Richard N. Longenecker | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 21, 1930 Mishawaka, Indiana, United States |
| Died | June 7, 2021 (aged 90) Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | New Testament academic |
| Title | Distinguished Professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College |
| Spouse | Frances Lee Wilson Longenecker |
| Children | Beth Lougheed, Dave Longenecker, Bruce Longenecker |
| Academic background | |
| Education | University of Edinburgh, Wheaton College |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh (PhD) |
| Doctoral advisor | James S. Stewart |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Biblical studies |
| Sub-discipline | New Testament studies |
| Institutions | University of Toronto McMaster Divinity College |
| Main interests | Pauline Studies |
| Notable works | Commentary on Romans, Paul Apostle of Liberty, Commentary on Galatians |
Richard N. Longenecker (July 21, 1930 – June 7, 2021) was a New Testament scholar. He held teaching positions at Wheaton College and Graduate School (1954-57; 1960-63); Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1963-72); Wycliffe College (Toronto, 1972-94, from which he received an honorary doctorate in 1996); University of St. Michael’s College (Toronto, 1976-78); and McMaster Divinity College (Hamilton, 1994-2001). His education included B.A. and M.A. degrees from Wheaton College, and a Ph.D. from New College in the University of Edinburgh.
Longenecker is the author of numerous books and over fifty published articles in scholarly and professional journals. In Paul Apostle of Liberty (1964), he proposed views that would only later become mainstream in academic scholarship — such as the covenantal character of Jewish obedience to the Torah, and the importance to Paul’s theology of the phrase “the faithfulness of Christ.” Other important books include his commentary on Galatians (1990), Introducing Romans (2011) and his commentary on Romans (2016).
In 1994, a Festschrift was published in his honor. Gospel in Paul: Studies on Corinthians, Galatians and Romans for Richard N. Longenecker included contributions from Linda Belleville, Terry Donaldson, James Dunn, Gordon Fee, Walter Hansen, John Hurd, Margaret Mitchell, Peter Richardson, Klyne Snodgrass, and N.T. Wright.