Brother Irvin Ziemann was my biblical Greek professor for two years at Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God, now known as Southeastern University, Lakeland, Florida. Brother Ziemann is a truly humble man. He was probably one of two most influential professors in my spiritual formation at Southeastern. The other was my academic advisor and systematic theology professor, Dr. Michael Dusing, who is now the president of Trinity Bible College in Fargo, North Dakota. Although I am no longer Pentecostal, I have fond memories from my experience at Southeastern. In fact, I would credit part of that to Dr. Terris Neuman, who encouraged his students to read the D.R. McConnell book, A Different Gospel. That book forever changed the way I viewed the Charismatic movement and set me on a course toward a firm and solid biblical theology over against experiential theology.
I had been reading the Bible since I was eight years old and I was eager to learn, so naturally I wanted to give my faith a solid grounding and an intellectual foundation. Surprisingly, the intellectual foundations for Pentecostalism were the impetus which pushed me to further study in systematic theology, biblical theology, and confessional theology--all of which directed me toward the Reformed worldview. God is truly Lord of all and is providential in all that happens, including my experience with classical Pentecostal theology at Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God. By the way, one of the required reading textbooks for systematic theology was J. I. Packer's book, Knowing God. What a coincidence? I think not. Knowing that Packer was an Anglican and a Calvinist helped point me to the Anglican Formularies and my conversion to Reformed and Evangelical Anglicanism. Unfortunately, the Anglican Communion at large is mostly apostate for various reasons, but that is another post.
It is odd but I cannot say that I have the same fondness of memory for my experience at Asbury Theological Seminary.
May the peace of God be with you!
Charlie
Posts
4 comments:
Hey, I just wanted to post something here. I also attend Southeastern University, though...I still go there haha. I'm in my senior year.
I've had Dr. Z for the past 2 years, and had Dr. Neuman last semester. Both wonderful teachers, and Dr. Z is most definitely the kindest and most humble man I've honestly ever met. I'm a Reformed fellow myself but this was not due to theological study at first, but rather a roommate of mine whom I argued with and then the Lord opened my eyes. It was Reformed theology that drove me to study theology...so no one can say to me that my studies in theology has put me here, but rather the opposite is true haha.
God bless you!
Hi, Nick...
I'm so happy that you posted a comment here. You'll find that Dr. Z is an excellent teacher for Greek New Testament. In fact, I was able to pass the NT Greek competency exam at Asbury with no problems even though I was out of school for over year before taking the exam.
Study with a critical eye and you'll be sure to benefit the most from your studies at Southeastern. Please give my regards to Dr. Z and Dr. Neuman.
May the peace of God be with you!
Charlie
I second all the positive comments about Irv - he was perhaps the kindest man I ever met, and the greatest influence in my early life as a Christian. I was very fortunate and humbled to be both his student while at Southeastern, and his colleague when I joined the faculty there briefly from 2005 - 2008.
I came here to make a brief note that I recently heard he passed away a few months ago. RIP, Irv, and see you again on the other side!
Stephen Wingreen
Thanks for commenting, Stephen. I still keep up with my biblical Greek and it is because I had a Greek teacher who motivated me to learn on my own. Dr. Ziemann will truly be missed. But I know he is with the Lord.
Post a Comment