11KB JPG Photograph of Robert V. Rakestraw
DR. ROBERT V. RAKESTRAW
Professor of Theology


Office: Bethel Theological Seminary
3949 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112
Phone: 651/638-6166
FAX: 651-638-6002
E-mail: r-rakestraw@bethel.edu
Web Site: www.bethel.edu/~rakrob

Ordination: July 1, 1967
Grace Independent Baptist Church, Penndel, PA

Education: 1961-63 St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia, PA. Pre-medical studies.
1963-67

Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alberta, Canada.
Diploma in Bible and Missions, 1967.

1967-70 Calvary Bible College, Kansas City, MO.
B.S. in Missions, 1968. M.A. in Biblical Literature, 1970.
1978 Somerset County College, North Branch, NJ. French studies.
1980-85 Drew University Graduate School, Madison, NJ.
M.Phil. in Theological and Religious Studies, 1982.
Ph.D. in Theological And Religious Studies, 1985

(Fields of study at Drew: Historical Theology and Christian Ethics).

Professional Service:

1968 Assistant Pastor, Harmony Baptist Bible Church, Kansas City, MO.
1968-69 Pastor, Harmony Baptist Bible Church, Kansas City, MO.
1970 Graduate Assistant in Bible, Calvary Bible College, Kansas City, MO.
1970-75 Instructor in Bible and Practical Theology, Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alberta, Canada.
1976-80 Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Flemington, NJ.
1981 Visiting Instructor in Religion, The King's College, Briarcliff Manor, NY.
1982

Teaching Fellow in Christian Ethics under Dr. Thomas Ogletree, Dean,
Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, NJ.

1984 Interim Pastor, Calvary Bible Church, Readington, NJ.
1985-88 Professor of Theology and Ethics, The Criswell College, Dallas, TX.
1988-1994 Associate Professor of Theology, Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN.
1994-Present Professor of Theology, Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN.
1989-90 Interim Preaching Pastor, Wildwood Church, Mahtomedi, MN.
1991-93 Interim Preaching Pastor, Minnetonka Community Church, Minnetonka, MN
1995-96 Interim Preaching Pastor, Coon Rapids Evangelical Free Church, Coon Rapids, MN

Professional Society Memberships:

American Academy of Religion
American Theological Society
Evangelical Philosophical Society
Evangelical Theological Society
Society of Christian Ethics
Wesleyan Theological Society

Affiliations other than Professional:

Christians for Biblical Equality
Evangelicals for Social Action
National Association of Evangelicals
Listed in Who's Who in Religion

Publications and Presentations:

BOOK PROJECTS:

  • The Old Testament Concept of Retribution. M.A. thesis, Calvary Bible College, 1970.
  • The Concept of Grace in the Ethics of John Wesley. Ph.D. dissertation, Drew University, 1985.
    Available from University Microfilm International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
  • Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, revised edition, Herbert Lockyer, Sr., general editor. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986, 1995. Articles on "Authority," "Common Life," "Community of Goods," "Covering the Head," "Glory," "Lord's Supper," "Love Feast," "Presbyter," "Principality," "Sacrament," and "The Twelve."
  • Baptist Theologians, Timothy George and David Dockery, editors. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1990.
    Chapter on "Clark H. Pinnock."
  • Readings in Christian Ethics: Volume One (Theory and Method) and Volume Two (Issues and Applications).
    Edited with David K. Clark. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994 and 1996.
  • New Dimensions in Evangelical Thought, David S. Dockery, editor. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1998.
    Chapter on "New Dimensions in the Study of Angels and Demons."
  • Serving by the Spirit: Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Preaching, third edition. Bothell, WA: Action Publishers, 2003. First edition 1979.

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES:

  • "John Wesley as a Theologian of Grace," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 27:2 (June 1984): 193-203. First Presented at ETS National Meeting, 1982.
  • "Human Rights and Liberties in the Political Ethics of John Wesley," Evangelical Journal 3:2 (Fall 1985): 63-78. First presented at ETS Eastern Meeting, 1985.
  • "The Contribution of John Wesley Toward an Ethic of Nature," The Drew Gateway 56:3 (Spring 1986): 14-25.
  • "James 2:14-26: Does James Contradict the Pauline Soteriology?" Criswell Theological Review 1:1 (Fall 1986): 31-50.
  • "Ethical Choices: A Case for Non-Conflicting Absolutism," Criswell Theological Review 2:2 (Spring 1988): 239-67.
  • "Evil and the Goodness of God: Some Definitional and Existential Considerations," Bulletin of the Evangelical Philosophical Society 11 (1988): 82-101. First presented at ETS Southwestern Meeting, 1988.
  • "Clark H. Pinnock: A Theological Odyssey," Christian Scholar's Review 19:3 (March 1990): 252-70.
  • "The Persistent Vegetative State and the Withdrawal of Nutrition and Hydration," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 35:3 (September 1992): 389-405. First presented at ETS National Meeting, 1990.
  • "Becoming Like God: An Evangelical Doctrine of Theosis," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40:2 (June 1997): 257-69.

PRESENTATIONS(including some materials later published). Partial List:

  • "Scriptural Grounds for Divorce and Remarriage," April 1, 1977. Eastern Regional Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA. Available from TREN (Theological Research Exchange Network), 5420 N.E. Glisan, Portland, OR 97213.
  • "Divorce and the Bible: A New Approach for Evangelicals," December 27, 1978. 30th National Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL. Also (with minor changes) April 6, 1979. Eastern Regional Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Northeastern Bible College, Essex Fells, NJ.
  • "John Wesley as a Theologian of Grace," December 18, 1982. 34th National Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Northeastern Bible College, Essex Fells, NJ. Published in JETS, 1984.
  • "Graded Absolutism: An Analysis of Norman Geisler's Ethics," March 25, 1983. Eastern Regional Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Philadelphia College of Bible, Langhorne, PA. Available from TREN.
  • "Human Rights and Liberties in the Political Ethics of John Wesley," April 19, 1985. Eastern Regional Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA. Published in EJ, 1985.
  • "Evil and the Goodness of God: Some Definitional and Existential Considerations," March 4, 1988. Southwestern Regional Meeting, Evangelical Philosophical Society, at Criswell College, Dallas, TX. Available from TREN. Published in BEPS, 1988.
  • "The Persistent Vegetative State and the Withdrawal of Nutrition and Hydration," November 16, 1990. 42nd National Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA. Published in JETS in 1992.
  • "John Wesley and Women," September 11, 1993. Twin Cities Chapter, Christians for Biblical Equality, at Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN.
  • "Becoming Like God: An Evangelical Doctrine of Theosis", November 19, 1994. 46th National Meeting, Evangelical Theological Society, at Lisle, IL.
  • "Interpreting the Bible Wholistically," August 1, 1997. Biennial international meeting, Christians for Biblical Equality, Bethel College and Seminary, St. Paul, MN.
  • "Positive Sexual Ethics for Today," February 7, 1998. Twin Cities Chapter, Christians for Biblical Equality, Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN.
  • "A Life-Giving Biblical Perspective on the Worth of Women," June 5, 1999. "Women's Lives, Women's Issues Conference," Bethel College, St. Paul, MN.

POPULAR MATERIALS:

  • "The Spirit and the Scriptures," Prairie Overcomer 40:6 (June 1967): 217-18.
  • "The Questions Left Unanswered" (conversion testimony as told to Stanley Baldwin), Power Life 26:4 (October-December 1968): 4-6. Reprinted in Teens Today 62:29 (19 July 1970): 2-5, 16.
  • "Divorce: What Say the Scriptures?" Prairie Overcomer 45:5 (May 1972): 233-36.
  • "The Most Helpful Books for Studying Your Bible," Voice 53:1 (January-February 1974): 5-7. Reprinted by the publisher in booklet form.
  • "The Question Box," bi-weekly question and answer column for the Red Deer Advocate (daily newspaper for central Alberta), Red Deer, Alberta, January 6, 1973 - January 11, 1975.
  • "Why God Permits Suffering," The Standard 78:9 (October 1988): 8-11. Reprinted in Pulpit Helps 15:12 (September 1990): 1-4. Also reprinted by Action International Ministries, Bothell, WA (1991).
  • "Angels, Satan, and Demons," Indiana Baptist 30:16 (1 November 1988): 6-7.
  • "Tough Issues in Salvation Today," Go-between 15:11 (December 1989): 2.
  • "Baptism: One of the First Marks of a Christian," The Standard 80:7 (July 1990): 28-30.
  • "When Does Death Come?" The Standard 81:10 (November 1991): 24-27.
  • "Staying Within the Law," The Standard 83:4 (May 1993): 10-11.
  • "When Suffering Continues," Christian Reflection (Spring 2003): 26-35.

REVIEWS:

  • Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? Another Christian View, by Letha Scanzoni and Virginia Mollenkott (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1978). Themelios 5:1 (September 1979): 34-35.
  • A Challenge to Love: Gay and Lesbian Catholics in the Church, edited by Robert Nugent (New York: Crossroad, 1983). TSF Bulletin 7:2 (November-December 1983): 31.
  • Understanding Catholicism, by Monika K. Hellwig (New York: Paulist, 1981). TSF Bulletin 7:3 (January-February 1984): 28-29. Also Themelios 11:3 (April 1986): 103-04.
  • Human Life: A Biblical Perspective for Bioethics, by J. Robert Nelson (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1984). TSF Bulletin 8:2 (November-December 1984): 33.
  • Brave New People: Ethical Issues at the Commencement of Life (revised), by D. Gareth Jones (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985). Criswell Theological Review 1:1 (Fall 1986): 205-06.
  • John Wesley and the Methodists, by Cyril Davey (Nashville: Abingdon, 1985). Criswell Theological Review 1:2 (Spring 1987): 423-24.
  • Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today, by John Jefferson Davis (Phillipsburg: Presbyterian Reformed, 1985). Criswell Theological Review 1:2 (Spring 1987): 443-46.
  • The Woodland Hills Tragedy, by S. Rickly Christian (Westchester: Crossway, 1985). CriswellTheological Review 1:2 (Spring 1987): 446-47.
  • Evangelical Theology: A Survey and Review, by Robert P. Lightner (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986). Grace Theological Journal 8:2 (Fall 1987): 300-02.
  • Christian Biblical Ethics, From Biblical Revelation to Contemporary Christian Praxis: Method and Content, edited by Robert J. Daly (New York: Paulist, 1984). Criswell Theological Review 2:1 (Fall 1987): 174-76.
  • To Reform the Nation: Theological Foundations of Wesley's Ethics, by Leon O. Hynson (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984). Criswell Theological Review 2:1 (Fall 1987): 199-201.
  • A Kingdom Manifesto, by Howard A. Snyder (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1985). Criswell Theological Review 2:1 (Fall 1987): 201-03.
  • New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Epistle of James and the Epistles of John, by Simon J. Kistemaker (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986). Grace Theological Journal 9:1 (Spring 1988): 149-51.
  • Dirt, Greed and Sex: Sexual Ethics in the New Testament and Their Implications for Today, by L. William Countryman (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1988). Word and World 13:2 (Spring 1993): 203-04.
  • Angels of Light, Powers of Darkness: Thinking Biblically about Angels, Satan and Principalities, by Stephen F. Noll (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1998). Ashland Theological Journal 33 (2001): 139-40.

Back to TopAaaaRound buttons45.gif (1104 bytes)




Bethel Theological Seminary's goal is to develop transformed ministry leaders for the 21st century.

© 2000 r-rakestraw@bethel.edu
Site revised: December 17, 2003