Personal Background
Born in Moscow, Idaho and reared a Roman Catholic, Ron came to know Christ
in 1976 during his last year as an undergraduate at the University of Idaho.
Shortly after his conversion Ron read a biography of Martin Luther, and
it became clear to him (much to his surprise) that God can use educated
people to further His kingdom. This new understanding sparked a desire for
further theological education, which was not realized for a number of years
while Ron was engaged in various ministries (including a four-year stint
on the staff of Community Christian Ministries in Moscow, Idaho).
In 1984 Ron was able to see his dream fulfilled by beginning to pursue
a Masters degree at Regent College, Vancouver. After finishing his doctorate
at Toronto in 1997 and before coming to Salt Lake Theological Seminary,
Ron taught Church History at Moody Bible Institute Center for External Studies
in Spokane Washington. During the same period he also taught Latin in private
Christian Schools.
Ron was married in 1980. He and his wife Marguerite have four daughters:
Sarah, Anna, Nollie, and Mary.
Publications
Ron is the author of "Roman Catholicism and the Evangelical Conscience"
(1981)
He has also written articles appearing in the Journal of Biblical Literature,
Westminster Theological Journal, Revue de Qumran, Novum Testamentum, Dialogue:
A Journal of Mormon Thought, the Eerdman's Dictionary of the Bible, and
the Spokesman Review newspaper (Spokane, Washington).
His cartoons have appeared in Christianity Today and in the Wittenburg
Door.
Why I teach at Salt Lake Theological Seminary
Christ calls us to love Him with all our hearts and all our minds. The goal
of evangelical theological study, therefore, must be the love of God; not
merely the need for training, the love of learning, nor, worse, what the
old writers called "frigid speculations" or vana curiositas. The goal of
theological education is love, love of God and love for one another. But
this does not, as is sometimes thought, imply a fear or rejection of academic
rigor. Rather it embraces it. Salt Lake Theological Seminary has stood out
for many years in my mind as one of a handful of places where this command
of our Lord was really taken seriously.
Email
rhuggins@slts.edu
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