Haddon Robinson

{{Infobox theologian

|name= Haddon W. Robinson

|image=

|era= 20th Century

|birth_date=21 March 1931

|birth_place=New York City, New York

|death_date={{death date and age|2017|7|22|1931|3|21|df=y}}

|death_place=Willow Street, Pennsylvania

|occupation=Pastor, Professor, Theologian

|nationality=American

|tradition_movement=Evangelical

|main_interests=Homiletics, Expository preaching

|notable_ideas="The Big Idea" Biblical Preaching

|notable_works=Biblical Preaching

|spouse=Bonnie

|children=2}}

Haddon W. Robinson (21 March 1931 {{ndash}} 22 July 2017) was an American evangelical who was the Harold John Ockenga Distinguished Professor of Preaching, senior director of the Doctor of Ministry program, and former interim President at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. {{citation|url=http://www.gordonconwell.edu/communications/2006/Robinsonpres.php|title=Haddon W. Robinson Named Interim President of Gordon-Conwell|access-date=16 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524045918/http://www.gordonconwell.edu/communications/2006/Robinsonpres.php|archive-date=24 May 2007}} He was also the founding President of the Theology of Work Project.{{cite web |title=Team |url=https://www.theologyofwork.org/about/meet-our-team |website=Theology of Work Project |publisher=Theology of Work Project, Inc. |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208173016/https://www.theologyofwork.org/about/meet-our-team |archive-date=8 December 2021}}

Biography

A native of New York City, Robinson received a bachelor's degree from Bob Jones University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a M.A. from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.{{citation|url=http://www.gordonconwell.edu/academics/view-faculty-member.cfm?faculty_id=15929&grp_id=8948|title=Dr. Haddon Robinson|access-date=3 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214004817/http://www.gordonconwell.edu/academics/view-faculty-member.cfm?faculty_id=15929&grp_id=8948|archive-date=14 December 2012|url-status=dead}}; [http://nrb.org/news-room/articles/nrbt/memoriam-dr-haddon-w-robinson/ NRB obituary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809195735/http://nrb.org/news-room/articles/nrbt/memoriam-dr-haddon-w-robinson/ |date=2017-08-09 }}. Robinson served as president of Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary (now known as Denver Seminary) for 12 years (1979–1991), and taught homiletics on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary for 19 years.{{cn|date=July 2023}} He has authored seven books, including Biblical Preaching. "Biblical Preaching" is a primary source for the study of expository preaching. He wrote and edited for several magazines.

Robinson was heard as the 'lead teacher' on the 15-minute Discover The Word radio program (formerly Radio Bible Class) produced by Grand Rapids, Michigan-based RBC Ministries.{{citation|url=http://discovertheword.org/hosts/haddon-w-robinson/|title=Haddon robinson|access-date=3 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729221011/https://discovertheword.org/hosts/haddon-w-robinson/|archive-date=29 July 2017|url-status=dead}}

Robinson co-founded the Theology of Work Project{{cite web |last1=Duduit |first1=Michael |title=Here's to You, Dr. Robinson |url=https://www.preaching.com/articles/heres-to-you-dr-robinson/ |website=Preaching.com |date=2 September 2014 |access-date=26 January 2022}} and served as the Project's president from its inception in 2007 until his death in 2017.{{cite web |title=Team |url=https://www.theologyofwork.org/about/meet-our-team |website=Theology of Work Project |publisher=Theology of Work Project, Inc. |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208173016/https://www.theologyofwork.org/about/meet-our-team |archive-date=8 December 2021}}

Robinson lived with his wife, Bonnie, in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, and Willow Street, Pennsylvania. They had two children. Robinson died from Parkinson's Disease.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

One of his major contributions to homiletics was the "Big Idea of Biblical Preaching" (the title of a book which is in his honor), whereby sermons should have one major idea (has one subject and one complement), even if the big idea breaks down into several subpoints. Robinson also argues that a sermon should be primarily expository, since that places the authority in the biblical text, not in the preachers themselves.

His book "Biblical Preaching" was published in 1981 and had three editions. It has had a wide influence on preaching and preachers. He started a Doctor on Ministry program focussed on preaching at Gordon Conwell Seminary in South Hamilton, MA.{{citation|url=http://www.preaching.com/resources/articles/11565763/|title=Expository Preaching in a Narrative World: An Interview with Haddon Robinson|last=Duduit|first=Michael|work=Preaching.Com|date=3 December 2009 |access-date=3 December 2012}} He was instrumental in changing the name of Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary to Denver Seminary.{{cite web|title=Baptist Seminaries Abandon Ship|url=http://www.fundamentalbaptistministries.com/archives2/ABANDON_SHIP.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816231756/http://www.fundamentalbaptistministries.com/archives2/ABANDON_SHIP.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 16, 2016|access-date=May 11, 2016}}

Works

=Books=

{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |title=Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Academics |date=1980 |isbn=978-0-801-07700-5 |oclc=6982350 |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalpreachin00robi }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=The Good Shepherd: Reflections on Psalm 23 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=Moody Press |date=1987 |isbn=978-0-802-46688-4 }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Christian Salt and Light Company: A Contemporary Study of the Sermon on the Mount |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Discovery House |date=1988 |isbn=978-0-929-23902-6 |oclc=19044714 }}
{{cite book |editor1-last=Robinson |editor1-first=Haddon W. |editor1-mask=3 |title=Biblical Sermons: How Twelve Preachers Apply the Principles of Biblical Preaching |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Book House |date=1989 |isbn=978-0-801-07751-7 |oclc=19389127 |url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalsermons00hadd }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Solid Rock Construction Company: How to Build Your Life on the Right Foundation |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Discovery House |date=1989 |isbn=978-0-929-23908-8 }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Hybels |author2-first=Bill |author2-link=Bill Hybels |author3-last=Briscoe |author3-first=Stuart |author3-link=Stuart Briscoe |title=Mastering Contemporary Preaching |location=Portland, OR |publisher=Multnomah |date=1990 |isbn=978-0-880-70335-2 |oclc=20560630 |url=https://archive.org/details/masteringcontemp00hybe }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=What Jesus Said About Successful Living: Principles From the Sermon on the Mount for Today (Barbour Publishing, 1991 |year=1991 |publisher=Discovery House Publishers |isbn=978-0-929-23943-9 |oclc=23768838 |url=https://archive.org/details/whatjesussaidabo00hadd }} - combined edition of Christian Salt and Light Company & Solid Rock Construction Company
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Brown |author2-first=Stephen W. |author3-last=Willimon |author3-first=William H. |author3-link=William H. Willimon |title=Voice in the Wilderness: Clear Preaching in a Complicated World |series=Mastering Ministry's Pressure Points |location=Sisters, OR |publisher=Multnomah |date=1993 |isbn=978-0-880-70589-9 |oclc=29506380 }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Grief: Comfort for Those Who Grieve and Those Who Want to Help |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Discovery House |date=1996 |isbn=978-1572933132 |oclc=4356948 }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Decision-Making by the Book: How to Choose Wisely in an Age of Options |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Discovery House |date=1998 |isbn=978-0-896-93913-4 |oclc=23689908 |url=https://archive.org/details/decisionmakingby00robi }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Academics |date=2001 |isbn=978-0-801-02262-3 |oclc=925010235 |edition=2nd }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |editor1-last=Gibson |editor1-first=Scott M. |title=Making a Difference in Preaching |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Books |date=2002 |isbn=978-0-801-09092-9 |oclc=41649710 }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Trusting the Shepherd: Insights from Psalm 23 |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Discovery House |date=2002 |isbn=978-1572930704 |url=https://archive.org/details/trustingshepherd0000robi }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Robinson |author2-first=Torrey W. |author2-link=Torrey W. Robinson |title=It's All How You Tell It: Preaching First-Person Expository Messages |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Book House |date=2003 |isbn=978-1572930704 |url=https://archive.org/details/trustingshepherd0000robi }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching: A Comprehensive Resource for Today's Communicators |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Zondervan |date=2005 |isbn=978-0-310-25248-1 |oclc=55877836 }}
{{cite book |author1-last=Robinson |author1-first=Haddon W. |author1-mask=3 |title=Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Academics |date=2014 |isbn=9780801049125 |oclc=865452254 |edition=3rd }}