Last week I found myself taking my first seminary course. I did not know exactly what to expect and was pleasantly surprised to find an instructor who was deeply passionate about the study of God's word within the context it was written. The course was called New Testament Backgrounds with Dr. Alan Tomlinson at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and I found again how completely influential a passionate person can be."The Only God I know is the God of the Book, and you better know the Book."
Dr. Tomlinson
Dr. Tomlinson presented the New Testament through the eyes of a scholar who has spent a lifetime of research digging into the First Century words as to better understand the text of the one book which reveals God Himself. Through this course a deep desire was stirred in me to pour much time and energy into the study of the Greek language in an attempt to better understand the original text itself.
One of these days I am sure that I will find that I can pick up the Greek New Testament like Dr. Tomlinson and read from it clearly and precisely, but I can only hope that through a lifetime of study and devotion that I will have the depth of understanding of the First Century that I may be able to have that New Testament spring to life in the very same way I saw it happen in the eyes of my teacher.
For the planting of this desire, I will be forever grateful. Thank you Dr. Tomlinson, I look forward to studying under you again.
