OpenTheo

Q&A#95 Must the Pastor be a Gifted Theologian?

Alastair Roberts

Q&A#95 Must the Pastor be a Gifted Theologian?

December 8, 2018
Alastair Roberts
Alastair Roberts

Today's question:

"What do you think the relationship is between depth of theological understanding and being a good pastor?

Is it a straight one to one correlation? Other things being equal, a better theological understanding will make a better church leader? Once you are over a certain threshold of theological understanding does it then become.more about preaching ability, love for people, management skills etc?

I think I default to thinking that there is a very strong correspondence (as the people whose books have greatly helped me have all been deep thinkers), but the more I think about it the more this seems wrong (most local church leaders are not going to have the time or money to train to a very deep level)."

Within the video, I mention this Mere Fidelity discussion of pastor theologians: https://mereorthodoxy.com/mere-fidelity-the-pastor-theologian/.

My new blog for my podcasts and videos is found here: https://adversariapodcast.com/.

If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged.

If you have enjoyed these talks, please tell your friends and consider supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged.

The audio of all of my videos is available on my Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. You can also listen to the audio of these episodes on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alastairs-adversaria/id1416351035?mt=2.

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More on OpenTheo

Casey Luskin: Debunking the Myth of Junk DNA
Casey Luskin: Debunking the Myth of Junk DNA
Knight & Rose Show
June 22, 2024
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose interview Dr. Casey Luskin about junk DNA. Is your DNA assembled by undirected forces, or is it intelligently designed?
Lydia McGrew Answered! On Paraphrase
Lydia McGrew Answered! On Paraphrase
Risen Jesus
June 13, 2024
In this episode, Dr. Licona gives attention to Lydia McGrew's contentions that historians in antiquity would not have employed the literary exercises
How Will Jesus Sit at the Right Hand of God if He Is God?
How Will Jesus Sit at the Right Hand of God if He Is God?
#STRask
April 29, 2024
Questions about what the Bible means when it says Jesus will sit at the right hand of God if Jesus is God and why the writers of the Synoptic Gospels
The Blessing (and Danger) of Authority with Jonathan Leeman
The Blessing (and Danger) of Authority with Jonathan Leeman
Life and Books and Everything
May 22, 2024
We live in a day where authority is often rebuffed and where many people are quick to assume all authority is abusive authority. And yet, some authori
Is an Embryo a Baby?
Is an Embryo a Baby?
#STRask
May 2, 2024
Questions about whether the fact that you can freeze an embryo but not a baby proves an embryo isn’t a baby and whether it would be wrong to use IVF w
Are the Crusades Proof That Christians Are Evil?
Are the Crusades Proof That Christians Are Evil?
#STRask
May 16, 2024
Questions about how to respond to someone who says the Crusades are proof Christians are evil, the facts around the church burning people at the stake
A Conversation about Christianity and Football with Kirk Cousins
A Conversation about Christianity and Football with Kirk Cousins
Life and Books and Everything
May 13, 2024
Kirk Cousins has been an NFL quarterback for 12 years. Before that he played at Michigan State (where he and Kevin met). Before that he was a barely-r
#217 Dear Tom: I've got questions about Marriage (Replay)
#217 Dear Tom: I've got questions about Marriage (Replay)
Ask NT Wright Anything
May 2, 2024
Tom delves into the complexities of marriage, addressing personal and burning questions from our listeners. From pondering the nature of married relat
Lydia McGrew Answered! On Plutarch
Lydia McGrew Answered! On Plutarch
Risen Jesus
June 19, 2024
In this episode, part 5 in an 8 part series, Dr. Licona patiently deconstructs Lydia McGrew’s contrived flow chart for determining when it is safe to
Should I Stick with My Decision if I Prayed About It Beforehand?
Should I Stick with My Decision if I Prayed About It Beforehand?
#STRask
July 1, 2024
Questions about whether you should stick with a decision you made that didn’t work out as you hoped if you prayed about it beforehand and how you can
#223 Pastoral questions on porn, personal tragedy and coming back to faith (replay)
#223 Pastoral questions on porn, personal tragedy and coming back to faith (replay)
Ask NT Wright Anything
June 27, 2024
Tom answers listener’s pastoral questions including a person racked by guilt over whether his wife’s miscarriages were a judgment on his porn addictio
Does the Bible Teach That Elijah Was Reincarnated as John the Baptist?
Does the Bible Teach That Elijah Was Reincarnated as John the Baptist?
#STRask
May 9, 2024
Questions about responding to someone who says the Bible teaches reincarnation when it says John the Baptist “is Elijah who was to come” in Matthew 11
Won’t Jesus Only Be Able to Interact with One Person at a Time?
Won’t Jesus Only Be Able to Interact with One Person at a Time?
#STRask
June 27, 2024
Questions about how being with Jesus continually will be the highlight of eternity if he’ll only be able to interact with one person at a time since h
What Should I Say to a Reformed Christian Who Dismisses Many Non-Believers as Lost Causes?
What Should I Say to a Reformed Christian Who Dismisses Many Non-Believers as Lost Causes?
#STRask
June 13, 2024
Questions about the best way to respond to someone who believes in double predestination and who dismisses many non-believers as lost causes and wheth
Is Matthew 23:23 an Argument for Social Justice?
Is Matthew 23:23 an Argument for Social Justice?
#STRask
May 13, 2024
Questions about how to respond to someone who uses Matthew 23:23 as an argument for social justice and what to say to a family member who argues that