Hultgren, Arland J(ohn) 1939-
HULTGREN, Arland J(ohn) 1939-
PERSONAL: Born July 17, 1939, in Muskegon, MI; son of Arnold E. and Ina (Wold) Hultgren; married Carole Ruth Benander, June 26, 1965; children: Peter A., Stephen J., Kristina E. Hultgren Fredrick. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1961; University of Michigan, M.A., 1963; Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, M.Div. (summa cum laude), 1965; Union Theological Seminary, Th.D., 1971; postdoctoral study at Cambridge University, 1984-85, and University of Uppsala, 1990-91. Religion: Lutheran.
ADDRESSES: Home—609 Ryan Ave. W., Roseville, MN 55113. Office—Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108; fax: 651-641-3345. E-mail—[email protected].
CAREER: Ordained minister of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 1966; Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, instructor in religion, 1963-65; pastoral assistant at Lutheran church in Tenafly, NJ, 1965-66, assistant pastor, 1966-68; Wagner College, Staten Island, NY, instructor, 1969-71, assistant professor, 1971-75, associate professor of religious studies, 1975-77, teacher in study program in Bregenz, Austria, 1972-73; Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN, associate professor, 1977-82; Lutheran Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, associate professor, 1982-86, professor of New Testament, 1986-94; Luther Seminary, St. Paul, professor of New Testament, 1994—. Supply pastor for a Lutheran church in Staten Island, NY, 1975; pastor of Lutheran church in Minneapolis, MN, 1979-80. Guest lecturer at educational institutions, including University of Uppsala, University of Glasgow, University of Aberdeen, and University of St. Andrews; public speaker. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, member of planning committee for Convocation of Teaching Theologians, 1998-2002; National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, member of Faith and Order Commission, 2001—. Gustavus Adolphus College, member of board of trustees, 1990-99; University of Minnesota, member of Campus Ministry Council, 1994-97.
MEMBER: Society of Biblical Literature, Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, Augustana Heritage Association (member of board of directors, 2000—), Phi Beta Kappa.
AWARDS, HONORS: Saints and Reformers Award, Lutherans Concerned (Twin Cities), 1994; Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, Augustana College, 1996.
WRITINGS:
The Year of Matthew: Advent-Christmas-Epiphany, Augsburg Publishing House (Minneapolis, MN), 1977.
Jesus and His Adversaries: The Form and Function of the Conflict Stories in the Synoptic Tradition, Augsburg Publishing House (Minneapolis, MN), 1979.
1, 2 Timothy, Titus, Augsburg Publishing House (Minneapolis, MN), 1984.
Paul's Gospel and Mission: The Outlook from His Letter to the Romans, Fortress Press (Philadelphia, PA), 1985.
Christ and His Benefits: Christology and Redemption in the New Testament, Fortress Press (Philadelphia, PA), 1987.
New Testament Christology: A Critical Assessment and Annotated Bibliography, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1988.
Advent-Christmas: Proclamation 4, Fortress Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.
(Editor, with Barbara Hall, and contributor) Christ andHis Communities: Essays in Honor of Reginald H. Fuller, Forward Movement Publications (Cincinnati, OH), 1990.
(Editor, with Donald H. Juel and Jack D. Kingsbury) All Things New: Essays in Honor of Roy A. Harrisville, Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN), 1992.
The Rise of Normative Christianity, Fortress Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.
(Editor, with Steven A. Haggmark) The EarliestChristian Heretics: Readings from Their Opponents, Fortress Press (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.
(Editor, with Vance L. Eckstrom, and contributor) TheAugustana Heritage: Recollections, Perspectives, and Prospects, Augustana Heritage Association (Chicago, IL), 1999.
The Parables of Jesus: A Commentary, William B. Eerdmans Publishing (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000.
Author of pamphlets. Creator of audiovisual presentations. Contributor to books, including Studies in Lutheran Hermeneutics, edited by John Reumann, Fortress Press (Philadelphia, PA), 1979; A Primer on Prayer, edited by Paul R. Sponheim, Fortress Press, 1988; A Reforming Church: Gift and Task; Essays from a Free Conference, edited by Charles P. Lutz, Kirk House (Minneapolis, MN), 1995; The Quest for Jesus and the Christian Faith, edited by Frederick J. Gaiser, Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN), 1997; and The Last Things: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Eschatology, edited by Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson, William B. Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002. Contributor of articles and reviews to periodicals, including Bible Translator, Lutheran Quarterly, Journal of Biblical Literature, Interpretation, Novum Testamentum, New Testament Studies, Lutheran Forum, Lectionary Homiletics, Pro Ecclesia, and Horizons in Biblical Theology. Word and World, editor, 1981-88, chair of editorial board, 1996-2002; member of editorial board, Dialog, 1979—.
WORK IN PROGRESS: Romans, for William B. Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI).
SIDELIGHTS: Arland J. Hultgren told CA: "Throughout my career as a biblical scholar, I have sensed a continuing need for writing that is both responsible to the subject matter—meeting the highest critical and scholarly standards—and accessible to a wide range of readers. In every field of scholarly endeavor there is a wide gap between what the scholars themselves know and think and what the general public knows and thinks. That is certainly the case in the study of religion.
"In an increasingly pluralistic world it is particularly incumbent upon specialists in every religious tradition to communicate between themselves and with the general public. Too often religion is understood in terms of deeply held private opinions and emotions. But religion is also a public expression of traditions and values that are shared among adherents in communities of belief and action. In the case of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam there are shared texts and traditions that have had, and continue to have, powerful affects and consequences for both mutual respect and controversies. The study of the basic texts—collected within the Bible in its Hebrew, Christian, and Islamic versions—will go on apace with or without the work of biblical scholars. But scholars have a particular role and responsibility to play in the enterprise and, hopefully, can promote mutual understanding and respect. The biblical scholar therefore has a very public, indeed humanistic, function in a religiously diverse and pluralistic world.
"My work is primarily that of a seminary teacher, educating persons for ministry in the church. The writing that I do actually serves the church more than the general public. But that too is essential for the good of the church and society at large. Churches and their members are served best when the riches of modern biblical scholarship are made available to them. I enjoy writing, even though it does not come easily, and it is a special joy to receive comments from persons who have found my books and articles helpful."