Dr. Scaer teaches full course in Novosibirsk in one week.

The week of March 26 to April 1 at Lutheran Theological Seminary was marked by an intensive course taught by Dr. David P. Scaer, professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, who came to Novosibirsk in response to the request of seminary rector Alexei Streltsov.

There was only one week available for Dr. Scaer to teach in Novosibirsk, a week of vacation for the students at CTS. Because of the tremendous effort put forth by Dr. Scaer, it was possible for him to teach a practically full course in one week. “I am assuming that I will be teaching about 3 hours in the morning and something similar in the afternoon,” he wrote in a letter to Novosibirsk before coming. And so it happened. Monday through Saturday, 6 hours every day, the students had an excellent opportunity to listen to the “Apostolic Scriptures” course.

This is how Dr. Scaer describes his teaching in Siberia: “I taught a course on the character and nature of the Bible, especially the New Testament, with special attention to its historical and supernatural origins, authorship, and inspiration. The focus was on the authority of the individual books and not the Bible as a collection of books, even though this was also discussed in the area of canonicity. I was given enough time and freedom to develop the topic.”

The course on Apostolic Scriptures was indeed a pertinent one. In a time when liberal theology is penetrating Russia at a high pace, it is all the more important to emphasize the Bible as the Word of God. But not in some abstract way. Lutherans cannot afford to speak about the inspiration of the Scriptures in a Baptist-like way. Dr. Scaer’s incarnational approach to the Scriptures, whereby he views the New Testament as coming from the historic person of Jesus and the origin of the Bible as bound to the apostolic office, promises to be very helpful for the students’ later practical work in the congregations in Siberia and the rest of Russia.

We asked Dr. Scaer to share some of his impressions about the seminary, the Lutheran church in Novosibirsk, and the Russian students. This is what he had to say:

“All my experiences were pleasant. The current seminary building is a jewel. It contains a dining room for lectures, a study room, two or three offices, an adequate chapel, a well-equipped kitchen. The cooking was outstanding.

“I appreciate especially the spirituality of the worship services at Pastor Lytkin's church and at the seminary. The Matins and other church services were conducted with the highest reverence and decorum.

“I particularly liked the walk in the woods adjacent to the apartment complex and the accessibility of shopping for food.

“Nearly all the students took copious notes. They are much more serious about their work than Americans. Reasons for this are that they work closer together, they all have their lunch together, and they are more likely to live together, either at the seminary or in the seminary apartments. Also, Russian students are more philosophically inclined, that is, they are more likely to engage in abstract discussions and as first-year students are more prepared to study theology.

“It is important that the students after they are ordained remain in close contact with one another. For this reason it is important to retain the current seminary facility as a retreat house where they can come back to study. I find the students intelligent and committed to our Lutheran cause, and they need all the encouragement possible from their brothers and sisters throughout the world.

“Preparing students in Novosibirsk will speed reestablishment of the Lutheran Church in Siberia. They will become the foundation of a church in the next generation, long after their instructors have gone to their heavenly reward. It is encouraging to see that a confessional Lutheran church is being put in place there.”

Dr. Scaer currently serves at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne as Professor of Systematic Theology (of which department he is also chairman) and New Testament. Besides, he is the editor of Concordia Theological Quarterly. Dr. Scaer has written numerous theological books and articles. With a personal bibliography surpassing 50 pages, he is one of the most published authors in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. This because of a special gift of Dr. Scaer: his hard work for the cause of the gospel. Thus during his spring vacation, he again chose the opportunity to work over casual rest. His hard week of teaching in Novosibirsk will surely earn him an extra reward in heaven. J

News

News: Professor Kurt Marquart Gives Lectures in Ekaterinburg. [June 2000]

News: Completion of 1999-2000 Academic Year. [June 2000]

News: Summer Practicum. [June 2000]

News: Seminary Movie. [June 2000]

News: LTS Theological Journal. [May 2000]

News: Trip to Ulaanbaatar. [May 2000]

News: A Missionary and Catechetical Trip to Khakassia, Buryatia, and Irkutsk. [May 2000]

News: Student’s Daughter Baptized at the Chapel’s Baptismal Font. [May 2000]

News: Students Conduct Fieldwork during Holy Week. [April 2000]

News: LTS holds April seminar in new seminary building. [April 2000]

News: Dr. Scaer teaches full course in Novosibirsk in one week. [March 2000]

News: LTS student participates in international Christian Pedagogical conference. [March 2000]

News: New congregation comes into being due to the practical work of the students of the Biblical School in Khakassia. [March 2000]

News: Three New Students Accepted at the Seminary in Novosibirsk [February 2000]