March 2009 HBF Newsletter

Last month, Harold Hoehner, New Testament professor and director of the PhD program at Dallas Seminary, died unexpectedly. He had taught there for over 40 years, right up until his passing. He had a connection with our area - here is the remembrance I contributed on the seminary website:

As many others have shared, I was privileged to have Dr. Hoehner in NT classes (1 Corinthians, Romans and NTI). Rigorous and humorous best describe his approach (a great combination). But my most meaningful personal contact with the man came after graduation. Many might remember his stories of growing up in a town in rural upstate New York, and about his family's displeasure with his leaving home to go to college - which years later involved an emotional reconciliation. I found out later that the town was Deansboro, about 10 miles north of where I have been ministering for 24 years - Hamilton, NY. I first saw him up here in the mid '80's, at his Mother's memorial service in Clinton. Someone had tipped me off, and my wife and I just showed up at the funeral home where there were just a few folks gathered (his Mom I believe had lived with him and his family in Dallas for a number of years). He greeted us and recognized us as former students. He was so excited that there was a DTS grad ministering near his old "neighborhood!" A couple of years later he stopped in the area for a high school reunion (Waterville!), on his way to ETS meetings somewhere in Europe. Another local pastor that he had befriended and I met with him and had a great time - I remember his analysis of the ice cream we were eating . . . he was like that. He was always very encouraging, personable and a wonderful example of a scholar who had a real, vibrant, down to earth life. He will be missed here, but we'll see him again. Goodbye, old friend!

I indeed count it a privilege to have studied under and learned personally from Harold and others at Dallas Seminary. My experience there is of inestimable value. To this day I use the tools and skills gained, and benefit from the influence of these individuals. Lanier Burns, John Martin, John Hannah, Jackie Deere, John Walvoord - these are names you may not know, but they all have had a profound impact on me. It was wonderful to learn from true scholars who are also real men of God. I still keep in touch with some of them!

Harold’s passing reminds me of the influence we can all have on others. It’s not only about what we say or profess or teach, but also a function of the content of our character. The latter is as much a work of the Spirit resident in us as the former - a good thing to remember, especially during this time of Lenten reflection.