Donald G. Bloesch

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Donald G. Bloesh (b. 1928, Bremen, Indiana) is a noted American evangelical theologian. For more than 40 years, he has published scholarly yet accessible works that defend traditional Protestant beliefs and practices while remaining firmly in the mainstream of modern Protestant theological thought. The ongoing publication of his Christian Foundation Series, has brought him recognition as being one of the great American theologians of his age.

He characterizes himself a "progressive evangelical", criticizing the excesses of both the theological left and right all the while demanding that both sides practice the rigorous intellectual honesty he himself does. He is appalled at the abandonment of traditional values in certain elements of the liberal wing, and is repelled by the ugly, reactionary habits of certain of those right, he regarding both as unchristian, and yea, even heretical.

His own denomination, in which he is 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, strong doctrine (and consequently, a discerning, educated laity), a reliance on Scripture, and an acceptance of the mystical side of Christianity.

While no one could accuse Don Bloesh of being a mystic in the mediaeval sense, his pietistic background and personal spiritual life lie 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).

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 continues as a professor-emeritus. The Theological Seminary's library is 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, Basle, and Tübingen). He has served as president of the Midwest Division of the American Theological Society.

He and his wife Brenda live an active retirement. He is quite personable, mixing high seriousness with a playful sense of humor. He plays piano, and has a deep love of hymnody. And he continues to write and publish. He is not unaware of the fame he has achieved.

[edit] Sources

[edit] Books

  • Systematic Theology:
  1. Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Volume 1: God, Authority and Salvation, 1978 ISBN 006060798X
  2. Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Volume 2: Life, Ministry, & Hope, 1984 ISBN 0060607998
  • Christian Foundation Series:
  1. A Theology Of Word & Spirit: Authority & Method In Theology, 1992 ISBN 0830814116
  2. God The Almighty: Power, Wisdom, Holiness, Love, 1995 ISBN 0830814132
  3. Jesus Christ: Savior & Lord, 1997 ISBN 0830814140
  4. The Holy Spirit: Works & Gifts, 2000 ISBN 0830814159
  5. The Church: Sacraments, Worship, Ministry, Mission, 2002 ISBN 0830814167
  6. The Last Things: Resurrection, Judgment, Glory, 2004 ISBN 0830814175
  7. Holy Scripture: Revelation, Inspiration & Interpretation 2006 ISBN 0830814124 (cloth), ISBN 0830827528 (pbk)
  • Theological Notebooks:
  1. Theological Notebook: 1960-1964: Spiritual Journals of Donald G. Bloesch, 1989 ISBN 0939443120
  2. Theological Notebook: 1964-1968: Spiritual Journals of Donald G. Bloesch 1991 ISBN 0939443139
  3. 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)

[edit] Festschriften

  • Daniel J. Adams, editor, From East to West: Essays in Honor of Donald G. Bloesch, 1997 ISBN 0761808019
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