Eugene H. Peterson

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Dr. Eugene H. Peterson, born in 1932, is a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. He has written nearly thirty books, but is best known for The Message, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible.

[edit] History

Eugene Peterson was educated at Seattle Pacific University, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns Hopkins University. In 1962, Peterson was a founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he served for 29 years before retiring. He was Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia until recently retiring. He now lives in Montana.

The consummate scholar-pastor, Peterson is best known not for his years as a pastor, but for his rewording of the entire Bible into everyday American English. This translation, called The Message, draws on a strong working understanding of the biblical languages. Though miserable at it at first, Peterson began studying Greek as a freshman at SPC but didn't "get it" until his senior year. This kind of persistent study led him to pursue doctoral work in Semitic Studies at Johns Hopkins University, but that was set on hold permanently when he became founding pastor of Christ Our King. Much of his writing is directed to pastors, whom he views as being under-prepared and over-tempted, as he was when he began his pastorate. He is currently writing a five-volume spiritual theology, published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Eerdmans. One of his recurring themes for laity and pastors is that one must pursue Jesus' work in Jesus' way.

[edit] Selected works

Growing Up in Christ: A Guide for Families with Adolescents (John Knox Press, 1976)
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society (1980)
Run With the Horses: The Quest for Life at its Best (InterVarsity Press, November 1983)
Psalms: Prayers of the Heart - 12 Studies for Individuals or Groups (Intervarsity Press, 1987)
Traveling Light: Modern Meditations on St. Paul's Leter of Freedom (Helmers & Howard Publishing, 1988)
Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination (HarperCollins Publishers, 1988)
Answering God: The Psalms of Tools for Prayer (Harper San Francisco, 1991 reprint)
Where Your Treasure Is: Psalms that Summon You from Self to Community (Wm. B. Eerdman Publishing Company, 1993)
Like Dew Your Youth: Growing Up with Your Teenager (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994)
Subversive Spirituality (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publish Publishing Group, 1994, reprinted in 1997 and 2006)
Take and Read: Spiritual Reading, An Annotated List (Eerdmans-Regent College Publishing, 1996)
Leap over a Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everday Christians (HarperCollins Canada / Religious, 1997)
1 and 2 Samuel - Westminster Bible Companion (Westminster John Knox Press, 1999)
The Wisdom of Each Other: A Conversation Between Spiritual Friends (Zondervan, 2001)
The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Navpress Publishing Group, 2002)
The Christmas Troll (Navpress Publishing Group, 2005)
Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in an Everyday Life (Navpress Publishing Group, 2006)

Pastoral Theology series

Five Smooth Stones For Pastoral Work (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1980)
The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1980)
Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1980)
Working The Angles: The Shape Of Pastoral Integrity (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, May 1987)
The Unnecessary Pastor: Rediscovering the Call (co-authored with Marva Dawn) (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000)

Praying with the Bible Series

Praying with Jesus: A Year of Daily Prayer and Reflection on the Words and Actions of Jesus (Harper San Francisco, 1993)
Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayer and Reflection on the Words of David (Harper San Francisco, 1993)
Praying with Moses: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words and Actions of Moses (Harper San Francisco, 1994)
Praying with the Early Christians: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words of the Early Christians (Harper San Francisco, 1994)
Praying with Paul: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words and Actions of Paul (Harper San Francisco, 1995)
Praying with the Prophets: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words and Actions of the Prophets (Harper San Francisco, 1995)

Spiritual Theology series (5 volumes expected)

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Group, 2005)
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, January 2006)
The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Group, 2007)