As many of you know, I was blessed with the opportunity to come to the University of St. Andrews to work on the intersection of systematic theology and biblical exegesis in a Masters program entitled Scripture and Theology. I arrived less than a week ago and have been doing orientation things as well as the necessary errands of getting a phone and a bank account. But I am hoping that the work here will generate new insights and allow me to explore some the questions I’ve been raising here.
I also want to share some of the details of what I’m up to over here across the pond, so this blog might have travel-esque posts at times. But ideally I will blend it all together.
Included are some of the pictures from my first few days here, to give you a sense of the beautiful atmosphere I will be studying in.
But to contrast with that, I want to also leave this quote from Martin Luther, which was meditated on during our opening session, about being a theologian. Luther writes:
“[a] theologian is one who, driven by agonizing struggle, enters with prayer into the Holy Scripture and interprets what is set forth within it, in order to give insight to others who are engaged in agonizing struggle, so that they in a like manner — with prayer — can enter into the Holy Scripture and interpret it”
Such a sharp contrast-the beauty of St Andrews and the call to the agonizing struggle of the theologian. A symbolic sort of embodiment between cross and tomb, death and resurrection. May this paradox continue to challenge us to better know the death of Christ as well as console us in the participation of the resurrection.
greaterthanalexander 