Andrew Purves (born 1946) is a Scottish

theologian Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the s ...

in the

Reformed tradition Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Calv ...

through the Church of Scotland (and later, the Presbyterian Church SA/nowiki>). He holds the Chair in Reformed Theology at

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) is a Presbyterian graduate seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1794, it houses one of the largest theological libraries in the tri-state area. History Pittsburgh Theological Seminary was formed ...

.Pittsburgh Theological Seminary: Andrew Purves
A native of

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, Scotland, Purves earned degrees in philosophy and divinity from the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 158 ...

, and a

Master of Theology Master of Theology ( la, Theologiae Magister, abbreviated MTh, ThM, or MTheol) is a post-graduate degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries. It can serve as a transition degree for entrance into a PhD program or as a stan ...

degree from

Duke Divinity School The Divinity School at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, is one of ten graduate or professional schools within Duke University. It is also one of thirteen seminaries founded and supported by the United Methodist Church. It has 39 regular ...

. His

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

degree is from the University of Edinburgh. In Scotland, he studied under Thomas F. Torrance. Torrance, his brother James Torrance,

Athanasius Athanasius I of Alexandria, ; cop, ⲡⲓⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲩ ⲡⲓⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲓⲕⲟⲥ or Ⲡⲁⲡⲁ ⲁⲑⲁⲛⲁⲥⲓⲟⲩ ⲁ̅; (c. 296–298 – 2 May 373), also called Athanasius the Great, ...

John Calvin John Calvin (; frm, Jehan Cauvin; french: link=no, Jean Calvin ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system ...

Karl Barth Karl Barth (; ; – ) was a Swiss Calvinist theologian. Barth is best known for his commentary '' The Epistle to the Romans'', his involvement in the Confessing Church, including his authorship (except for a single phrase) of the Barmen Declara ...

, and

Jürgen Moltmann Jürgen Moltmann (born 8 April 1926) is a German Reformed theologian who is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at the University of Tübingen and is known for his books such as the ''Theology of Hope'', ''The Crucified God'', ''God in Creat ...

were all important influences in Purves' theological development. Originally a member of the Church of Scotland, Purves moved to the United States in 1978 and was

ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform vari ...

in 1979. He served as pastor of the Hebron Presbyterian Church in Clinton,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Mary ...

, until 1983 when he began teaching at

. Purves' primary concerns surround

Christology In Christianity, Christology (from the Greek grc, Χριστός, Khristós, label=none and grc, -λογία, -logia, label=none), translated literally from Greek as "the study of Christ", is a branch of theology that concerns Jesus. Diff ...

. He continually argues for a vital connection between the person and work of Jesus Christ in his vicarious humanity and the Christian life; a connection founded upon the believer's union with Christ. Much of Purves' work is a call to reclaim the classical, Christological tradition of the church, thereby renewing the church through traditional doctrine and the wisdom of the patristic writers. Some associate him with the paleo-orthodox movement. He has become a leader of

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "born again", in which an individual exper ...

renewal in the PCUSA and has become known in that denomination for his support of conservative Christian views concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ (rejecting pluralism), reclaiming a centre in Christ, on sexuality and withholding ordination from self-avowed, practicing, unrepentant gays and lesbians. He is married to Catherine Purves, a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their na ...

minister in her own right. They have three children: Brendan, Gordon, and Laura.

Works

* ''The Search for Compassion: Spirituality and Ministry'' * ''Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition'' * ''Union in Christ'' (with Mark Achtemeier) * ''Encountering God: Christian Faith in Turbulent Times'' (with Charles Partee) * ''Reconstructing Pastoral Theology: A Christological Foundation'' * "The Trinitarian Basis of a Christian Practical Theology" in ''The International Journal of Practical Theology'' * The Crucifixion of Ministry * The Resurrection of Ministry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Purves, Andrew 1946 births Duke Divinity School alumni Presbyterian Church (USA) teaching elders Scottish Calvinist and Reformed theologians Scottish Calvinist and Reformed Christians Living people Clergy from Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 20th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland 20th-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians 21st-century Calvinist and Reformed theologians Pittsburgh Theological Seminary faculty 20th-century American clergy