“God has given us two books that reveal him to his human creatures,” explains Dr. Tremper Longman, citing the Reformed Belgic Confession. “The Bible, studied by biblical scholars, and nature, which is the object of scientific inquiry. These two books will never contradict each other when properly interpreted.”
Dr. Longman, Distinguished Scholar of Biblical Studies at Montecito, CA’s Westmont College, will visit Providence later this month, delivering the keynote presentation at the annual Harvest Festival on September 28 before headlining the Legacy Conference the following day.
Themed “Personhood and the Image of God,” the conference is being facilitated by Providence Theological Seminary’s counselling department and will also include a paper by Dr. Glenys Wirch, Associate Professor of Counselling Psychology at Providence.
Registration for the Legacy Conference is now open and can be completed online.
The author of more than 20 books and a translator of the New Living Translation of the Bible, Dr. Longman will open his Legacy Conference session by showing that the biblical account of human origins is perfectly compatible with scientific accounts.
“We will explore the meaning and significance of the divine image and implications for who we are as human beings, as well as the meaning and significance of the historical fall and sin,” he says. “The fact that we are image-bearers as well as sinners has tremendous bearing on how we understand who we are and how we relate to God and others.”
It also informs how we think about Christian counselling, which makes it an eminently relevant topic of discussion at the Legacy Conference.
“We know that we humans are created in the image of God, because the Bible tells us,” says Dr. Longman. “But how does that fit with the evolutionary theory? Our creation in the image of God has profound implications for who we are, and thus for our approach to counselling.”
Dr. Longman is no stranger to Providence, having first visited the Otterburne campus in 1989 at the invitation of one of his first doctoral students, Dr. Gus Konkel. He is also familiar with Rev. Dr. Lissa Wray Beal, whom he describes as “one of the finest Old Testament scholars working today.” Rev. Dr. Wray Beal, Professor of Old Testament at Providence, will also provide a response to Dr. Longman’s Legacy Conference presentation.
Having just finished writing his new book, Confronting Old Testament Controversies: Pressing Questions about Evolution, Sexuality, History, and Violence, Dr. Longman is already working on a new book, entitled, How to Read Daniel.
Harvest Festival attendees will also have the opportunity to hear Dr. Longman, and all those interested in supporting Providence at this event can register online.
VIDEO: Watch Dr. Tremper Longman speak about “Our Place in the Story of God.”
