Wiard Popkes

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wiard Udo Popkes (born June 30, 1936 in Westoverledingen-Ihr , † January 2, 2007 in Lüneburg ) was a German Baptist theologian . He taught as a lecturer for the New Testament at the theological seminar of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches and as an honorary professor in the theological faculty of the University of Hamburg .

Life

Wiard Popkes came from a Baptist family that has lived in the East Frisia area for many generations . His father was the church musician Enno Popkes . After graduating from high school, he first completed a commercial training in Dortmund and then studied theology at the International Theological Seminary of the Baptists in Rüschlikon / Switzerland . This was followed by further studies at the Universities of Zurich and Münster .

After receiving his doctorate, he accepted an appointment from the Evangelical Free Church in Münster and worked there for three years as a pastor in the vicariate . In 1969 he was recognized as pastor of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches and - almost at the same time - the appointment as lecturer for the New Testament at the theological seminar of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in Hamburg-Horn . Even after the seminar moved from Hamburg to Wustermark-Elstal near Berlin in 1997 , Wiard Popkes prepared Baptist theology students for their future pastoral service until 2002. André Heinze was appointed as his successor as a New Testament scholar .

The close contacts between the Theological Seminary Hamburg-Horn and the University of Hamburg led to Wiard Popkes in the late 70s of the 20th century was entrusted with teaching assignments at the Department of New Testament Theology. Finally he was appointed as an extraordinary professor and taught at the same time in Elstal and Hamburg. Even after his retirement he worked at the University of Hamburg and as a European Fellow of Regent's Park College Oxford until his death .

meaning

Wiard Popkes shaped several generations of Baptist pastors for 33 years. He volunteered in various committees of the Baptist World Federation and the European Baptist Federation . Among other things, he was a member of the board of directors of the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague (formerly: Rüschlikon), where he was also the director of Biblical Studies in retirement. His writing activities also received great attention far beyond the boundaries of his own denomination.

In addition, Wiard Popkes was also active in church music. For example, the German text of the second and third stanzas of the well-known English chant All Hail the Pow'r of Jesus' Name comes from his pen. The melody of the hymn book song Wir woll'n testify was also composed by Popkes in these our days .

Works (selection)

  • The Letter of James , in: Theological Hand Commentary on the New Testament, Vol. 14, 2001, ISBN 3-374-01813-0
  • One god and one lord. On the context of monotheism in the New Testament , Neukirchen 2004, ISBN 3-7887-2070-0
  • Community - room of trust. New Testament observations and free church perspectives , Kassel 1984, ISBN 3-7893-7171-8
  • Lord's Supper and Church. The Last Supper from a biblical-theological point of view and in Protestant-free church practice , Kassel 1983, ISBN 3-7893-7881-X
  • Christ traditus , Zurich 1967, ISBN 3-290-12049-X
  • Addressees, situation and form of the letter of James , 1986, ISBN 3-460-04251-6

literature

  • Anonymous: Prof. Dr. Wiard Popkes † , in: The community. The magazine of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches , No. 2 of January 21, 2007, p. 29 [without ISSN, ZDB -ID 1157992-4 ].
  • Edwin Brandt (Ed.): Community on the Gospel. Festschrift for Wiard Popkes for his 60th birthday , Leipzig 1996, ISBN 3-374-01629-4
  • Uwe Swarat: Publications by Wiard Popkes (1936–2007) , in: Theological Conversation 32 (2008), Issue 1, pp. 38–48, ISSN  1431-200X (complete bibliography).
  • Martin Rothkegel : Incidentally. Wiard Popkes - memory of a seminar lecturer . In: Journal Die Gemeinde 14/2016 (July 10, 2016), p. 32

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Short biography on the website of the Theological Seminar Wustermark-Elstal ( Memento from December 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ); Accessed June 4, 2009
  2. ↑ Christian song database for Wiard Popkes ; Accessed November 5, 2009
  3. ↑ Free Church Hymn Book Celebration & Praise , No. 270
  4. ↑ Christian song database for the song Wir wolln testify ; Accessed November 5, 2009
personal data
SURNAME Popkes, Wiard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Popkes, Wiard Udo (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Baptist theologian
DATE OF BIRTH June 30, 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH Westoverledingen-your
DATE OF DEATH January 2, 2007
Place of death Luneburg