Paul John Achtemeier (3 September 1927 – 28 January 2013) was Herbert Worth and Annie H. Jackson Professor of Biblical Interpretation Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, now
Union Presbyterian Seminary in
Richmond, Virginia
(Thus do we reach the stars)
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. He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1927.
He was a widely respected authority on the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
, the author or co-author of 18 books and over 60 scholarly journal articles. In addition, he was editor of a number of book series, most notably as the New Testament Editor for the series Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching and the General Editor of ''Harper's Bible Dictionary'' (1985, revised 1996), in conjunction with the
Society of Biblical Literature
The Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), founded in 1880 as the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, is an American-based learned society dedicated to the academic study of the Bible and related ancient literature. Its current stated mis ...
. Achtemeier was also the former editor of the quarterly ''
Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology''.
Life
Achtemeier was an honors graduate of
Elmhurst College (A.B.) and of
Union Theological Seminary (New York) (B.D.), from where he also received his doctorate (
Th.D.
Doctor of Theology ( la, Doctor Theologiae, abbreviated DTh, ThD, DTheol, or Dr. theol.) is a terminal degree in the academic discipline of theology. The ThD, like the ecclesiastical Doctor of Sacred Theology, is an advanced research degree equiva ...
). He also studied at
Princeton Theological Seminary,
Heidelberg University
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Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, ...
(Germany), and the
University of Basel
The University of Basel (Latin: ''Universitas Basiliensis'', German: ''Universität Basel'') is a university in Basel, Switzerland. Founded on 4 April 1460, it is Switzerland's oldest university and among the world's oldest surviving universit ...
(Switzerland).
Before coming to Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Dr. Achtemeier taught at
Elmhurst College and the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies of the World Council of Churches, Château de Bossey, Switzerland.
He was also Visiting Professor of New Testament at
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Gettysburg Seminary) was a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was one of seven ELCA seminaries, one of the three seminaries in the Eastern ...
, Pennsylvania.
He was elected to membership in several learned societies, and served as President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, being the first non-Catholic elected to that position. He was also the President of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Personal life
Achtemeier met
Elizabeth Rice
Elizabeth Ellen Rice (born November 5, 1985) is an American actress, performing in television and film.
Awards and nominations
She won the Grand Jury Award in the 2008 Solstice Film Festival for Best Actress for '' From Within'' (2008
File ...
at seminary and they married in June 1952.
They had two children and coauthored several books and articles.
[ Their son, Mark, teaches systematic theology at ]Dubuque Theological Seminary
The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is one of the ten official seminaries of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is located in Dubuque, Iowa. Originally classes were taught in German to serve the immigrant population, but today the school ...
.
Partial bibliography
Books
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Edited by
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Selected articles
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Selected chapters
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Achtemeier, Paul J.
American biblical scholars
New Testament scholars
1927 births
2013 deaths
Union Presbyterian Seminary faculty
Academic journal editors
Elmhurst College alumni
Union Theological Seminary (New York City) alumni
Elmhurst College faculty
Writers from Lincoln, Nebraska
Bible commentators
20th-century Christian biblical scholars
21st-century Christian biblical scholars