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

biblical scholar Biblical studies is the academic application of a set of diverse disciplines to the study of the Bible, with ''Bible'' referring to the books of the canonical Hebrew Bible in mainstream Jewish usage and the Christian Bible including the can ...

at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

. Perrin specialized in the study of the

New Testament The New Testament (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus, as well as events relating to Christianity in the 1st century, first-century Christianit ...

, and was internationally known for his work on the teaching of Jesus, as well as on the Redaction Criticism 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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

. He earned a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

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. A ...

. In 1952, he earned a

Bachelor of Divinity In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity or Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD, DB, or BDiv; ) is an academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies. ...

degree (with honours), and in 1956 a

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

(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-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...

. Perrin was granted his Doctorate of Theology from the

University of Göttingen The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen (, commonly referred to as Georgia Augusta), is a Public university, public research university in the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1734 ...

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 Atlanta metropolitan area, metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. A university-based school of theology, Candler educates Minister (Christi ...

Emory University Emory University is a private university, private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory. Its main campu ...

, and from 1964 until his death in 1976 at the

Divinity School A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and 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 Presidents of the Society of Biblical Literature New Testament scholars Emory University faculty University of Chicago faculty University of Chicago Divinity School faculty British emigrants to the United States