 | Paul Sevier Minear |
A leading scholar of the New Testament
Paul Sevier Minear, the Winkley Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology at Yale Divinity School (YDS), died Feb. 22 at his home in Guilford, just days after his 101st birthday on Feb. 17.
Minear, a member of the committee that produced the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, had a career spanning the better part of the 20th century and was considered one of the world's leading New Testament scholars.
In addition to lecturing widely, Minear was the author of over 25 books, many of which are still in print or have been reprinted. His books include "Christians and the New Creation: Genesis Motifs in the New Testament," "The Good News According to Matthew: A Training Manual for Prophets, " "The Golgotha Earthquake: Three Witnesses," "The Eyes of Faith," "The Kingdom and the Power: An Exposition of the New Testament Gospel," "Images of the Church in the New Testament" and "The Obedience of Faith: The Purposes of Paul in the Epistle to the Romans."
"He was creative. ... He was clearly acquainted with trends and so on but he went his own way," recalled Leander Keck, former YDS dean, who studied under Minear at the Andover Newton Theological School and eventually was named the Winkley Professor after Minear's retirement. "He was very much interested in the use of language and imagery. Where other people were worried about myths, he would say, 'Okay, it's a myth but what is being communicated here?'"
Minear earned a B.A. from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1927 and received his B.D. from Garrett Biblical Institute (now Garrett-Evangelical Seminary) in 1930 before going on to Yale for a Ph.D. in New Testament, which he received in 1932. After teaching at the Hawaii School of Religion for a year, he taught at Garrett for 10 years before going to Andover Newton Theological School, where he was the Norris Professor of New Testament. Minear joined the faculty of Yale Divinity School, where he taught 1956-1971.
After retiring from YDS , Minear moved to Guilford with his wife of nearly eight decades, Gladys. He continued to lecture and write. The Minears were active in the town's First Congregational Church, where senior minister Kendrick Norris, who earned an M.Div. from YDS in 1977, has served for 30 years. "He was a presence but never an overbearing presence," said Norris. "He commanded authority, but it was always very gentle. Forget all his stellar scholarly achievements. He was just a wonderful person who really lived his Christian faith."
In addition to his wife, Minear is survived by his sons Richard and Larry; daughter Anita Fahrni; and six grandchildren. His ashes will be interred at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, in the First Congregational Church's Memorial Garden. A memorial service is planned for this spring.
T H I S
In Memoriam: Paul Sevier Minear
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IN MEMORIAM
B. Davie Napier: Former Yale trustee, professor and preacher
James B. Crowley: Specialist in the history of modern Japan
Paul Sevier Minear: A leading scholar of the New Testament
Kathryn Perrone: Assistant to the president
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