{{Short description|American biblical scholar}} {{Infobox scholar | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | name = | fullname = | other_names = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|9|3|df=y}} | birth_place = Lincoln, Nebraska, US | death_date = {{dda|df=y|2013|1|28|1927|9|3}} | death_place = Richmond, Virginia, US | era = | region = | alma_mater = Elmhurst College;<br />Union Theological Seminary (New York) | school_tradition = | main_interests = | notable_ideas = | major_works = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | spouse = Elizabeth Achtemeier | children = 2 }}
'''Paul John Achtemeier''' (3 September 1927 – 28 January 2013) was Herbert Worth and Annie H. Jackson Professor of Biblical Interpretation Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, now Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1927.<ref>{{cite LCAuth |id=n79054872}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_6121990_000/pages/ldpd_6121990_000_00000313.html|title = Columbia University Libraries: The Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York}}</ref>
He was a widely respected authority on the New Testament, the author or co-author of 18 books and over 60 scholarly journal articles. In addition, he was editor of a number of book series, most notably as the New Testament Editor for the series Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching and the General Editor of ''Harper's Bible Dictionary'' (1985, revised 1996), in conjunction with the Society of Biblical Literature. Achtemeier was also the former editor of the quarterly ''Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology''.
==Life== Achtemeier was an honors graduate of Elmhurst College (A.B.) and of Union Theological Seminary (New York) (B.D.), from where he also received his doctorate (Th.D.). He also studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, Heidelberg University (Germany), and the University of Basel (Switzerland).
Before coming to Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Dr. Achtemeier taught at Elmhurst College and the Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies of the World Council of Churches, Château de Bossey, Switzerland. He was also Visiting Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
He was elected to membership in several learned societies, and served as President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, being the first non-Catholic elected to that position. He was also the President of the Society of Biblical Literature.
==Personal life== Achtemeier met Elizabeth Rice at seminary and they married in June 1952.<ref name=WBI>{{cite book|title=Handbook of Women Biblical Interpreters|chapter=Achtemeier, Elizabeth Rice|pages=23–27|first=Beverly|last=Zink-Sawyer|editor-first=Marion Ann|editor-last=Taylor|publisher=Baker Academic|year=2012}}</ref> They had two children and coauthored several books and articles.<ref name=WBI/> Their son, Mark, teaches systematic theology at Dubuque Theological Seminary.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://layman.org/newsc398/|title=Elizabeth Achtemeier, noted Bible professor, dies after illness|date=October 28, 2002|access-date=March 16, 2019|work=The Layman: A Ministry of the Presbyterian Lay Committee}}</ref> Achtemeier died after a long illness in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paul John Achtemeier|url=http://www.neagle.com/article/20130204/NEWS/130209950|access-date=24 February 2013|newspaper=The News Eagle|date=4 February 2013}}</ref>
==Partial bibliography==
===Books=== * {{cite book|title=The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith|first1=Elizabeth|last1=Achtemeier|first2=Paul J.|last2=Achtemeier|year=1962|place=Nashville|publisher=Abingdon|isbn=9780801045417|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtVIcgAACAAJ}} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |title=Mark |series=Proclamation commentaries |location=Philadelphia, PA |publisher=Fortress Press |date=1975 |isbn=9780800605810 |oclc=1649831 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=The Inspiration of Scripture: Problems and Proposals |date=1980 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Romans |series=Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching |location=Atlanta, GA |publisher=John Knox Press |date=1985 |isbn=9780804231374 |oclc=10878769 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Paul and the Jerusalem Church: An Elusive Unity |date=1987 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Interpreting the Prophets |date=1987 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=1 Peter: A Commentary on First Peter |series=Hermeneia Series |publisher=Augsburg Press |date=1996 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Inspiration and Authority: Nature and Function of Christian Scripture |date=1999 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Green |author2-first=Joel B. |author2-link=Joel B. Green |author3-last=Thompson |author3-first=Marianne M. |author3-link=Marianne Thompson |title=Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology |url=https://archive.org/details/introducingnewte00paul |url-access=registration |date=2001 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |isbn=9780802837172 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=The Forgotten God: Perspectives in Biblical Theology |date=2002 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Invitation to the Gospels |date=2002 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Jesus and the Miracle Tradition |date=2008 }}
===Edited by=== * {{cite book|editor1-last=Achtemeier |editor1-first=Paul J. |editor1-mask=3 |title=HarperCollins Bible Dictionary |location=San Francisco, CA |publisher=Harper & Row |date=1985 |isbn=9780060698638 |oclc=12262764 }}
===Selected articles=== * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=An Apocalyptic Shift in Early Christian Tradition: Reflections on Some Canonical Evidence |journal=Catholic Biblical Quarterly |volume=45 |issue=2 |date=April 1983 |pages=231–248 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=It's the Little Things That Count (Mark 14:17-21, Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 18:10-14) |journal=Biblical Archaeologist |volume=46 |issue=1 |date=Winter 1983 |pages=30–31 |doi=10.2307/3209687 |jstor=3209687 |s2cid=187863384 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title='Some Things in Them Hard to Understand': Reflections on an Approach to Paul |journal=Interpretation |volume=38 |issue=3 |date=July 1984 |pages=254–267 |doi=10.1177/002096438403800304 |s2cid=143148750 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=An Elusive Unity: Paul, Acts, and the Early Church |journal=Catholic Biblical Quarterly |volume=48 |issue=1 |date=January 1986 |pages=1–26 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Revelation 5:1-14 |journal=Interpretation |volume=40 |issue=3 |date=July 1986 |pages=283–288 |doi=10.1177/002096438604000306 |s2cid=171127845 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Matthew 13:1-23 |journal=Interpretation |volume=44 |issue=1 |date=January 1990 |pages=61–65 |doi=10.1177/002096438904400107 |s2cid=170132750 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Omne verbum sonat: The New Testament and the Oral Environment of Late Western Antiquity |journal=Journal of Biblical Literature |volume=109 |issue=1 |date=Spring 1990 |pages=3–27 |doi=10.2307/3267326 |jstor=3267326 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Romans 3:1-8: Structure and Argument |journal=Anglican Theological Review, Supplement Series |volume=11 |date=March 1990 |pages=77–87 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Gods Made with Hands: The Old Testament and the Problem of Idolatry |journal=Ex Auditu |volume=15 |date=1999 |pages=43–61 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=1 Peter 1:13-21 |journal=Interpretation |volume=60 |issue=3 |date=July 2006 |pages=306–308 |doi=10.1177/002096430606000306 |s2cid=171210165 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=Jews and Gentiles in the Divine Economy |journal=Cross Currents |volume=59 |issue=2 |date=June 2009 |pages=144–153 |doi=10.1111/j.1939-3881.2009.00067.x |s2cid=170162952 }} * {{cite journal|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |title=1 Peter 4:1-8 |journal=Interpretation |volume=65 |issue=1 |date=January 2011 |pages=76–78 |doi=10.1177/002096431106500109 |s2cid=170144433 }}
===Selected chapters=== * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=The Christology of 1 Peter: Some Reflections |editor1-last=Powell |editor1-first=Mark Allan |editor1-link=Mark Allan Powell |editor2-last=Bauer |editor2-first=David R. |editor2-link=David R. Bauer |title=Who Do You Say That I Am?: Essays on Christology |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Westminster John Knox |date=1999 }} * {{cite book|author1-last=Achtemeier |author1-first=Paul J. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Give us a King |editor1-last=Gibson |editor1-first=Skye |editor1-link=Skye Gibson |title=Story Lines: Chapters on Thought, Word, and Deed: For Gabriel Fackre |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Eerdmans |date=2002 }}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Achtemeier, Paul J.}} Category:Presidents of the Society of Biblical Literature Category:New Testament scholars Category:1927 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Union Presbyterian Seminary faculty Category:Academic journal editors Category:Elmhurst University alumni Category:Union Theological Seminary alumni Category:Elmhurst University faculty Category:Writers from Lincoln, Nebraska Category:Bible commentators Category:20th-century Christian biblical scholars Category:21st-century Christian biblical scholars Category:21st-century biblical scholars Category:20th-century biblical scholars