Vern Poythress
Vern Sheridan Poythress is an American New Testament scholar, Reformed theologian, and polymath. Specializing in philosophy and mathematics, Poythress currently serves as New Testament Chair for the English Standard Version translation committee. He is Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. In addition, he is the editor of the Westminster Theological Journal.
Biography
Poythress was born in Madera, California in 1946 to Ransom H. Poythress and Carola N. Poythress. He graduated from Bullard High School in Fresno, California.At the age of 20, Poythress earned a BS in mathematics with honor from California Institute of Technology, in the year 1966. While there, he became a Putnam Fellow in 1964. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University, finishing in 1970. Westminster Theological Seminary awarded him both an M.Div and a Th.M in apologetics for work done in the years 1971-74. He earned an M.Litt from the University of Cambridge in New Testament studies during 1974-1976. He received a ThD in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch.
In 1983, Poythress married Diane M. Poythress. They have two sons, Ransom Poythress and Justin Poythress.
As of 2016, he was teaching New Testament and occasional courses on the philosophies of science and language at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, work he began in 1976. His blog with John M. Frame was listed in early 2018 as one of the top 50 Christian popular culture sites.
Thought
Poythress views scientific law as a form of the word of God. In 1976, Poythress wrote a chapter on "A Biblical View of Mathematics," in which he argued that number is eternal because the Trinity is eternal. In a 1983 article, he suggested that mathematics is the rhyme of the universe. His philosophy of science draws on the work of Thomas Kuhn.Publications
Poythress has published a number of books in different fields — Christian philosophy of science, linguistics, theological method, dispensationalism, biblical law, copyright law, hermeneutics, Bible translation, and eschatology and the Book of Revelation including:Philosophy, Science, and the Sovereignty of God. Presbyterian and Reformed: 1976, reprinted 2004..'. Zondervan: 1987..- '
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