Norman Ericson

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Dr. Norman R. Ericson
Born Norman Raymond Ericson
(1932-07-21)July 21, 1932
Loomis, Nebraska, United States
Died December 22, 2011(2011-12-22) (aged 79)
Johnson Health Care Center, Carol Stream, Illinois, United States
Residence Wheaton, Illinois, United States
Nationality American
Citizenship American
Alma mater University of Chicago
University of Nebraska
Trinity International University
Occupation Teacher, Bible scholar
Years active 1957 - 2000
Spouse(s) Ruth Peterson (m. 1954; wid. 2011)
Children Brian Ericson
Beth Sanders
Stuart Ericson
Ken Ericson
Parents Raymond and Myrtle Ericson

Norman R. Ericson (born July 21, 1932 in Loomis, Nebraska) was an Swedish American teacher and Bible scholar.

Background

Ericson was born on July 21, 1932 in Loomis, Nebraska, United States to Raymond and Myrtle Ericson.[1]

He had his early education in Holdrege, Nebraska after his family moved there. In 1950, he attended Trinity Seminary and Bible College (now Trinity International University) in Deerfield, Illinois for two years. He was the choir president in his second year. Ericson then transferred the University of Nebraska to finish his BA degree.[1]

He married Ruth Peterson from Minnesota in 1954 at the First Evangelical Free Church in Chicago. Peterson and Ericson first met in Trinity International University.[1] He also took up Bachelor of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he graduated in May 31, 1957. He also previously took an Associate of Arts degree in the same school from 1950 until he graduated in 1952.[2]

Career

Ericson began teaching Biblical and Hellenic studies at what was then Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois in 1957. He was appointed as a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he became a full time faculty of the said institution on September 1974. He was a popular instructor among his students as he effectively communicated with them at all levels of the academic experience. He also gave each of his students one a sense of being his principal focus. While almost all the courses he taught were relating to New Testament Studies, he also enjoyed teaching ancient Hellenic and Old Testament courses. One of his significant contributions he made in the scholarship of Biblical studies was his work on the interpretation of the Old Testament in the New Testament. This area of interest goes back to his work on his doctoral thesis in Biblical Studies at the University of Chicago. His presentation at the Evangelical Theological Society on the topic was an important contribution. He also concentrated his scholarship on the Petrine epistles of the New Testament, 1st Peter, 2nd Peter, and Jude. Additionally, he was known for his teaching of the Gospel of John and the books of James and Hebrews in the New Testament. While an evangelical theologically, he also taught the importance of knowing and engaging scholarship from New Testament criticism.[3][4]

Ericson was a professor at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.[5] He started there in 1977 as a Professor of New Testament Studies.[6] He then later served as the chair of the Department of Bible, Theology, and Archeology.[5] He also served as a senior translator and consulting editor of New Living Translation Study Bible,[7] which aides people in enhancing the study of the bible through study experience with maps, a word study system, recommendations for further reading, visual aids, and profiles of bible characters.[8][9] He also taught New Testament and Greek courses at Wheaton College and its Graduate School.[10]

He also served as adjunct professor at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. One of his most influential articles, entitled "The NT Use of the OT: A Kerygmatic Approach," was presented at the Evangelical Theological Society.[11]

Ericson retired from teaching in 2000, concluding 43 years in his chosen profession.

Bible translator

Timeline of Norman R. Ericson Teaching at Trinity
Position Tenure
Graduate Assistant in Greek 1958 to 1959
Faculty in Greek and History 1960
Instructor in Greek 1961 to 1964
Asst. Professor of Greek 1965
TEDS Asst. Professor of Greek 1966
Asst. Prof. of Greek and
New Testament and Self-Study 		1967
Assoc. Prof. of Greek 1968
Dir. of the College Self-Study
Asst. Director of Admissions & Records 1969
Dir. of Institutional Research
Assoc. Prof. of Greek
Source: Rolfing Library of Trinity International University

Dr. Ericson provided the analysis of the Theology of the New Testament books of 1st Peter, 2nd Peter, and Jude for the Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology and other topical articles in that publication.[12][13] He was the general reviewer and senior translator of the Letters and Revelation books of the New Testament in the New Living Translation of the Bible. He was also one of the translators of Hebrews, James, 1st and 2nd Peter, and Jude in that translation for the Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology.[8] As of March 2013, the New Living Translation of the Bible is the third most popular English version of the Bible based on unit sales according to the Christian Booksellers Association.[14][15]

Author

Ericson has also wrote numerous books, mostly scholarly books, relating to his field in theology, and Bible studies. The several books he wrote are the following:

  • John: A New Look at the 4th Gospel[16]
  • James: Live What You Believe[17]
  • The Weekday Lessons from Isaiah in the Greek Prophetologion[18]

He had also authored several articles for numerous theology journals, one was from the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.[11] Dr. Ericson continues to be cited in more than twenty current books on Biblical studies, hermeneutics and leadership.[19]

Recognition

Ericson was named as a Professor Emeritus at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.[5] A yearbook was also dedicated to him at Trinity International University. The yearbook dedication was, "This book is dedicated to a man who has abandoned what we humans would consider his rightful claim to superiority; who takes his fellow immortals seriously and whose play is of the merriest kind."[20]

Death

Ericson died on December 22, 2011 at Johnson Health Care Center in Carol Stream, Illinois.[1][21]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Obituary of Dr. Norman R. Ericson". Hultgren Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Retrieved May 7, 2013. 
  2. ↑ 169. "Inform: Bulletin of Wheaton College 1992-93". Wheaton College. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Trinity Alum and former Professor passes away". Trinity International University. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Dr. Norman R. Ericson (1932-2011)". Strategic Seminars. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Department of Bible, Theology, and Archaeology". Wheaton College. p. 54. Retrieved May 7, 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Wheaton College Catalogue". Wheaton College. 1977 - 1978. Retrieved May 11, 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Wheaton College Professors involved in Bible translation or consultation". Wheaton College Magazine 16 (1): 30. Winter 2013. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Wheaton College (Winter 2009). "Recommended Reading from Wheaton’s Faculty". Wheaton Journal 12 (1): 60. 
  9. ↑ "Bible Translation Team: Holy Bible, New Living Translation". New Living Translation Study Bible. Retrieved May 7, 2013. 
  10. ↑ Karen H. Jobes & Charlie Trimm (Summer 2011). "A Brief History of the Place of Greek Language & Literature in the Curriculum of Wheaton College". Wheaton College. p. 39. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Norman R. Ericson. "The NT use of the OT: A Kerygmatic Approach". The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society: 337–342. 
  12. ↑ Norman Ericson. "Peter, First, Theology of". Bible Study Tools. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  13. ↑ Norman Ericson. "Descent into Hell (Hades)". Bible Study Tools. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  14. ↑ "Dr. Norman R. Ericson". Executive Coach Fellowship. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Scholars". NLT Study Bible. Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  16. ↑ Norman R. Ericson, Lloyd Merle Perry (1981). John: A New Look at the 4th Gospel. Tyndale House Publishers. pp. 1–190. ISBN 9780842318921. 
  17. ↑ Norman R. Ericson, Douglas J. Moo (2009). James: Live What You Believe. Tyndale House Publishers. pp. 1–128. ISBN 9781414321974. 
  18. ↑ Norman R. Ericson (1972). The Weekday Lessons from Isaiah in the Greek Prophetologion. University of Chicago: University of Chicago, Department of New Testament and Early Christian Literature. pp. 1–362. 
  19. ↑ "Norman R. Ericson's Books". Amazon. Retrieved October 7, 2013. 
  20. ↑ Trinity College Year Book 1970. Deerfield, Illinois. 1970. p. 144.
  21. ↑ Charlotte Eriksen (January 3, 2012). "Norman Ericson, 79, July 21, 1932 - Dec. 22, 2011". Wheaton Patch. Retrieved May 11, 2013. 
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