Tom Greggs FRSE is a British theologian and the Marischal Professor of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen.[1]

Tom Greggs
Born
Thomas William Greggs

1980
Liverpool, England
TitleMarischal Professor of Divinity
Academic background
EducationM.A. (Oxon.), Ph.D. (Cantab.)
Thesis'Restoring particularity: The economic dynamics of Spirit and Son, with special reference to the theologies of Origen and Karl Barth' (2007)
Doctoral advisorDavid F. Ford
Academic work
DisciplineTheology
InstitutionsManchester Grammar School
University of Cambridge
University of Chester
University of Aberdeen

Early life and education edit

Greggs was born and raised in Liverpool, where he was educated at Liverpool Blue Coat School. During his time there, he was head of school and now serves as a foundation guardian.[2] In 1999 he entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied theology as an Open Scholar and graduated with the highest first class honours in his year for which he was awarded the Denyer and Johnson Prize.[1][3] Before beginning his doctoral work, Greggs taught religion and philosophy at the Manchester Grammar School. He completed his PhD in Systematic Theology in 2007 at Jesus College, Cambridge under the supervision of David Ford.[4][5] His doctoral dissertation served as the basis for his 2009 book Barth, Origen, and Universal Salvation: Restoring Particularity.[6]

Academic career edit

Greggs has taught at the University of Cambridge, and served as senior lecturer in Christian Doctrine at the University of Chester.[7] At the age of 29, he became Chester University's youngest ever professor and was appointed to a chair in systematic theology. At that time, he was the youngest professor in the UK.[2] He moved to the University of Aberdeen in 2011 to take the post of Professor in Historical and Doctrinal Theology.[8] He was translated to the Marischal Chair in 2016.[1] The Marischal Chair is the oldest separate Chair of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen and was founded in Marischal College in 1616, although the Divinity School is now located in King's College in Old Aberdeen.[9] He is also Honorary Professor of Theology at St Mellitus College, London,[10] and a founding member to the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland.[11] In 2019 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[12]

During his career, Greggs has also served as a visiting research fellow at St John's College, Durham,[13] and as the College of Arts and Sciences International Visiting Scholar and Visiting Professor in Religion at the University of Virginia.[14] He has served as secretary of Society for the Study of Theology, and as co-chair of the Scriptural Reasoning panel for the American Academy of Religion. He is the editor of Brill's Companions to Modern Theology series and co-editor of the Edinburgh University Press Critical History of Theology series. He is also on the editorial board of The Journal of Scriptural Reasoning (University of Virginia) and a consulting editor for the Encountering Traditions series published by Stanford University.[15][16]

Ecclesiastical work edit

Greggs is a local preacher in the Methodist Church and has also preached internationally as well as appearing on radio.[17] He was the 2014 Fernley-Hartley Lecturer for the Methodist Church, and gave the 2014 Conference Lecture for the Methodist Church on the impact of doctrine on the life and ministry of the church.[18] He serves on the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission and convenes the subgroup considering religious pluralism for Faith and Order.[19][20] He also serves on the Faith and Order Commission of the Methodist Church.[21]

Research and publications edit

Greggs's research and writing has focused on salvation, the doctrine of God, evangelical theology, theologies of the religions, and inter-faith issues. He has published over 50 essays in theology journals including International Journal of Systematic Theology, Modern Theology, Journal of Religion, Scottish Journal of Theology, International Journal of Public Theology, Theology, and Epworth Review. His books include:

  • Greggs, Tom (2009). Barth, Origen, and Universal Salvation: Restoring Particularity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.[6]
  • ——— (2010). New Perspectives for Evangelical Theology. London: Routledge.[22]
  • ——— (2011). Theology against Religion: Constructive Dialogues with Bonhoeffer and Barth. London: T & T Clark.[23]
  • ———; Muers, Rachel; Zahl, Simeon, eds. (2013). The Vocation of Theology Today. Eugene, OR: Cascade.)[24]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c University of Aberdeen (School of Divinity, History and Philosophy). Faculty profile: Professor Tom Greggs. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b The Blue Coat School Old Blues. Stories: Professor Tom Greggs. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  3. ^ Oxford University Gazette (26 October 2000). "Colleges" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  4. ^ Soskice, Janet (4 June 2015). "Tribute to David Ford, Regius Professor 1991-2015".
  5. ^ OCLC 890156086
  6. ^ a b Widdicombe, Peter (April 2010). "Review of Barth, Origen, and Universal Salvation: Restoring Particularity by Tom Greggs", pp. 455–456. The Journal of Theological Studies, Vol. 61, No. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2016 via JSTOR (subscription required).
  7. ^ "Researcher page - University of Chester Digital Repository". chesterrep.openrepository.com. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  8. ^ Times Higher Education (28 April 2011). "Appointments". Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  9. ^ University of Aberdeen (Divinity and Religious Studies). About. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Visiting Professors | St Mellitus College". www.stmellitus.org. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  11. ^ Royal Society of Edinburgh (29 November 2011). Launch of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland, p. 15. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Professor Thomas William Greggs FRSE". The Royal Society of Edinburgh. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  13. ^ "St John's College | University of Durham". www.euni.de. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  14. ^ "University of Chester Annual Review 2010". content.yudu.com. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  15. ^ "The Journal of Scriptural Reasoning | JSR". jsr.shanti.virginia.edu. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Editorial Board - Wesley House". Wesley House. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Students learn of time and justice". Tavistock Times Gazette. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  18. ^ Greggs, Tom (2015). "'If it is Teaching, then Teach' (Romans 12:7): ministry, big issues, and grown-up discipleship" (PDF). Holiness. 1: 3–19. doi:10.2478/holiness-2015-0001. S2CID 215770406.
  19. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting at the Monastery of Caraiman — World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Professor Tom Greggs appointed to Faith and Order Commission | News | The University of Aberdeen". www.abdn.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Committee Appointments" (PDF).
  22. ^ Sexton, Jason (2013). "New Perspectives for Evangelical Theology: Engaging with God, Scripture and the World - Edited by Tom Greggs". International Journal of Systematic Theology. 15 (2): 227–230. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2400.2011.00573.x.
  23. ^ Green, G. (January 2015). "Review: Theology against Religion: Constructive Dialogues with Bonhoeffer and Barth by Tom Greggs". Theology Today Vol. 71, No. 4, pp. 470-471. Retrieved 30 March 2016 (subscription required).
  24. ^ McDonald, Robert (Winter 2015). "Review: Tom Greggs, Rachel Muers, and Simeon Zahl, eds., The Vocation of Theology Today: A Festschrift for David Ford". Anglican Theological Review, Vol. 97, No. 1, pp. 146148. Retrieved 30 March 2016 (subscription required).