Grace Thompson
Luke Timothy Johnson is a Catholic New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity, and author of several books and commentaries. Johnson's work has been praised as insightful and excellent, but it has also been criticised for taking swipes at Catholic teachings. Johnson himself has stated that he sometimes questions church authority. Given Johnson's status as a Catholic scholar, his body of work is an important topic for Catholics to engage with, even if they ultimately disagree with some of his conclusions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Profession | Professor emeritus of New Testament and Christian origins at Emory University |
| Expertise | New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity |
| Notable works | Interpreting Paul, The Mind in Another Place, Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church |
| Views on Catholicism | Sometimes questions church authority, takes liberal stances on certain issues |
| Impact | Recognized for his contributions to Catholic biblical scholarship |
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What You'll Learn
Luke Timothy Johnson's Catholic background
Luke Timothy Johnson was born on November 20, 1943, in Park Falls, Wisconsin. He was raised in a devout Catholic family and was educated in public and parochial schools. Johnson describes his childhood in small-town Wisconsin as pleasant, with his family valuing faith, music, and humour. However, the death of his mother when he was 11 years old (his father had died when he was just two months old) led to a difficult period in his life. He was relocated to live with relatives in Mississippi and, at the age of 13, he entered a junior seminary with the guidance of priests and nuns.
At the age of 19, Johnson took vows as a Benedictine monk at St. Joseph Abbey, St. Benedict, Louisiana, where he remained from 1963 to 1972. During this time, he was immersed in biblical studies and Catholic theology. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from Notre Dame Seminary in 1966 and an M.Div. in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in 1970. Johnson's time as a monk exposed him to the richness of emergent Catholic scholarship preceding Vatican II, where he learned disciplined exegesis and reverence for the text.
However, after ten years as a Benedictine monk, Johnson left the order to marry Joy Randazzo, a divorced mother of six. Johnson writes that his decision to leave was another instance of responding to God's call, and that Joy's love and grace were important factors in his discernment.
Despite leaving the monastic life, Johnson continued to be actively involved in Catholic scholarship and teaching. He received an M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University Bloomington and went on to become a professor and writer. Johnson has taught at various institutions, including Emory University in Atlanta, where he is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at the Candler School of Theology.
Throughout his career, Johnson has been known for his expertise in the New Testament and early Christianity. He has authored numerous books and articles, including “The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation" and "The Mind in Another Place: My Life as a Scholar". Johnson is respected as a solid Catholic biblical scholar, and his works reflect his engagement with Catholic theology and exegesis.
However, in some areas, Johnson's views diverge from Roman Catholic teaching. He has questioned church authority and advocated for a more inclusive approach to human sexuality, arguing for the holiness of same-sex unions and the full recognition of gay and lesbian persons within the Christian communion. Johnson's stance on these issues has caused controversy within some Catholic dioceses, with some bishops refusing to allow him to speak at diocese-funded events.
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Johnson's views on homosexuality
Luke Timothy Johnson is an American Catholic New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is a professor of theology and has authored several books and commentaries. Johnson is well-regarded as a "solid Catholic biblical scholar". However, he has been known to sometimes question church authority and his views on homosexuality have been a subject of discussion.
Johnson has expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community and has argued that "same-sex unions can be holy and good". He is in favour of full recognition of gay and lesbian persons within the Christian communion. In doing so, he acknowledges that he is rejecting the straightforward commands of Scripture and appealing to a different authority—the weight of human experience. Johnson suggests that claiming one's sexual orientation is to accept the way in which God has created us. He further rejects the premises of scriptural statements condemning homosexuality, such as the idea that it is a vice freely chosen or a symptom of human corruption.
Johnson's stance on homosexuality has not been without controversy within the Catholic Church. His views have been seen as opposing or undermining the authentic teachings of the Church. Bishop Edward Braxton, for example, prevented Johnson from speaking in his diocese due to his teachings on human sexuality. However, Johnson's willingness to question church authority and his interpretation of Scripture have also sparked discussions within the Catholic community and beyond.
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Johnson's criticism of the Church
Luke Timothy Johnson is an American Catholic New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is a former Benedictine monk and priest at St. Joseph Abbey, St. Benedict, Louisiana from 1963 to 1972. Johnson has been described as a "solid Catholic biblical scholar" by Notre Dame University theology professor Lawrence Cunningham. However, Johnson has also been noted to "sometimes question church authority".
Johnson has argued that "same-sex unions can be holy and good" and is in favour of "full recognition of gay and lesbian persons within the Christian communion". He has criticised Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, viewing it as faulty because it arises from an attempt to rationalise a homosexual standpoint as "normal". Johnson has also been noted to hold a "faulty view of human nature and original sin".
Johnson's views on homosexuality have been a source of controversy within the Catholic Church, with some Catholics expressing anger towards a Catholic bishop who did not allow Johnson to speak in his diocese. The bishop, identified as Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Illinois, stated that Johnson's teachings "oppose, deny, reject, undermine, or call into question the authentic teachings of the magisterium of the Catholic Church".
In addition to his views on homosexuality, Johnson has also criticised the Church's stance on the ordination of women, as well as its support for the state's wars. Johnson's criticism of the Church's teaching on human sexuality and his stance on the ordination of women have been seen as a challenge to the Church's authority and a denial of its core teachings.
Despite his criticisms, Johnson is a highly regarded scholar and teacher, having received awards for his contributions to religious and spiritual understanding.
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Johnson's views on women's ordination
Luke Timothy Johnson is an American Catholic New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is a professor of theology at Emory University and the author of several books and commentaries. Johnson has been described as a "solid Catholic biblical scholar" by Notre Dame University theology professor Lawrence Cunningham.
Johnson has been known to question church authority on certain issues, including the ordination of women. In a Commonweal article, Johnson mentioned the long-standing opposition by the church hierarchy to the ordination of women. He has also publicly voiced his support for the ordination of women and his belief that the Catholic Church will eventually have female priests. Johnson's views on women's ordination have been met with opposition from some Catholics, including Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Illinois, who prevented Johnson from speaking in his diocese due to his teachings that "oppose, deny, reject, undermine, or call into question the authentic teachings of the magisterium of the Catholic Church".
Johnson's support for women's ordination is part of a broader perspective on the role of women in the Church and society. He sees the issue as similar to the early advocates for women's full and equal roles in both Church and society. Johnson acknowledges the weight of scriptural evidence pointing away from his position but places his trust in the power of God to reveal through personal experience and testimony, as well as written texts. He invokes the Pauline principle that "the Spirit gives life but the letter kills" (2 Corinthians 3:6) to justify this trust.
Overall, Johnson's views on women's ordination reflect his interpretation of Scripture and his belief in the need for the Church to adapt and evolve in its understanding of gender roles and equality. While his perspectives have sparked debate and controversy, they also contribute to ongoing discussions within the Catholic Church about the role of women and the interpretation of religious texts.
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Johnson's academic work
Luke Timothy Johnson is an American Catholic New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is a professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. Johnson's academic work is extensive, with a focus on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the history of Christian thought.
Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity, particularly moral discourse, and he has authored several books on the subject. These include "Among the Gentiles: Greco-Roman Religion and Christianity" (2009), which proposes a new framework for analysing early Christianity in its religious, social, and historical contexts. Johnson received the 2011 Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion for this work.
Another area of focus for Johnson is the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He has written extensively on this subject, including "The Gospel of Luke" (1991), "The Acts of the Apostles" (1992), and "Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church: The Challenge of Luke-Acts to Contemporary Christians" (2011). Johnson's work on Luke and Acts has been recognised with the Catholic Press Association's 2012 Catholic Book Award in Scripture.
Johnson has also produced lectures and written on other topics within the New Testament and early Christianity, such as the Pastoral Epistles, the Epistle of James, and the Letters to Timothy. He has published numerous scholarly articles, commentaries, and book reviews, and is a highly sought-after lecturer.
In addition to his academic work, Johnson is also known for his teachings on the history of Christianity, which he teaches in online courses. He has received numerous awards for his teaching, including the President's Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Brown Derby Teaching Award, and the Student Choice Award. Johnson has also twice received the On Eagle's Wings Excellence in Teaching Award at Emory University.
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Frequently asked questions
Luke Timothy Johnson is an American Catholic New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is a professor emeritus of New Testament and Christian Origins at Emory University.
Johnson is a Catholic biblical scholar who sometimes questions church authority. He has argued in favour of women's ordination and same-sex unions, and has criticised the Jesus Seminar.
Johnson has authored numerous books, including "The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation", "The Real Jesus", "Living Jesus", "The Mind in Another Place", and "Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church".
Johnson grew up in a devout Catholic family in Wisconsin. After the death of his mother, he entered a seminary at age 13 and later became a Benedictine monk. He received a B.A. in Philosophy and an M.Div. in Theology before pursuing further education in Religious Studies and obtaining a Ph.D.
Catholics can benefit from reading Johnson's works, particularly those seeking to explore diverse perspectives within Catholicism. While Johnson upholds core Catholic beliefs, he also offers liberal interpretations and critiques of certain Church doctrines, providing a balanced perspective for readers.
