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2013 Laing Lecture

How did the gospels become ‘The Gospel’?

On 12 February 2013 James Dunn, Emeritus Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University, will explore the topic of ‘The Gospel & the Gospels’ in the next major free London School of Theology Laing Lecture.

The evening event (7.45pm, Emmanuel Church, Northwood) will look at how the ‘gospel’ preached by the first Christian missionaries become the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The lecture will also explore the other gospels, particularly the Gospel of Thomas and investigate thinking as to whether or not they are also ‘gospel’?   

Should Christians recognize more than the four New Testament Gospels?  If so, how would that affect our understanding of Jesus’ mission?  If not, why not?

 

Professor Dunn said:

 “The gospel is at the heart of Christianity, so for today’s Christians to understand what the gospel originally was is of first importance if we are to understand what Christianity is.   And the Gospels are at the heart of the New Testament.  So, to understand the relation of gospel and Gospels is almost as important.   All the more so since other Gospels from the early Christian centuries now seem to compete with the New Testament Gospels for attention.   The London School of Theology’s Laing Lecture provides an ideal opportunity to examine these issues which I look forward to exploring.”

 

Matt Adcock, Director of Communications at LST said:

“Hearing Professor Dunn unpacking this hot button topic is going to be fantastic.  I have often wondered how and why certain books of the bible were chosen over other potential candidates and have debated the thinking behind it with friends and family. It will be good to have one of the world’s top theological thinkers deliver his thoughts in what I’m sure will be an engaging and fascinating lecture.”

 

The lecture is free and open to the public on a first come first served basis – it will also be live streamed online at: www.lst70years.co.uk where you can find more details and book seats.

 

The next lecture from LST will be: ‘Compelled By Love’ by Heidi Baker of Iris Ministries on Monday 06 May 2013  - this will be held in Westminster.

 

About James Dunn

James Dunn is Emeritus Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University, where he taught from 1982 (previously at the University of Nottingham). He has PhD and DD from Cambridge, and is a Fellow of the British Academy. He has authored over twenty monographs, and is currently working on the third volume of a trilogy on Christianity in the Making. His doctoral pupils teach in many different parts of the world. He is married to Meta (they have three children) and functioned as a Methodist Local Preacher for forty years. They have now retired to Chichester to be nearer their daughters.

 

About LAING LECTURESHIPS

Since its foundation, London School of Theology has been committed to the pursuit of academic excellence. One result of this was the institution of an Annual Public Lecture given by a member of the academic staff as a contribution to evangelical scholarship.

 

Shortly after the School moved to its present site in Northwood, the decision was taken to widen the scope of the annual lecture, inviting contributions from well-known evangelical scholars from other schools and universities. One of the School’s benefactors, Sir John Laing, endowed the lecture and allowed his name to be given to it.