Frank Stagg (theologian)


Frank Stagg was a Southern Baptist theologian, seminary professor, author, and pastor over a 50-year ministry career. He taught New Testament interpretation and Greek at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary from 1945 until 1964 and at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky from 1964 until 1978. His publications, recognitions and honors earned him distinction as one of the eminent theologians of the past century. Other eminent theologians have honored him as a "Teaching Prophet."

Personal

Dr. Frank Stagg was born October 20, 1911, on his grandfather's rice farm near the small community of Eunice, Louisiana. Although the family name comes from an English ancestor, the Stagg family was of French Catholic descent, commonly called Cajuns. His grandfather and his uncle were the first of the Staggs to become Evangelical Christians. His uncle became a preacher who ministered in the native "Cajun" dialect. Frank was proud of his Louisiana French heritage and of his upbringing in the home of a Baptist deacon and Sunday School teacher.
In his junior year at Louisiana College, Frank met the person who was to become such an integral part of his life and work, Evelyn Owen from Ruston, Louisiana. They married in 1935 and raised three children—Ted, Bob and Ginger.

A couple endeavor

Frank and Evelyn together wrote and edited Woman in the World of Jesus. The book is divided into three parts:
  1. The world into which Jesus came
  2. Jesus and woman
  3. The early church and woman

    Beliefs

Counted among the "best-known progressive activists," Stagg addressed a variety of contemporary issues. These included civil rights, gender equity, Vietnam, the First Gulf War, ecumenism and aging. He also argued for the Bible's relevance. "The Bible is relevant," Stagg said. "We don't have to make it relevant." He said that the First Gulf War presented the ideal opportunity for Southern Baptists to "reassess and reject" the just war doctrine and embrace pacifism as the appropriate Christian response to all wars. He opposed Reformed points of doctrine such as predestination and other Calvinist beliefs in Southern Baptist life.

Library collection

Through the years, Dr. Stagg amassed an extensive library and wealth of knowledge and scholarship in the form of correspondence, writings, articles, speeches, commentaries, book reviews, photographs, sermon notes and even private musings. The Papers of Dr. Frank Stagg, 1938–1999 now reside at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The represent more than a half century of his life's journey and Christian pilgrimage. His collection shares prominence in the library with the manuscript collection of English theologian and preacher Charles Spurgeon.

Recognition and honors

Frank Stagg is included in various lists of distinguished twentieth century Baptist theologians: E. Y. Mullins, W. T. Connor, W. O. Carver, Frank Stagg, W. W. Stevens, Dale Moody, Dallas Roark, James Wm. McClendon, Morris Ashcraft, E. Frank Tupper, Warren McWilliams, A. J. Conyers, and Curtis Freeman. He also has been called "one of the foremost interpreters of the New Testament among Baptists in the twentieth century."
At the Louisville seminary he held the prestigious James Buchanan Harrison Chair of New Testament Theology.
The Stagg-Tolbert Forum for Biblical Studies is an annual event named in his honor. It is designed to make excellence in biblical scholarship accessible to the lay person.

Education

Professional

Publications

Books

The Book of Acts: The Early Struggle for an Unhindered Gospel. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1955.
Exploring the New Testament. Nashville: Convention Press, 1961.
New Testament Theology. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1962.
Studies in Luke's Gospel. Nashville: Convention Press, 1967.
The Holy Spirit Today. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1973.
Polarities of Man's Existence in Biblical Perspective. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1973.
Woman in the World of Jesus, with Evelyn Stagg. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1978.
Galatians and Romans. "Knox Preaching Guides," ed. John H. Hayes. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1980.
The Bible Speaks on Aging. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981.

Contributions to other books

"He that Judgeth Me." In More Southern Baptist Preaching, ed. H. C. Brown, Jr., pp. 104–112. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964.
"How I Prepare My Sermons." In More Southern Baptist Preaching, ed. H. C. Brown, Jr., pp. 104–106. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964.
"What and Where Is the Church?" In What Can You Believe? ed. David K. Alexander and C. W. Junker, pp. 27–34. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1966.
"Glossolalia in the New Testament." In Glossolalia: Tongue Speaking in Biblical, Historical, and Psychological Perspective by Frank Stagg, E. Glenn Hinson, and Wayne E. Oates, pp. 20–44. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1967.
"Matthew." In The Broadman Bible Commentary, ed. Clifton J. Allen, vol. 8, pp. 612–653. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1969.
"Rights and Responsibilities in the Teachings of Paul." In Emerging Patterns of Rights and Responsibilities Affecting Church and State, pp. 37. Washington D.C.: Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, 1969.
"Authentic Morality and Militarism." In Proceedings of the 1970 Christian Life Commission Seminar, pp. 45–50. Nashville: Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1970.
"Explain the Ending of the Gospel of Mark, Mark 16:17-18." In What Did the Bible Mean, ed. Claude A. Frazier, pp. 122–125. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971.
"Philippians." In The Broadman Bible Commentary, Clifton J. Allen, pp. 178216. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971.
"Playing God with Other People's Minds." In Should Preachers Play God, ed. Claude A. Frazier, pp. 115–129. Independence: Independence Press, 1973.
"The English Bible." In How to Understand the Bible, by Ralph Herring, Frank Stagg, et al., pp. 148–163. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1974.
"Interpreting the Bible." In How to Understand the Bible, by Ralph Herring, Frank Stagg, et al., pp. 49–61. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1974.
"Sources in Biblical Writings," In How to Understand the Bible, by Ralph Herring, Frank Stagg, et al., pp. 134–147. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1974.
"The Text and Canon of the Old Testament." In How to Understand the Bible, by Ralph Herring, Frank Stagg, et al., pp. 106–117. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1974.
"The Text and Canon of the New Testament." In How to Understand the Bible by Ralph Herring, Frank Stagg, et al., pp. 118–133. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1974.
"A Continuing Pilgrimage." In What Faith Has Meant to Me, cd. Claude A. Frazier, pp. 146–156. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975.
"Adam, Christ, and Us." In New Testament Studies: Essays in Honor of Ray Summers in His Sixty-Fifth Year, ed. Huber L. Drumwright and Curtis Vaughan, pp. 115–136. Waco: Baylor University Press, 1975.
"Establishing a Text for Luke-Acts." In 1977 Seminar Papers, Society of Biblical Literature Book of Reports, pp. 45–58. Missoula, Montana: Scholars Press, 1977.
"A Whole Man Made Well." In The Struggle for Meaning, ed. by William Powell Tuck, pp. 71–79. Valley Forge PA: Judson Press, 1977.
"Biblical Perspectives on Women". In Findings of the Consultation on Women in Church-Related Vocations, ed. Johnni Johnson, pp. 716. Nashville: Southern Baptist Convention, 1978.
"What is Truth?" In Science, Faith and Revelation, An Approach to Christian Philosophy, ed. Robert E. Patterson, pp. 239–260. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1979.
"Understanding Call to Ministry." In Formation for Christian Ministry, ed. Anne Davis and Wade Rowatt, Jr., pp. 23–38. Louisville: Review & Expositor, 1981.
"Preaching from Luke-Acts." In Biblical Preaching: An Expositor's Treasury ed. James W. Cox, pp. 296–305. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983.
"Preaching from the Sermon on the Mount." In Biblical Preaching: An Expositor's Treasury, ed. James W. Cox, pp. 212–229. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983.

Encyclopedia article

"Women in New Testament Perspective". In Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, ed. Lynn Edward May, Jr., Vol. 4, pp. 255–260. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1982.

Journal articles

"The Purpose and Message of Acts." Review & Expositor 44 321.
"The Motif of First Corinthians." Southwestern Journal of Theology 3 15-24.
"The Christology of Matthew." Review & Expositor 59 457-468.
"The Farewell Discourses: John 13-17." Review & Expositor 62 459-472.
"The Gospel in Biblical Usage." Review & Expositor 63 513.
"The Holy Spirit in the New Testament." Review & Expositor 63 135-147.
"The Journey Toward Jerusalem in Luke's Gospel." Review & Expositor 64 499-512.
"An Analysis of the Book of James." Review & Expositor 66 365-368.
"Exegetical Themes in James 1 and 2." Review & Expositor 66 391-402.
"The Lord's Supper in the New Testament." Review & Expositor 66 514.
"Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy in the Johannine Epistles." Review & Expositor 67423-432.
"The Abused Aorist." Journal of Biblical Literature 91 222-231.
"Salvation in Synoptic Tradition." Review & Expositor 69 355-367.
"Freedom and Moral Responsibility without License or Legalism." Review & Expositor 69 483-494.
"Introduction to Colossians." Theological Educator 4 716.
"A Teaching Outline for Acts." Review & Expositor 71 533-536.
"The Unhindered Gospel." Review & Expositor 71 451-462.
"Interpreting the Book of Revelation." Review & Expositor 72 331-343
"The Great Words of Romans." Theological Educator 7 941-1002.
"The Plight of the Jew and the Gentile in Sin: Romans 1:18-3:20." Review & Expositor 73 401-413.
"Prophetic Ministry Today." Review & Expositor 73 179-189.
"Rendering to Caesar What Belongs to Caesar: Christian Engagement with the World." Journal of Church and State 18 951-1013.
"Rendering to God What Belongs to God: Christian Disengagement from the World." Journal of Church and State 18 217-232.
"Biblical Perspectives on the Single Person." Review & Expositor 74 519.
"Southern Baptist Theology Today: An Interview," Theological Educator 3 15-36.
"Textual Criticism for Luke-Acts." Perspectives in Religious Studies 5 152-165.
"The Domestic Code and Final Appeal: Ephesians 5:21—6:24." Review & Expositor 76 541-552.
"The New International Version: New Testament." Review & Expositor 76 377-385.
"The Mind in Christ Jesus." Review & Expositor 77 337-347.
"The New Testament Doctrine of the Church." Theological Educator 12 42-56.
"Reassessing the Gospels." Review & Expositor 78 187-203.
"Eschatology: A Southern Baptist Perspective." Review & Expositor 79 381-395.

Southern Baptist curriculum and periodical articles

Syllabus for Study and Questions for Examination on New Testament 112: From Jesus to Paul. Nashville: Seminary Extension Department, 1954.
"Nature of the Church—Conditions of Admission." The Baptist Student 43 53-56.
Nature of the Church—Constituents." The Baptist Student 43 50-53.
"Nature of the Church—Individuality and Corporateness." The Baptist Student 43 56-58.
"Church As the Body of Christ—the Ecclesia." The Baptist Student 43 50-53.
"The Church As the Body of Christ—the Local Embodiment." The Baptist Student 43 56-58.
"The Church As the Body of Christ—Unity and Diversity." The Baptist Student 43 53-56.
"The Church As the Koinonia of the Spirit—Demands." The Baptist Student: 43 54-56.
"The Church As the Koinonia of the Spirit—Dimensions." The Baptist Student 43 52-54.
"The Church as the Koinonia of the Spirit—Primacy." The Baptist Student 43 56-58.
"The Church in the World—the Church and the World." The Baptist Student 43 55-57.
"The Church in the World—the Life and work of the Church." The Baptist Student 43 52-54.
"The Church in the World—the Ministry of the Church." The Baptist Student 43 50-52.
The Study Guide for Seminary Extension Course New Testament. Theology 436. Nashville: Seminary Extension Department, 1964.
"1965: The Church Proclaiming." Church Administration 1 22-24.
"Speaking in Tongues... A Biblical Interpretation." The Baptist Student 45 43-45.
The Study Guide for Seminary Extension Course New Testament 202: The Gospel According to Luke. Nashville: Seminary Extension Department, 1967.
"The Radicality of Jesus Christ." The Baptist Student 49 79.
"Facts About Civil Disorder." The Baptist Program 30 30-35.
The Study Guide for Seminary Extension Course New Testament Theology 436. Nashville: Seminary Extension Department, 1971.
"The Bible Speaks on Poverty." Outreach 1 24-25, 30.
"The Book of Acts" Advanced Bible Study 2 .
"The Gospel of Paul in First Corinthians." Outreach 3 30-31.
"The Gospel in Romans 18." Outreach 4 30-31.
"The Gospel According to Paul Applied in Romans 12-14." Outreach 4 42-43.
"The Radicality of Jesus Christ." The Student 811.
"The Church—God's New People." Adult Bible Teacher 5 .
"The Kingdom of God: Freedom and Fulfillment Under the Rule of God." Come Alive 6 22-33.
"Free to Be: Salvation: Becoming A Person in Christ." Come Alive 6 44-55.
"First Century Demons." Illustrator 4 58-60.
"The Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew." Illustrator 36ff.
"What We Believe About Sin." Source 9 14-39.
"Eschatology." One in Christ 17 255-270.
"The Bible Speaks on Aging." Search 12 611.
"Humanism and a Free Society." Report from the Capital 37 45.

Book reviews

An Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism, by J. Harold Greenlee. Review and Expositor 62 230-231.
The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption and Restoration, by Bruce M. Metzger. Review and Expositor 62 230.
Only the House of Israel? by T. W. Manson. Review and Expositor 62 231.
A Beginner's Reader Grammar for New Testament Greek, by E. C. Colwell and E. W. Tune. Review and Expositor 62 485-487.
The Central Message of the New Testament, by Joachim Jeremías. Review and Expositor 63 98-99.
Colossians: The Church's Lord and the Christian's Liberty - An Expository Commentary with a Present-Day Application, by Ralph P. Martin. Review & Expositor 71 107.
Trajectories Through Early Christianity XII, by James M. Robinson. Review & Expositor 71 395-397.
Milton and the Book of Revelation: the Heavenly Cycle, by Austin Dobbins. Review & Expositor 73 77-78.
Anti-Semitism in the New Testament, by Samuel Sandmel. Review & Expositor 76 258-261.
The Crucifixion of the Jews: The Failure of Christians to Understand the Jewish Experience, by Franklin H. Littell. Review & Expositor 84 122-123.
The Jewish Reclamation of Jesus. by Donald A. Hagner. Review & Expositor 84 123-124.