Alden Thompson

{{Infobox Christian leader

| image =

| name = Alden L. Thompson|

| caption =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Theologian

| salary =

| networth =

| footnotes =

}}

Alden Lloyd Thompson is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian theologian, author, and seminar presenter. He is also a professor of biblical studies at Walla Walla University in Washington, United States.

Biography

He graduated from Walla Walla College in 1965 with a BA.{{cite web

|last=Thompson

|first=Alden

|title=Brief Biographical Sketch for Alden Thompson

|url=http://people.wwc.edu/staff/thomal/index.htm

|accessdate=2007-02-16

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901163509/http://people.wwc.edu/staff/thomal/index.htm

|archivedate=2006-09-01

}}

The same year he married Wanda Hoffman. Thompson graduated from Andrews University with an MA in 1966 and a BD in 1967.{{Cite web|title=Curriculum Vitae {{!}} Walla Walla University|url=https://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/areas-of-study/theology/faculty/alden-thompson/curriculum-vitae/|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.wallawalla.edu}}

After serving as a pastor in southeastern California from 1967 to 1970, he became a faculty member of Walla Walla University in 1970. From 1972 to 1974 he attended the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He was awarded with a doctorate in Old Testament and Judaic Studies in 1975,{{Cite journal |last=Thompson |first=Alden Lloyd |date=1975 |title=Responsibility for evil in the theodicy of IV Ezra: a study illustrating the significance of form and structure for the meaning of the book |url=https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/30831 |language=en}} and his dissertation was published in 1977 by Scholars Press.{{Cite web|title=Curriculum Vitae {{!}} Walla Walla University|url=https://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/areas-of-study/theology/faculty/alden-thompson/curriculum-vitae/|access-date=2020-06-14|website=www.wallawalla.edu}}

In 1980 and 1981, he taught at Marienhoehe Seminary in Darmstadt, Germany. From 1986 to 1990 he served as the academic vice president of Walla Walla College, returning to full-time teaching in the School of Theology in 1990.

Theology

Thompson has written much about the inspiration of the Bible and prophets. He published a 4-part series "Adventists and Inspiration" in the Adventist Review, in 1985.Alden Thompson in the Adventist Review. "Adventists and Inspiration", 5 September 1985, p5–7. "Improving the Testimonies through Revisions", 12 September 1985, p13–15. "Questions and Perplexities without End", 19 September 1985, p7–9. "Letting the Bible Speak for Itself", 26 September 1985, p12–15. Full series [https://web.archive.org/web/20100604011321/http://www.wallawalla.edu/fileadmin/user_upload/theology/Alden_Thompson/Writings/Semi-Popular_and_Popular_Publications/Adventists_and_Inspiration__full_series.rtf available] (RTF) from Thompson's website. The series was reprinted in Adventtiairut (Finnish) in 1986 Subsequently, church publisher Review and Herald invited him to submit a book manuscript for publication. This became the 1991 book Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers, which had a large impact in the Adventist church."A Peek Inside" (Baptist scholar Clark Pinnock reviewed it very favourably.{{cite journal

|last=Pinnock

|first=Clark

|authorlink=Clark Pinnock

|title=Alden Thompson's Inspiration: Why Is It A Cause Célèbre?

|journal=Spectrum

|volume=23

|issue=4

|pages=51–52

|publisher=Association of Adventist Forums

|date=January 1994

|url=http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive21-25/23-4pinnock.pdf

|issn=0890-0264

|accessdate=2006-11-21

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626051725/http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive21-25/23-4pinnock.pdf

|archivedate=2010-06-26

}}) Two conservative responses to Thompson were published. Firstly was Issues in Revelation and Inspiration, published by the Adventist Theological Society the following year.{{cite book

| editor1 = Frank Holbrook

| editor2 = Leo Van Dolson

| title = Issues in Revelation and Inspiration

| publisher = Adventist Theological Society Publications

| year = 1992

| location = Berrien Springs, MI

| oclc = 25701461

}} Possibly see also {{cite journal

| last = Timm

| first = Alberto

| title = A History of Seventh-day Adventist Views on Biblical and Prophetic Inspiration (1844-2000)

| journal = Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

| volume = 10

| issue = 1–2

| pages = 486–542

| publisher = Adventist Theological Society

| year = 1999

| url = http://www.atsjats.org/publication_file.php?pub_id=156&journal=1&type=pdf

| format = PDF

| issn = 1550-7378

| accessdate = 2006-10-23

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927041100/http://www.atsjats.org/publication_file.php?pub_id=156&journal=1&type=pdf

| archive-date = 2007-09-27

| url-status = dead

}} Secondly was Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Receiving the Word (1996)Koranteng-Pipim, Receiving the Word. Berrien Springs, Michigan: Berean Books, 1996 which was reviewed by Thompson in turn."[http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive26-30/26-4exchange.pdf En Route to a `Plain Reading' of Scripture] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626023031/http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive26-30/26-4exchange.pdf |date=2010-06-26 }}". Spectrum 26:4 (January 1998), p50–52 Thompson is open to a small use of the historical-critical method of Bible interpretation, although many Adventists reject this method, for example, the 1986 statement [https://web.archive.org/web/20071023231100/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other_documents/other_doc4.html Methods of Bible Study], "urge[s] Adventist Bible students to avoid relying on the use of the presuppositions and the resultant deductions associated with the historical-critical method."

He is very much concerned with church unity, and has described his 2009 book Beyond Common Ground: Why Liberals and Conservatives Need Each Other as "a kind of capstone to my teaching career.""A Peek Inside" interview He has also discussed differing personality types and how they relate to God and the church."[https://web.archive.org/web/20100604011326/http://www.wallawalla.edu/fileadmin/user_upload/theology/Alden_Thompson/Writings/Semi-Popular_and_Popular_Publications/Adventist_Personality_Types.pdf Adventist Personality Types]" (RTF). Insight, 10 August 1985, p6–11. Also Beyond Common Ground, "The Adventist Church at Corinth", etc.

He supports the process of change, and has argued for significant change in Ellen G. White's views of God (see: inspiration of Ellen White#Change over time. For instance, his best known series is "From Sinai to Golgotha", a five-part sequence published in 1981 in the Adventist Review. It discusses a change from a more fear-based picture of God in the Bible at Mt Sinai, to a more grace-based image of God at the cross. He also claims Ellen White moved from fear to joy.Also republished on [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/white/alden/ SDANet AtIssue].

"[http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH1981-49/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=4 From Sinai to Golgotha–1]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" (DjVu) 158:49 (December 3), p4–6
"[http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH1981-50/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=8 One law, two mountains]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" (DjVu) (part 2), 158:50 (December 10), p8–10
"[http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH1981-51/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=7 The story of a pilgrimage]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" (DjVu) (part 3), 158:51 (December 15), p7–10
"[http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH1981-52/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=7 Ellen White's pilgrimage to Golgotha]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" (DjVu) (part 4), 158:52 (December 24), p7–9
"[http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH1981-53/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=12 The theology of Ellen White: The great controversy story]{{Dead link|date=October 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}" (part 5), 158:53 (December 31), p12–13 See also his article, "The Scary Lady of Adventism Learns to Have Fun".Thompson, "The Scary Lady of Adventism Learns to Have Fun". Insight 2 October 1993, p2–4; [http://people.wallawalla.edu/~alden.thompson/text/articles/the_scary_lady_of_adventism_learns_to_have_fun.rtf reprint] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720111231/http://people.wallawalla.edu/~alden.thompson/text/articles/the_scary_lady_of_adventism_learns_to_have_fun.rtf |date=2011-07-20 }} (RTF format) on Thompson's website His book Escape from the Flames: How Ellen White Grew from Fear to Joy - and Helped Me to Do it Too (2005) has a similar theme.

Thompson's speaking engagements and writings cover many topics, including the Bible, especially the Old Testament, Ellen White studies, inspiration (see biblical inspiration, revelation), and Adventist history.

Non scholarly books and denominational publications

His books include:

2009. Beyond Common Ground: Why Liberals and Conservatives Need Each Other, Pacific Press; [http://www.pacificpress.com/index.php?pgName=splSearch&sku=0816323402 publisher's page][http://www.spectrummagazine.org/reviews/book_reviews/2009/08/24/beyond_common_ground_why_liberals_and_conservatives_need_each_other Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828035604/http://www.spectrummagazine.org/reviews/book_reviews/2009/08/24/beyond_common_ground_why_liberals_and_conservatives_need_each_other |date=2009-08-28 }} by Dan Akers. Spectrum blog, August 24, 2009
2005. Escape from the Flames: How Ellen White Grew from Fear to Joy - and Helped Me to Do it Too (Pacific Press). {{ISBN|0-8163-2085-3}}
1995. Samuel: From the Danger of Chaos to the Danger of Power. Boise, ID: Pacific Press (part of The Abundant Life Bible Amplifier series) {{ISBN|0-8163-1265-6}}
1991. Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers,{{cite book

| last = Thompson

| first = Alden

| title = Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers

| publisher = Review and Herald

| year = 1991

| location = Hagerstown, MD

| isbn = 0-8280-0621-0

}} (Review and Herald), now translated into GermanInspiration: Knifflige Fragen - Ehrliche Antworten, 1998 and DutchInspiratie: Moeilijke vragen, eerlijke antwoorden, 2002

1988. Who's Afraid of the Old Testament God? (Paternoster, 1988; Zondervan, 1989). {{ISBN|0-310-51921-7}}; [http://direct.energion.co/whos-afraid-of-the-old-testament-god/ one publisher's page (fifth edition)]
1977 Responsibility for Evil in the Theodicy of IV Ezra (Ph.D. thesis) Dissertation series, Society of Biblical Literature; no. 29)[https://www.amazon.com/dp/0891300910/ Amazon.com: Responsibility for Evil in the Theodicy of IV Ezra (Dissertation series - Society of Biblical Literature; no. 29): Books: Alden Thompson]

Two chapters were withdrawn from Inspiration prior to publication, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110720111324/http://people.wallawalla.edu/~alden.thompson/text/unpublished_lectures_sermons_papers/eschatology_the_angels_always_say_the_time_is_short.rtf Eschatology: The Angels Always Say the Time Is Short]" (RTF format), and "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110720111332/http://people.wallawalla.edu/~alden.thompson/text/unpublished_lectures_sermons_papers/the_adventist_church_at_corinth.rtf The Adventist Church at Corinth]" (RTF), which describes three dominant strands of Adventist theology. These were eventually published in Beyond Common Ground.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20081022150041/http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/areas-of-study/undergraduate-programs/theology/meet-the-faculty/alden-thompson/ Alden Thompson's homepage], which includes a brief biography and the full text of many articles.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016101011/http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/theology/goodword/index.php Good Word] – [https://web.archive.org/web/20071216052630/http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/theology/goodword/lessons.php Bible study guides] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20071216052658/http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/theology/goodword/listen.php audio commentary] by Thompson and others for download. Broadcast on KGTS ([http://www.plr.org/ website]) (Formerly known as "Probe"?)
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080829224352/http://spectrummagazine.org/articles/spectrum_interview/2008/05/25/alden_thompson_reflects_changes_adventism Interview] by Alita Byrd of Spectrum
"[https://web.archive.org/web/20090827193934/http://www.spectrummagazine.org/articles/spectrum_interview/2009/08/24/peek_inside A Peek Inside: An Adventist Scholar Shares His Heart]" by Rachel Davies, Spectrum website
[http://apokalupto.blogspot.com/2006/02/book-escape-from-flames.html Interview] by Adventist pastor David Hamstra
[https://archive.today/20121214141141/http://jewel.andrews.edu:82/search/aThompson+Alden Articles by Thompson] and [https://archive.today/20121126225452/http://jewel.andrews.edu:82/search/dThompson+Alden about Thompson] as cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)

{{succession box

| before = Sakae Kubo

| title = President of the Adventist Society for Religious Studies

| after = James Londis

| years = 1987}}

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Seventh-day Adventist religious workers

Category:Seventh-day Adventist theologians

Category:20th-century Protestant theologians

Category:American theologians

Category:Seventh-day Adventist writers