Norman Perrin (29 November 1920 – 25 November 1976) was an English-born, American biblical scholar at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

. Perrin specialized in the study of the

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...

, and was internationally known for his work on the teaching of Jesus, as well as on the

Redaction Criticism Redaction criticism, also called ''Redaktionsgeschichte'', ''Kompositionsgeschichte'' or ''Redaktionstheologie'', is a critical method for the study of biblical texts. Redaction criticism regards the author of the text as editor (redactor) of the ...

of the New Testament.

Life and career

Perrin was born in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, and served from 1940 to 1945, during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

. He earned a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...

degree (in theology) in 1949 from the

Victoria University of Manchester The Victoria University of Manchester, usually referred to as simply the University of Manchester, was a university in Manchester, England. It was founded in 1851 as Owens College. In 1880, the college joined the federal Victoria University. Afte ...

. In 1952, he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree (with honours), and in 1956 a

Master of Theology Master of Theology ( la, Theologiae Magister, abbreviated MTh, ThM, or MTheol) is a post-graduate degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries. It can serve as a transition degree for entrance into a PhD program or as a sta ...

(in Greek New Testament and apocryphal studies), both from the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

. Perrin was granted his Doctorate of Theology from the

University of Göttingen The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen, (german: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, known informally as Georgia Augusta) is a public research university in the city of Göttingen, Germany. Founded ...

in 1959. From 1959 to 1964, he taught New Testament at the

Candler School of Theology Candler School of Theology is one of seven graduate schools at Emory University, located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. A university-based school of theology, Candler educates ministers, scholars of religion and other leaders. It is also o ...

Emory University Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of ...

, and from 1964 until his death in 1976 at the

Divinity School A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

of the

. Perrin served as president of the Chicago Society of Biblical Research in 1972–1973, and as president of the Society of Biblical Literature in 1973.

Selected works

* * * * * * * * *

Bibliography

''The Journal of Religion'' 64 (1984), Norman Perrin 1920-1976
includes a previously unpublished essay by Perrin and academic tributes by colleagues. * David Abernathy, ''Understanding the Teaching of Jesus: Based on the Lecture Series of Norman Perrin'' (New York : Seabury Press, 1983). * Calvin R. Mercer, "Norman Perrin: A Scholarly Pilgrim" (Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 1983). * Welton O. Seal, Jr., "Norman Perrin and His 'School': Retracing a Pilgrimage", ''Journal for the Study of the New Testament'' (1984), pp. 87–107. * Welton O. Seal, Jr., "The Parousia in Mark: A Debate with Norman Perrin and 'His School'" (Ph.D. dissertation, Union Theological Seminary, 1981). * ''Criterion'', vol. 16, no. 1 (Winter 1977); personal tributes to Norman Perrin, from a memorial service held in the Joseph Bond Chapel, 30 November 1976

References

External links

*
Guide to the Norman Perrin Papers 1964-1977
at th
University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perrin, Norman 1920 births 1976 deaths People from Wellingborough Alumni of the University of London University of Göttingen alumni American Christian theologians American biblical scholars New Testament scholars Emory University faculty University of Chicago faculty University of Chicago Divinity School faculty British emigrants to the United States