University of America, where he taught until his retirement in 2006.
Partial list of publications
- Introduction to the New Testament. Galilee Trade, 1987.
- Preaching the Epistles. Paulist Press, 1995.
- Sexual Ethics and The New Testament : Behavior & Belief. Herder and Herder, 2000.
- 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: A Commentary. Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.
- First Corinthians (Sacra Pagina Series). Liturgical Press, 2007.
- Divorce in the New Testament. Michael Glazier Books, 1992.
- The Many Faces of the Church: A New Testament Study. Herder & Herder, 2004.
- Letters That Paul Did Not Write: The Epistle to the Hebrews and the Pauline Pseudepigrapha. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2005.
- Birth Of The New Testament: The Origin & Development of the First Christian Generation. Herder & Herder, 1993.
- John and His Witness. Liturgical Press, 1991.
- These Things Have Been Written: Studies on the Fourth Gospel. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1991.