1MCI (P) 160/02/2014 DEC 2014

Lim Teck Peng

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INSIDE

Paul and the Reading of Scripture(3): Implications

The Churchs Social Engagement: Becoming the Gospel

Celebrating 66 Years

On our knees

Homecoming

Welcome to the Faculty

Nowadays the world is plagued with ironies if not contradictions: violence done in the name of religion, beliefs and traditional values suppressed in the name of inclusiveness, vocal minority acting as if representing the silent majority, and the like. Christians are of course not exempt from the problem of inconsistency, particularly that of acting in a manner contrary to their professed faith. However, since God in His mercy has given His Word and Spirit to the church to help her witness in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27), we should through reflection and self-examination strive to bridge the gap between what we profess and how we act and relate to others.

During the seasons of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Christians around the globe rejoice over the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ. For many churches, the Christmas period has also become a season of evangelism. Amidst the hype, a reflective heart in the light of the Gospel remains important during this period. In fact, the impetus for reflection is already embedded in the collective remembrance of Jesus humble birth and his sacrificial ministry to the world. In particular, the liturgical seasons provide a pertinent occasion to reflect upon the problem of Christian triumphalism on one hand, and apathy on the other hand.

Christian triumphalism places exclusive emphasis on Christus Victor, claiming that the resurrected Christ has defeated all His foes and so will the church in the present age (not in the end, but now). Aiming to transform the world with Christian values, Christians with such aspiration inject into the practice of Christian witnessing the agenda of changing the world for Christ. Such ambition, noble in itself and biblical in part, is however vulnerable to a misguided sense of superiority. It ignores the humble entrance and the challenging journey of Jesus leading Him to the cross, and the possibility of Gods presence in human suffering.

Beyond Christian Triumphalism and Apathy

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Gospel

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y 2030, one in five people in Singapore will be 65 years and above and most of them

would have retired from full time employment. This corresponds with the statistics of one of our governing denominations which reveal that in the coming years, the retirement of pastors from active service could outpace that of recruitment.

The baby-boomers (defined as those born between 1947 and 1964) have begun to cross the finishing line at 65 years. Referred to as the silver tsunami, the rising numbers of elderly with health problems and other needs will require coordinated efforts to cope with a growing ageing population. Retirement is supposed to be welcomed, but there is concern that many may not have put aside enough for their old age. This was brought home recently in a newspaper report which mentioned that retirees in South Korea are struggling to make ends meet as their efforts to supplement their meagre pensions are met with an unwelcoming job market.

A survey by the Institute of Policy Studies found that 36% of Singapores baby boomers desired to work part time after retirement. Their hope is for flexible work, similar income, and fewer hours of employment. Baby boomers are said to envision their golden years as a period to spend more time with their families, pursue their passions, socialise and take care of their health. But before this dream can come to fruition, one needs to manoeuvre a transition.

We are told that just like marriage, when the emotional high of the wedding comes down to earth, many retirees also have to deal with a feeling of letdown, similar to that of newlyweds when the honeymoon is over. Retirement, unfortunately, is not a permanent vacation for it can bring boredom, feelings of uselessness and disillusionment.

For those in full time ministry, although we believe that there is no retirement from Gods calling, yet there will be a point when we will need to step down from active service. One will always remain an ordained clergy person but disengagement from the status and influence of the pulpit needs to be managed gracefully.

Counsellors say that perhaps the most difficult aspects of transition is the inevitable question one has to ask oneself, such as Who am I, now?, Can I still be useful in some capacity?, There is now much time

in my hands, what shall I do about it?. Indeed, it is normal to undergo the process, and to revisit such questions related to self-esteem. Those who have a positive worldview, and are enjoying good family relationships, and who already have involvement in meaningful activities apart from their jobs are likely to have an easier transition to retirement.

The Bible reminds us that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Eccl 3:1, NIV). The mid or late autumn years of our lives do have their particular joys and unique experiences. And even if the re-employment of baby boomers does postpone retirement for a few more years, that special day will still come upon us. So to prepare the mind and heart for the next stage of life is a mark of spiritual maturity.

How can the church tap into the wealth of experience and the wisdom of retirees so as to enrich the life of the congregation? On the other hand, how can retirees offer their time and advice with good grace and self-assurance? Perhaps, Johns Gospel suggests an attitude to adopt as we reflect on the words of the retiring prophet John the Baptist in reference to Jesus: He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3: 30, ESV). As retirees pass the baton, and humbly step aside, they ought to cheer on those who take over the helm, for this is an opportune time to increase their focus on personal faith even as they decrease in preoccupation with earning a living.

So as we approach the closing of yet another year, we are reassured that there is always a new beginning. Those who allow our Saviour Jesus Christ to have an increasing influence over them will be enabled to better manage the transitions encountered along lifes journey. May God bless you and your loved ones with a Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year.

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Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian Principal

Rev Dr Lim Teck Peng Associate Dean

Lecturer in Christian Education and Pastoral Studies

As retirees pass the baton, and humbly step aside, they ought to cheer on those who take over the helm

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A Word from the Principal

Baby-Boomers And Retirement

to prepare the mind and heart for the next stage of life is a mark of spiritual maturity

In contrast to the zeal of triumphalistic Christians to enter and transform the world, there is, on the other hand, an ongoing Christian indifference to the world outside our own skin, our cell group or the four walls of our church. Such apathy, displayed most evidently in the scope of individual and corporate prayer, rises in part from the biblical teaching of separation between the church and the world, and in part from the confusion between the world and the worldly. When leading to a form of social withdrawal or parochialism, such Christian apathy has led to an escapist attitude towards the troubled world.

Christian triumphalism and escapism alike have alienated Christians from the reality of suffering in human existence, rendering Christians to appear as pilgrims and strangers in the world, but for the wrong reasons. The irony is this: it is not uncommon that the more fixated they are on winning the battle of transforming the world and winning souls for Christ, the more estranged they may become from the struggles of others. The humble birth of Jesus, his baptism that identifies him with both the fallen world and the will of the Father, and his ensuing journey with the people, both friends and foesthese stories should lead us to rethink the manner we relate to the world.

Christians share a common social space with others. Hence, there will be times we need to work alongside others to respond to the social reality we all face. It is certainly a presumption that Christians are always the only community providing responses to social challenges and needs. In this respect, what Paul told the Philippians remains relevant: whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things (Phil 4:8).

Commenting on the Christian view of human knowledge, Augustine in the fourth century wrote that all good and true Christians should understand that truth, wherever they may find it, belongs to their Lord (Teaching Christianity, 2.18). Similarly, John Calvin acknowledged that in reading profane authors, the admirable light of

truth displayed in them should remind us, that the human mind, however much fallen and perverted from its original integrity, is still adorned and invested with admirable gifts from its Creator. If we reflect that the Spirit of God is the only fountain of truth, we will be careful, as we would avoid offering insult to him, not to reject or condemn truth wherever it appears (Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.2.15). These words of the apostle and great teachers bring to view the virtue of appreciating others outside the church who have admirable gifts to contribute to us and society at large.

The ability to recognise and appreciate others contributions enables us to go beyond the four walls of the church when responding to a social reality, such as the breaking down of social norm in the face of rampant individualism. In this respect, it is worth mentioning that traditional conventions and Christian values are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Albeit with different undergirding worldviews, values such as integrity, honesty, compassion, peaceful coexistence with others are part of our social values as much as they are part of the Christian ethos.

It is therefore possible and in fact necessary for Christians to work with other religious and non-religious communities to maintain and develop common values shared by the majority in Singapore society. For example, the institution of family, constituted by marriage between a male and female, is not unique to Christians but held across different ethnic groups, and across the religious and non-religious divide. The church with clarity and modesty should therefore strive to work with other communities in upholding the institution of family and in forging common values.

So as we participate in the festive season, may our collective memory of the humble birth and public ministry of Jesus Christ enable us to recognize truth, beauty and goodness, to genuinely share others joy and happiness, and to embrace the reality of suffering, wherever it is found.

the liturgical seasons provide a pertinent occasion to reflect upon the problem of Christian triumphalism on one hand, and apathy on the other hand

It is therefore possible and in fact necessary for Christians to work with other religious and non-religious communities to maintain and develop common values shared by the majority in Singapore society

the apostle and great teachers bring to view the virtue of appreciating others outside the church who have admirable gifts to contribute to us and society at large

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Rev Dr Leonard WeeLecturer in New Testament

Paul and the Reading of Scripture (3)

ImplicationsThis is the last instalment in our series of articles which discusses Pauls reading of Scripture. In the first article, entitled Influence, we looked at how the Old Testament serves as a crucial bridge for Pauls faith as he reconciles his upbringing as a Jewish Pharisee with the revelation of Christ. That new revelation, as Paul realised, was in fact not new. Rather, through his (re)reading, the gospel of Christ is found to be consistent with the prior revelation of God in the Old Testament.

In the second article, entitled Issues, we considered Pauls hermeneutics, and saw that his interpretation of Scripture is largely regular, despite our difficulties in understanding Pauls reasoning in a few isolated cases. Frequently, on closer inspection, and when we allow for Pauls reading of Scripture to be understood on its own terms, we find that his interpretation is not arbitrary at all. Neither is there a need to think that Paul has recourse to some special apostolic privilege in interpreting Scripture. The same point is made by Francis Watson in his monumental work, Paul and the Hermeneutics of Faith. This is important because it determines the extent to which we can learn from Pauls use of Scripture, as the Church engages in theological deliberation in a modern context.

In this third instalment, entitled Implications, I would like to offer some practical proposals in relation to what we have observed of Pauls use of Scripture thus far.

Attitude in Reading

As mentioned previously, when we examine Pauls use of Scripture closely, we see that his interpretation is rarely arbitrary. On the contrary, it is often based on a careful reading of the text. We see this in Rom 4, where Pauls close reading of the text leads to his realisation that the traditional Jewish understanding of the faith of Abraham, based on Gen 15 and 17, needs to be corrected. In 2 Cor 10:8 and 13:10, Pauls use of the language of Jeremiah in describing his own ministry in the gospel (building up, and not tearing down) is drawn from such a deep-seated thematic emphasis in the prophetic text that it could only have come about by careful study and prolonged meditation on the book of Jeremiah itself.

This gives rise to the first implication I would like to highlighthow are we reading the Bible as Christians? For many of us, in the midst of our busy lifestyle, to be able to read the Bible regularly is already a discipline we struggle to maintain, not to mention having to read the text carefully. But that is exactly how Paul and his NT counterparts read Scripture. They not only read the text; they examine it perceptively and carefully, paying close attention to the subtleties of what is said in Gods word.

Where there are tensions or difficulties in reconciling the text with our faith on the surface level, Paul would continue to engage with the text by mulling on it, frequently for a long period of time. This is evident in his letter to the Romans. Scholars almost unanimously agree that Pauls use of the OT passages there must have arisen from his prolonged meditation on Scripture, as he explains Gods prior revelation in the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ (especially in Rom 911).

Scripture as Resource

A second implication has to do with the use of Scripture in our modern theological reflection. For some Christians, the Bible is little more than a book

that tells of Gods loving salvation of the world. The world has sinned, and God first chose for himself a covenant people through which to effect redemption, ultimately sending his Son to die on the Cross for our sin. From there, the Church, as the body of Christ, carries on the mission by preaching the message of the Cross, while waiting for the Saviours return in the eschaton. That is well and good, and is what the apostle Paul understands Scripture to be saying as well.

However, such a simplistic reading of the Bible does not reflect exactly how Paul approaches Scripture. For Paul, the Bible is multifaceted and multi-layered, containing a reservoir of semantic and theological resources which are virtually inexhaustible. Holding on to this perspective, coupled with the careful reading of Scripture we mentioned earlier, enables the vast resources of Scripture to be unlocked. While a text of Scripture may speak on certain issues on one reading, it offers resources to deal with other issues when read in a different context.

For example, in Rom 9:6-9, Paul uses materials from Gen 1821 to explain the promise given to Abraham and his descendants on the basis of faith. The same text is also used in Gal 4:21-31 to argue that the descendants of Ishmael and Isaac are incompatible because they come from different mothers. Likewise, while Paul uses Isaiah to depict the ministry of the gospel in Rom 911, he uses the same text to deal with the problem of human wisdom pitting itself against Gods wisdom in 1 Cor 14.

In each of these cases, the same texts of Scripture are used to deal with different questions. Rather than thinking of a biblical text in terms of a message it contains, Paul thinks of Scripture as a vast reservoir of theological resource for his life and ministry. Different truths can be drawn from the same texts to answer different questions!

Application to Preaching

The foregoing discussion has significant implications for our use of Scripture in ministry. I refer here particularly to our pulpit ministry, although there are other areas of application. For those of us who have undergone training in expository preaching (using, for example, the methodology delineated by noted homiletics professor Haddon Robinson) , the desire to be faithful to the biblical text must not be taken to mean that it contains only one message applicable to Gods people today.

Take, for example, Marys song in response to the annunciation of the birth of Christ in Lk 1:46-55 (traditionally known as the Magnificat). It can be seen as a programmatic statement of the mission of the Saviour; it can be understood in terms of

Gods faithfulness as he fulfils his promises (since many elements in the song can be traced to specific prophetic texts in the Old Testament); it can be interpreted in terms of Marys humble attitude towards Gods will in her life; and it can also be appropriated in terms of Gods opposition to the proud and mercy towards the humble.

In addition to these are many other truths embedded in the text, ranging from the hope Christ brings to the poor and destitute, to the depiction of God as the armed warrior who ushers in his sovereign plan of redemption. In other words, the text is polyvalent, not monovalent. There is a wealth of theological truths in this text applicable to Gods people today, and it would be a tragic misunderstanding to think it contains only one main point which must be preached each time it is read!

Conclusion

Paul, as a Jewish Pharisee, understands his encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ in the light of Scripture. As an apostle and pastor-missionary, he also uses Scripture to address the issues he faces in the course of his ministry. This should serve as a model for us as we grapple with the many issues current in our day. The written word of God is a vast theological and ecclesial resource waiting to be tapped.

I hope the reader will forgive me for the brief manner in which I have shared my thoughts in this series of articles. Students who have attended my courses on biblical intertextuality in TTC would probably be appalled at how much I have compressed my presentation, often at the expense of clarity. Nonetheless, I hope that some of you have been stimulated to think more about the use of Scripture in the life and ministry of Christians, after the example of the apostle Paul. The Bible as the word of God deserves to be read closely, with its truths carefully distilled, to answer the questions posed to the Church today.

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The written word of God is a vast theological and ecclesial resource waiting to be tapped

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Where there are tensions or difficulties in reconciling the text with our faith on the surface level, Paul would continue to engage with the text by mulling on it, frequently for a long period of time

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Rev Dr Simon Chan Earnest Lau Professor of

Systematic Theology Lecturer in Systematic Theology

or many Christians in Singapore, social engagement means what they need to do to

help the larger society: setting up a counseling clinic or drug rehabilitation centre, building a school or a hospital. Christians have been doing these things and should continue to do them. Others feel that beyond doing works of charity, there need to be more critical engagement. All human institutions (social, political and economic) even at their best are run by imperfect people who, if left unchallenged, could abuse their positions and cause more harm than good.

In more recent times, a more subtle challenge to all people of faith (not just Christians) has come from some who, in the name of neutrality and inclusiveness, have sought to impose secularism as the only legitimate voice in the public square. Its intolerance of real plurality must be exposed and challenged. These forms of social outreach and critical engagement are good and necessary.

But there is also another way of engagement as the church of Jesus Christ. It was said that what attracted the pagans to the Christian church in the

first three centuries of its existence when it was under severe persecution was not so much what the church did for the world as how it lived out its faith in Jesus Christ.

To be sure, the early Christians did much good for the world despite the persecution. They rescued abandoned babies and fed the hungry. Hospitality was practiced indiscriminately, following the injunction in Hebrews to welcome the stranger because even the most annoying guest may turn out to be an angel of God (Heb 13:2). But what attracted the pagans was the Christians peculiar way of life as a community. Among other things, Christian slaves and masters ate together at a common table. The pagans were forced to concede: Behold, how they love one another!

This form of engagement goes back to Jesus Sermon on the Mount. You (plural) are the salt of the earth. You (plural) are the light of the world (Matt 5:13, 14). Jesus is not speaking of individual Christians as salt and light, but primarily of the Christian church as salt and light: It is a city set on a hill. It is their way of life as a community that marks them out as salt and light.

To be salt is to be the agent that preserves the world from moral decay; to be light is to dispel its darkness. This was what an anonymous Christian writing in the second

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century in what is known as the Letter to Diognetus probably had in mind when he said: Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the bodys hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together.

The church is called to be the instrument for the salvation of the world. It is the channel through which the life of the Spirit flows: But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christs triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God (2 Cor 2:14-17).

The churchs gospel proclamation is an aroma of life or death: life to those who receive it and death to those who reject it. The gospel has the effect of salt: it arrests the moral decay of the world. It holds back evil. And as light it exposes the worlds false value-system and hypocrisy. But for those who reject the gospel, death and decay inevitably follows.

But the church is more than just an instrument of the gospel. We are not just the salt shaker scattering salt; we are not just the vessel carrying the oil that gives light. You are the salt. You are the light. Our very being as church must demonstrate the power and truth of the gospel.

Our very life as a community must be so transformed by the gospel that we become the gospel to the world. Paul makes this point in 2 Cor 4:1, 2: Therefore, since through Gods mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyones conscience in the sight of God.

Paul is saying in effect that because ministers of the gospel are entrusted with proclaiming it, they must live lives that are consistent with the truth of the gospel by renouncing secret and shameful ways, deception and distortion. In so doing,

their very lives reveal the gospel, so much so that the gospel shines out of their lives: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body (vv. 7-11).

Drawing on this imagery, the late second century church father Irenaeus pictured the church as a vessel containing the rejuvenating deposit of the gospel being in turn rejuvenated by the gospel. It is not the vessel that shapes its content; it is the content that shapes the vessel!

Ultimately, it is what we are that counts. It is not enough to scatter the salt but to be salt, not just to convey light but to be light. This is why at the end of the Sermon in Matthew 7, Jesus sounds a severe warning to those who heal the sick and cast out demons, but are in fact evildoers (v. 23). He follows up his warning with a story of the wise and foolish men who built their houses on very different foundations. Both the warning and the parable highlight the need to embody what we know and do, so that we become what we are called to proclaim.

The most effective form of social engagement is not to be found in our activism and social critique, necessary though these may be. Rather, real, long-term transformation of society comes from the church shaped by the gospel to become, in the words of Stanley Hauerwas, the community of character that implants itself as salt and light in the world. The church in Singapore has the critical mass to be effective salt and light; the crucial question is: Is it?

See page 13 for Rev Dr Simon Chans new book

The Churchs Social Engagement:

Becoming the Gospel

Irenaeus pictured the church as a vessel containing the rejuvenating deposit of the gospel being in turn rejuvenated by the gospel. It is not the vessel that shapes its content; it is the content that shapes the vessel!

Word on World

Christian slaves and masters ate together at a common table. The pagans were forced to concede: Behold, how they love one another!

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Celebrating On 3 October, Trinity Theological College celebrated its 66th Anniversary with a Holy Communion Service. Rev Ranganathan Prabhu, President of the Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore preached on Well Done! Faithful Servant and reminded us not to waste our time waiting for big responsibilities but to use our gifts in daily life faithfully in order to produce fruitfulness.

The excellent TTC Choir, led by Mrs Simon Chan, gave the choral offering with a touching rendition of O Give Thanks to the Lord from Mendelssohns Cantata Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise). In recognition of the commitment of faithful servants several were presented Long Service Awards. They included our cleaners Mdm Lee Su Chin (5 years) and Mdm Liow Ah Moi (10 years) who received loud applause. Our chaplain, Rev Dr Jeffrey Truscott (10 years), librarian, Dr Michael Mukunthan (15 years) and our inimitable lecturer, the Rev Dr Simon Chan (25 years) were also recognized.

An alumni couple in their 80s, Lau Kuok Ding and Lilyc Bee Jin came all the way from the United States to join in the celebration. Others present included Rev Dennis Gimang from Kuching, Sarawak, who graduated in 2002. Another senior alumnus present was 85 years old Rev Norman Chan, who graduated in 1958! Upon seeing many younger students Rev Chan said that God is doing a new thing...raising up a new generation with His Word to go into the world to bear witness.

On a balmy evening on 3 October, a people left behind the hustle and bustle of the day to gather at Orchid Country Club. Supporter, student or staff of Trinity Theological College, each had come to celebrate TTCs 66th birthday.

The air filled with merry sounds of new friendships forming and old friendships renewing. Phones and cameras captured mementoes of the festive event, of guests decked out in cultural or smartest finery.

The Masters of Ceremonies, Rev Dr Mark Chan and Rev Dr Wilfred Ho, opened the evening with words of welcome and wishes for an evening of food sumptuous, fellowship sweet and conversation scintillating.

Led by Gabriel Ling, voices rose in energetic worship to God Almighty. Shepherded by Rev Dr Gordon Wong, President of the Trinity Annual Conference, hearts bowed in intercession for those who wanted to attend this evening but could not. Culinary delights then graced each table and guests with clinking cutlery tucked in eagerly.

Aaron Foo is a 3rd year MDiv student

Tay Li Ping is a 2nd year MDiv student

More than simply honing academic aptitude, the Principal gave glimpses of how TTC nurtures the spiritual, emotional, social and character development of its students. In turn, the colleges graduates have indirectly nurtured the soul of Singapore by ministering to the spiritual wellbeing of others. TTCs continued witness as a union college testifies to the power of Christs love to unite in the midst of a society and church beset with divisions.

Majestic male voices filled the ballroom as the TTC Male Choir presented the soaring anthem Let the Name of the Lord Be Praised! Flowing female voices blended in next for the soothing spiritual My Souls Been Anchored in the Lord.

The Chaplains prayed for the graduating students, a bittersweet reminder of this final anniversary dinner outing as current students. All guests stood and in unison sang the college anthem.

Rev Dr Chong Chin Chung, President of the Chinese Annual Conference, gave the benediction and brought to a close a memorable day of celebration and thanksgiving to God for his 66 years of faithfulness to TTC.

A Day to Celebrate

& Give Thanks

Thanksgiving Service

Thanksgiving Dinner

Years66

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he TTC community and the Christian public were treated to a course of five lectures on The Fourfold Gospel by the renowned biblical scholar, Professor Francis B. Watson, who is currently the Chair

of Biblical Interpretation at Durham University (UK). Delivered in the evenings from 25 September to 1 October 2014 at the Trinity Theological College chapel, the event was held in conjunction with TTCs 66th Anniversary celebrations.

While the different accounts in the four Gospels have often been seen as a weakness in modern scholarship and are pitted against one another, Professor Watson argued that it is precisely in their differences that the Gospels complement each other. The plurality of the accounts is a strength and not a weakness, and Christians in the early Church since the second century A.D. have looked at these four Gospels as a unity in diversity, when they collected the canonical Gospels together. A single perspective of the person of Jesus would not have done justice to the collective traditions on the life and ministry of the Son of God.

Each of the five lectures carried a separate subtitle as follows:

1. The Making of a Fourfold Gospel 2. Matthew: Jesus the Jew 3. Mark: The Way of the Lord 4. Luke: Annunciation 5. John: The Word Made Flesh

In each lecture, Professor Watson used a series of beautiful pictures taken from the Lindisfarne Gospels and other ancient drawings to illustrate how the early Christians viewed the Gospels as a unity, while at the same time recognising their diversity. The light-hearted nature of these lectures, despite the scholarly research that undergirded them, was underscored right at the beginning, when the professor presented a photo of the magnificent Durham Cathedral. Sensing that the audience might

think that Durham professors lived in opulence, Professor Watson deftly clarified that the grand building was not his residence!

The Fourfold Gospel

Leonard Wee teaches New Testament

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On Our Knees

his years Day of Prayer has been a refreshing experience for

both faculty and students in the TTC Community. The day started with a heartfelt sharing by our keynote speaker, Rev Mervyn Moore, the warden of St Peters Hall. He shared the importance of Surrendering our lives to God from Jeremiah 18:1-6 and Romans 12:1-3. He reminded us that to effectively serve our Lord and his people in the ministry to which he has called us, we need to first come before him on our knees in humility and with contrite hearts.

After the opening message, there was a period of time allocated for the individual to engage in personal prayer and

Benjamin Lau is a 2nd year BD student

TRev Mervyn Moore addressing Day of Prayer

Being a first year student trying to adjust to theological studies means my days have been dictated by to-do lists and seemingly endless readings. But through the DOP I was reminded that we need to set aside time to slow down, reflect, listen to God and simply enjoy His presence.

- Lau Shi Mei (MDiv, Year 1)

After hearing the message and doing all the Prayer Labyrinth stations, I felt that prayer didn't keep me away from pain rather it makes me suffer more when I see the need of the suffering world. Hence, prayer is entering into God's intimacy and embracing his call to the suffering world.

- Gladys Grace Caole (MDiv, Year 2)

Fudan-Trinity Religious Studies Exchange

rofessor Yuan Xin, Executive Dean of the School of Philosophy at Fudan University, visited TTC from

1 to 4 October. Professor Yuan was accompanied by Professor Wang Xinsheng, Vice Dean of the School of Philosophy who came last year for preliminary discussions. During this visit, TTC and Fudans School of Philosophy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Fudan-Trinity Religious Studies Exchange Programme. Our guests also attended the colleges 66th Anniversary Thanksgiving Dinner before returning to Shanghai. This collaboration between TTC and Fudan aims to promote scholarly exchange on religious studies between Singapore and China. The two parties share common interests in promoting better understanding of Christianity from an Asian perspective, and the programme will provide faculty and students of the two institutions the opportunity to widen their exposure and broaden their perspectives.

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MOU signed by Professor Yuan Xin and Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian

contemplation, and to experience different forms of spirituality in seven different prayer stations in a Prayer Labyrinth around TTC. There were stations such as spiritual journaling, personal worship, stillness and silence, time of contemplation in nature at the prayer garden, praying for the nations, expressing a Word from God in a prophetic art or just being prayed for by a faculty member.

After the time spent in the prayer labyrinth, family groups gathered together for a time of sharing and prayer for each other. The Day of Prayer ended with a Holy Communion service, with the Word preached by Rev Mervyn Moore on Going in the Strength of the Heavenly Food from 1 Kings 19:8. He shared a personal testimony of a time when God raised him from the depths of despair to the mountain top of hope when he encountered Christ in a very real and meaningful way. The Lords Supper was presided by Rev Dr Simon Chan.

Artwork from the Lindisfarne Gospels

Over the course of the next four lectures, Professor Watson illustrated how the different starting point of each Gospel is related to its distinctive presentation of the Christ, even if they all end with the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It is exactly because of these distinctive emphases that the Gospels give us a composite, multi-dimensional presentation of the Saviour.

There was active participation from the audience during the question-and-answer session each evening. As the final session drew to a close, Professor Watson did something unusualhe allowed all his lecture slides to be made available to the audience! Such was the generosity of a biblical scholar who graciously shared his expertise with the public, students, alumni and faculty.

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he CSCA Lectures for 2014 took place from 22-24 September. We had the pleasure

of welcoming to our college Professor Bernard Adeney-Risakota, Professor of Religion and Society at the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies in the Graduate School of Gadiah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. He spoke on the theme, Visions of a Good Society in Southeast Asia: Interreligious Struggles in Religiously Diverse Societies.

Professor Adeney-Risakota explored the way in which our imagination of what is real (social imaginaries) bears upon our cultural, political, and religious practices. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, he offered helpful insights. Having lived and taught in Indonesia for more than two decades, he was able to expound on a complex subject through the use of personal and practical anecdotes. This real-life quality of the lectures was particularly appreciated by the audience.

CSCA will publish the three nightly lectures. The next CSCA Lectures will be held in September 2016.

CSCA Lectures 2014

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I must say that the lecture is thoughtful, empirical and practically relevant. Professor Risakotta is able to present Christianity to the marketplace.

- Andreas Hauw

the lecture is best called down to earth theology. It offers thought-provoking insights for doing practical theology in the Southeast Asian context, especially in Indonesia.

- Brury Eko Saputra

Alumni couple Rev Lau Kuok-Ding and Mrs Lilyc Lau (from USA) with Rev Dr Yu Chin Cheak

Homecoming

Benjamin Fong is a 1st year MTh student

his years Homecoming was held on 2 October, a day before TTCs 66th Anniversary, and we were

pleased to see the many familiar faces of students who had graduated in years past. Special mention ought to be made of the overseas alumni who came back, from neighbouring countries as well as from the other side of the globe, such as the United States.

The day began with a lecture on The Four Spheres of the Christian Life by Professor Francis Watson. Using Romans 12 and 13, Professor Watson described the four spheres of life a Christian would be engaged in, and inferred six Pauline theses with regard to societal engagement. This led to a rather lively Q&A session, with questions ranging from whether it was justifiable for Christians to smash idols as part of home cleansing rituals, to Christians engaging in civil disobedience and what would be an appropriate response to ISIS.

TGrassroots Asian Theology proposes a new way of doing theology in Asia. It challenges elitist theologies that have hitherto dominated the Asian theological landscape. It argues that real theology is the theology that is actually lived out by ordinary Christians in the varied contexts of Asia and that the task of the theologian is to make explicit the implicit theology of the faithful. But an Asian theology is not a parochial theology for the Asian church; if it to be authentic, it must be done in light of the Great Tradition and contribute to its further development.

Price: $25Get your copy online at books.ttc.edu.sg or from TTC Admin office

I came away with new topics to wrestle with in my own theological reflections. Chan is a wise evangelical thinker who points to spiritual concerns that require creative engagement not only with traditional Asian religions, but also with Catholic and Orthodox insights that can enrich our evangelical efforts, especially in drawing on the spiritual strengths of grassroots Pentecostalism.

Grassroots Asian Theology informs us that the Lord is doing some wonderful things in local communities in Asia. But Chan does more than inform. He also teaches some important lessons from Asian Christians about how to faithfully serve the cause of the gospel in our own cultural contexts

- Richard J. Mouw is the former president of Fuller Theological Seminary

Dr Mark Chan and Prof Bernard Adeney-Risakota

The lecture was followed by an enjoyable lunch in the dining hall, bringing to mind memories of the weekly community lunches that everyone would partake of after the Wednesday chapel services. More delightful than the food were the conversations made with good company, as alumni and faculty caught up with one another, sharing stories of both ministry and family experiences post-graduation. Homecoming proved to be a welcome respite from the rush of serving the Lord, whether in the church or in the marketplace. Several would also be present at the Thanksgiving Service and Dinner the next day (see page 8-9).

Evening Classes (CDCM) : An Invitation

Details are available on our website www.ttc.edu.sg

Course A: Once Saved Always Saved? Election, Predestination and the BibleDates: 8 Wednesday evenings, beginning 7 Jan Venue: St. Andrews Cathedral Instructor: Rev Dr Soh Guan Chin

Course B: A History of Israel

Dates: 8 Thursday evenings, beginning 8 Jan Venue: TTC Lecture Room 2 Instructor: Rev Chiang Ming Shun

The Centre for the Development of Christian Ministry is the lay training arm of Trinity Theological College. It aims to serve the Church by providing lay training programmes, seminars and conferences on the Bible, theology and ministry.

CDCM also offers a Certificate and Licentiate programme to participants. Pitched at a level which is less demanding than the day-time degree courses, it has been a stepping stone for many to progress towards a more rigourous degree programme. CDCM will be offering two new courses in January to March.

New book by Rev Dr Simon Chan

Alumni having fellowship lunch

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It is not always easy to discover exactly what young Asian theologians are thinking (to paraphrase Douglas J. Elwood). Overwhelmed with commitments, young theologians find it difficult to pursue their research interests. This book is the result of an invitation to a few young theologians to pause and reflect upon the key theological issues they are concerned with in their respective contexts.

The nine articles cover a broad range of topics. The first section (Text and Context) focus on specific portions of the Biblical text and how they speak to various parts of Asia. The second, entitled Theology in Context, propose ways of meaningfully engaging the Christian faith with the contributors own contexts in China, Hong Kong and Thailand. The final three articles On Terminology and Methodology deal with basic issues of how we should explicate key concepts and undertake the theological task. The last portion contains three responses from senior scholars.

The book is edited by Dr Leow Theng Huat who teaches Church History and Theology.

What Young Asian Theologians Are Thinking

This book is the first full-scale monograph on the subject of atonement in Owens thought. Drawing from a wide range of Owens writings and upon recent historiographical studies on Protestant Orthodoxy, Dr Tay offers a critical exposition of Owens thought on the said subject. He argues that at the heart of Owens atonement theology is his peculiar understanding of Christs priesthood.

The Priesthood of Christ: Atonement in the Theology of John Owen (1616-1683)

Edwin Tays book is unique...whoever seeks to find out more about the marriage between academic theology and puritan spirituality in John Owen, including its relevance for today, is well advised to study Tays book.

- Willem J. van Asselt, Emeritus Professor of Church History, Utrecht University, The Netherlands;

Professor of Historical Theology Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven, Belgium

Punctuations . in . Time

Cho Ai Lin Hannah (BD 2) on the demise of her beloved father, the late Mr Cho Yong Kwan, on 30 Aug.

Family of the late Rev John J K Lu (TTC lecturer 1955-1987) on the demise of his beloved wife, Mdm Aw Cheng Swan (Mrs John Lu), on 2 Sep.

Betty Yu Shuet Kuen (BTh 1972) whose mother, the late Madam Chang Jin Pao, aged 90, was called home to the Lord on 14 Sep.

Dr Kwa Kiem Kiok (MDiv 1999) on the demise of her beloved mother on 30 Sep.

Family of the late Rev Dr Clarence Lim Kim Seng (BD 1970), aged 74, who was called home to the Lord on 2 Oct.

The family of the late Ms Elizabeth Johannnaber, aged 101, who was called home to the Lord on 2 Oct. She was a former lecturer of TTC.

David Teo Keng Bock (MMin 2004) and Mrs Betty Teo on the demise of his beloved mother, the late Mdm Mary Seow Yoke Kum, aged 72. She was called home to the Lord on 3 Nov.

Condolences to ...

Alumnus Rev Dr Jimmy Tan (MDiv 1995), will join the TTC faculty in January 2015. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in Singapore, his PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary is in the field of spiritual formation and guidance. Confronted by an increasingly nebulous contemporary spiritual climate and recurring challenges in the field of

pastoral care and formation, his dissertation examined the historical, theological and practical aspects of guidance in the Catholic and Reformed traditions.

Jimmy views his appointment at TTC, made possible by financial support from four Presbyterian churches and All Saints Memorial Chapel, as a special privilege to contribute to the academy and beyond. He is deeply grateful to share in a slice of TTCs history and look forward to working with faculty and students alike in the stimulating environment of his alma mater to foster focused attention on Christian formation and the spiritual life. Jimmy is married to Soh Kwan and they have three daughters.

Alumnus Rev Chiang Ming Shun is completing his PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, UK. He was previously an administrative officer at a local university. Ming Shun graduated from TTC (MDiv 2000), having also studied at Asbury Theological Seminary in

Welcome to the Faculty

Farewell to ...We would like to thank alumnus Rev Dr Liew Yoo Kiang (MDiv 1988) lecturer at TTC since January 2009, for his contributions to our college over the years. Yoo Kiang who also served as Director of CDCM (Chinese), has decided to return to the pastoral ministry. We wish Yoo Kiang Gods blessings as he continues his ministry at Abundant Grace Presbyterian Church.

Thank You for Your Partnership in Theological Education

TTC depends fully on the generosity of well wishers in Singapore

Your gifts will be used to train men and women

for Christian Outreach and Ministry in Singapore and the region

We invite you to consider the following ways

to contribute to our ministry:

By Cheque payable to Trinity Theological College Mail to: 490 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678093 By Bank or ATM transfer to our DBS current account 0330172613 By way of Bequests to TTC. We shall be pleased to discuss this plan with you. You may email the principal@ttc.edu.sg or call us at: 67676677

Thank you for blessing Trinity Theological College

The Trumpet is published in English and Chinese

To view the Chinese edition, please visit our website

www.ttc.edu.sg

Michael Tan (MTh 1997) who succeeded another alumnus Peter Chao (MMin 1980) as the new President of Eagles Communications. The leadership transition took place on 7 May.

Daniel Lee Kong Leong (BD 3) on his marriage to Gervoys Chan Wai Ling on 14 Jun.

Luo ChengZan (MDiv 2) and wife Wu Rui on the arrival of their 2nd girl, Lou Shi Lin, on 3 Aug.

Zhang Wenshan (BD 2014) and wife Wang Ruiyu Rhonda on the arrival of their baby girl, Zhang Xue Tian, on 21 Aug.

Rev Joel Yong (MDiv 2003) and Mrs Arlene Yong on the arrival of their 2nd child, Declan Knight Yang Shouyi, on 26 Aug.

Zhang Li (MDiv 2009) on her marriage to Jiang Wei in Kunming, China, on 6 Sep.

Elaine Lim (BD 2011) and Mr Alex Choo on the arrival of their baby girl, Wiselyn Choo Xuan Ci, on 7 Sep.

Congratulations to ...Bishop Low Jee King (BTh 1987) and Bishop Kuan Kim Seng (BD 1988) on their appointments as Assistant Bishops of the Diocese of Singapore on 25 Oct.

Daniel Lim Sze Kai (BD 2008) and Leong Peiyu (MDiv 2012) on the birth of their first newborn girl, Aletheia Min Xuan, on 26 Oct.

Ai Nguyen Tran (MDiv 2011) on his marriage to Ms Van HongThi Doan in Vietnam on 8 Nov.

The following alumni on their ordination by the Methodist Church in Singapore:

More New Publications

Dr Edwin Tay, the author, teaches Theology.

Books are available online at books.ttc.edu.sg or from TTC Admin office

Price: $15

Chinese Annual Conference (13 Nov) Deacon: Rev Irman Halim (MDiv 2005), Rev Edmund Koh Lik Hng (MDiv 2012), Rev Tack Ng Lai Chun (BD 2011), Rev Eric Soh Wai Foon (BD 2010) Elder: Rev Ling Tieng Ngung (MDiv 2003)

Trinity Annual Conference (20 Nov) Deacon: Rev Gladwin Lee Khian Guan (MDiv 2012), Rev Benjamin Lee Shang Ching (MDiv 2012) Elder: Rev David Ho Gim Pin (BD 2010), Rev Irene Thung Mui Cheng (MDiv 2007)

Kentucky, USA. Since then, he has been a minister with The Methodist Church in Singapore (TRAC). He found it a joy and an education to serve as pastor in two local churches and as chaplain to Methodist schools, Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade companies as part of his pastoral duties.

Ming Shun tells Trumpet: I am looking forward to starting at TTC! I am a church historian and a military history enthusiast, very much interested in the story of the church, particularly in Asia. Although I believe we should not live in the past, I think we are better and stronger living with the knowledge of the past.

Ming Shun with wife Po Lin

Available from February 2015

Printed by Print & Print Pte Ltd16

TRUMPET EDITORIAL:Ms Nie Yicong, Ms Dawn Lee, Rev Dr Liew Yoo Kiang, Ms Eunice Low, Rev Yap Seok Chin (Editor for Chinese), Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian (Editor)

TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE490 Upper Bukit Timah Road

Singapore 678093Email: info@ttc.edu.sg

Website: www.ttc.edu.sgTel: (65) 6767 6677

Ever wonderedhow you might deepen your understanding of the Christian tradition and develop a spiritually mature and vibrant faith?

Ever wishedyou could receive a theological education that is grounded in sound and solid Christian scholarship?

Ever contemplatedGods call upon your life and how you may be equipped to serve God in church and society?

Consider Trinity Theological Collegewhere you will find study and formational programmes that sharpen the mind, shape the heart, and strengthen the hands to serve God in church and world. Together with other members of the TTC community, you will be inspired and encouraged to grow in faith and discern Gods voice and will for your life.

Come join us at our OPEN HOUSEwhere you will visit our campus, meet our faculty, speak with students, sit in on classes, worship and fellowship with us

To register, email openhouse@ttc.edu.sg or do it online at www.ttc.edu.sg (deadline: 16 Jan 2015)

For more details, please visit our website www.ttc.edu.sg For enquiries, email to registrar@ttc.edu.sg

Basic Theological Degrees Advanced Theological Degrees Bachelor of Divinity (BD) Master of Divinity (MDiv) Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

Application deadline International applicants: 31 January 2015 Singapore and Malaysia residents: 15 March 2015

Master of Ministry (MMin) Master of Theology (MTh) Master of Letters (MLitt) Doctor of Theology (DTh)

Application deadline All applicants: 31 January 2015

TTC offers you the following degree programmes

We welcome you to apply for the new academic year

which commences in July 2015