Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (born 1958) is a Finnish theologian. He is Professor of

Systematic Theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics ...

at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an ordained Lutheran minister (ELCA - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and an expert on Pentecostal-Charismatic theologies.

Biography

Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen was born into a Finnish

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

family. As a teenager, he would eventually become affiliated to a local Pentecostal church in his homeland. Later in life, he has been ordained as minister of ELCA and serves as part-time associate pastor for Finnish Lutheran Church in California and Texas (under Southwest California ELCA synod). After receiving a M.Ed. from the

University of Jyväskylä A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". U ...

, Kärkkäinen pursued a M.A. in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He returned to Finland and was ordained as a minister of the Full Gospel Church of Finland, pastoring a local congregation from 1989 to 1991. In 1991, he moved his family to

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

and taught at the Full Gospel Bible College in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

. Three years later he returned to Finland, becoming president of the Iso Kirja Bible College in Keuruu in 1994. He completed his doctorate at the

University of Helsinki The University of Helsinki (, ; UH) is a public university in Helsinki, Finland. The university was founded in Turku in 1640 as the Royal Academy of Åbo under the Swedish Empire, and moved to Helsinki in 1828 under the sponsorship of Alexander ...

in 1998. Kärkkäinen joined the faculty of Fuller in 2000 as

associate professor Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''. In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a position ...

systematic theology Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics ...

and became

full professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a 'person who professes'. Professors ...

in 2003. Kärkkäinen also serves as

Docent The term "docent" is derived from the Latin word , which is the third-person plural present active indicative of ('to teach, to lecture'). Becoming a docent is often referred to as habilitation or doctor of science and is an academic qualifi ...

of Ecumenics at the

Theology

Kärkkäinen has written textbooks offering "global introductions" to

pneumatology Pneumatology refers to a particular discipline within Christian theology that focuses on the study of the Holy Spirit in Christianity, Holy Spirit. The term is derived from the Greek language, Greek word ''Pneuma'' (wikt:πνεῦμα, πνε� ...

ecclesiology In Christian theology, ecclesiology is the study of the Church, the origins of Christianity, its relationship to Jesus, its role in salvation, its polity, its discipline, its eschatology, and its leadership. In its early history, one of th ...

, and

christology In Christianity, Christology is a branch of Christian theology, theology that concerns Jesus. Different denominations have different opinions on questions such as whether Jesus was human, divine, or both, and as a messiah what his role would b ...

. In 2017 he completed the fifth of his projected five-volume systematic theology series called ''Constructive Christian Theology for the Church in the Pluralistic World'', which engages questions of science and religion, global theology, and dialogue with other religions through comparative theology. According to Amos Yong, he is "fast becoming one of the more important theologians to be reckoned with in our time."

Writings

Main works: * * * * ''A Constructive Christian Theology for the Pluralistic World'' (Eerdmans; 5 Volumes): # ''Christ and Reconciliation'' (2013) # ''Trinity and Revelation'' (2014) # ''Creation and Humanity'' (2015) # ''Spirit and Salvation'' (2016) # ''Hope and Community'' (2017) *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karkkainen, Veli-Matti Living people Finnish theologians Pentecostal theologians Systematic theologians University of Helsinki alumni Academic staff of the University of Helsinki Fuller Theological Seminary alumni Fuller Theological Seminary faculty Seminary presidents 1958 births World Christianity scholars