Tom Greggs (Aberdeen): Christian Theologians to Read and Follow

It is difficult, given the field of research I have worked in, not to cite Dietrich Bonhoeffer as my hero. Not only is his Theology captivating and not only is it both orthodox and modern (which I admire), but he was also a great martyr of the church who had to make his Theology and his commitment to the Gospel count in what was perhaps the most difficult context the world has seen. His discipleship involved being a deep theologian, but more importantly his Theology and discipleship involved his deep involvement to the world (as Christ’s!) even though that ultimately involved his execution. If, however, we are talking about academics more recently who have influenced me, then John Webster (who was my teacher at Oxford and my colleague at Aberdeen) and David Ford (who supervised by doctorate in Cambridge) are my greatest influences–from very different theological perspectives–and are those I most admire: John taught me rigour and deep engagement with doctrine, dogma, systematics and tradition in the coherent and rational explication of the Gospel; David taught me that theologians have a vocation to both the church and the world, and helped me to formulate my theology in the complexly secular and religious contexts in which I (and most of us) live.

No! I should be. I’m going to start being on Twitter soon; I need to! But Divinity at Aberdeen has its own Facebook and Twitter account.

I love to cook and entertain people, and–despite my Methodist background–really like wine (and have just started collecting French wines). I particularly like having people over for dinner on Friday nights and on Sundays after I’ve been preaching. I am addicted to cookery books and shows–and particularly love Jamie Oliver and Ina Garten. I’ve also just started a kitchen garden, growing produce, and am in the process of planting an orchard in some land around our house. In fact, I have bought a little tractor to cultivate an acre we have fenced off to grow things to give away and cook; and being on my tractor gives me more joy than it should a man of my age! I am pretty passionate about centre-left Politics and have worked in the past with the Labour Party in the UK, so always have an opinion about current affairs. But, probably, if I was going to chat to you at a conference, it would be about the dodgy crime novels I’ve been reading (everything from Agatha Christie to James Patterson) and the box set I’m addicted to any given moment (favourites include The Crown, Modern Family, Riviera, Downton Abbey, and Big Bang Theory).

I’m a bit of a juggler so have a few things going on–finishing a collection of essays on Barth and Bonhoeffer, and another on church and salvation in a world of religions, as well as polishing off a co-written textbook on Scriptural Reasoning and writing a textbook on Systematic Theology. But the thing I am most excited about is the second volume of my Ecclesiology which will be focused on the encounter we have with Jesus Christ through the Spirit in the prophetic apostolicity of the church. I’ve always been passionate about preaching and the Word of God, and this is the volume which will address some of those themes, considering the Spirit’s work in illuminating Scripture so that we might hear and receive that Word and how the Spirit speaks through the church in preaching and witness. At the moment, I’m reading around and writing some background papers, as I’ll need my research leave in 18 months or so to complete this: it is hard to focus on it in my capacity as Head of Divinity at the moment!