Audio Archive

Fretheim, Terry

Terry is the Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul where he has taught since 1968. Previously, he was an instructor in Old Testament at Augsburg College and Seminary, Minneapolis, in 1961-63, and assistant professor of religion at Augsburg College in 1967-68. Ordained in 1968, Fretheim was pastor of Dennison (Minn.) Lutheran Church in 1968-71. He has been visiting professor at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, and both visiting professor and lecturer at the University of Chicago Divinity School. A graduate of Luther College, Decorah, Iowa (B.A., 1956), Fretheim earned the M.Div. degree from Luther Seminary in 1960 and the Th.D. degree from Princeton Seminary in 1967.

Teaching for Fretheim is not simply "academic." His goal is to help students interact with the Old Testament texts in a personal way. "We're not to be passive readers," Fretheim says. "We're called to be creative, imaginative readers. The Bible opens up conversation. There are gaps in its stories, which invite us to use our imagination. We're invited to unpack its metaphors. Its poetry invites us in."

Fretheim has published numerous books. More recent titles include: God and World in the Old Testament: A Relational Theology of Creation (Abingdon, 2005); Hope in God in Times of Suffering (with Faith Fretheim) (Augsburg/Fortress, 2006); Abraham: Trials of Family and Faith (University of South Carolina Press, 2007).

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