May 10, 2016
MARSHALL, Texas (5/10/16) – East Texas Baptist University student Zach Whitlow has been invited to participate in a workshop at Oxford University. “Logos in Oxford” is a summer workshop on Biblical texts, vocation, and the Christian mind.
Whitlow graduated on May 7 from the School of Christian Studies earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion. The McKinney native will be at St. Hugh’s College, University of Oxford from June 1-15. The workshop is an opportunity for undergraduates and graduates to be taught by academic experts in the fields of history, theology, and textual studies.
“What a wonderful opportunity for Zach to take his study of the Greek New Testament to a higher level,” said ETBU Dean of the School of Christian Studies Dr. John L. Harris. “He will have the opportunity to read and to study various manuscripts, texts, and documents in depth. This is truly a magnificent opportunity experienced only by a select few.”
ETBU Professor of Greek and New Testament Dr. Warren Johnson will attend the workshop as well. As part of the program, faculty mentors from the participant’s home institution are invited to attend. Dr. Johnson will participate in the worship June 5-9.
According to Dr. Johnson, “This program was open only to students who had demonstrated expertise in New Testament Greek. In his two years of Greek study at ETBU, Zach has excelled and this excellence was the primary factor in his selection to participate in the Logos in Oxford program.”
Whitlow is very grateful to be chosen for this workshop held in such a historical place. “It really makes my studies and hard work over the past two years worth it even more,” shared Whitlow. “Studying Greek has really enhanced my reading of Scripture.”
“I can pick up on certain things in the English text better than I did beforehand. It also shows different ways in which we have to add some words in order to make things make sense. I also have seen ways we sometimes, in English, get fairly far away from the original Greek text,” he added.”
Future plans for Whitlow are to continue serving as the youth minister at Central Baptist Church of Marshall. Then in spring of 2016, enroll at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and take online classes. He has a desire to pursue a Master of Arts in Christian Education with a specialization in Collegiate Ministry.
“Logos in Oxford” is another learning opportunity for Whitlow to enhance his knowledge of the Bible.
“I did my written project on the final portion of Romans and it posed several questions as I looked at various manuscripts. This workshop could help me uncover some of the historical context surrounding the composers of the New Testament,” said Whitlow.
“Zach will also be a part of discussions about the intersection of faith and vocation. In addition to working alongside young scholars from a wide variety of institutions, Zach will visit Winchester’s magnificent cathedral, and Cambridge, where he will visit the Parker Library at Corpus Christi College, a treasure house of religious texts that document Christianity in England from the arrival of St. Augustine of Canterbury up to the Reformation,” said Dr. Harris.
The primary goal of the ETBU School of Christian Studies/Department of Religion is to prepare individuals for various Christian ministries. It is a school and a department whose mission is Christian by tradition and Baptist by heritage. The schools’ graduate program offers a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degrees. A Certificate in Ministry program is available for anyone seeking entry-level preparation for ministry service.