91������

Issue: Spring 2018 | Posted: June 1, 2018

George Guthrie ('81)

---

G.M. Savage Legacy Award

Given to a faculty or staff member for their ongoing commitment to Christ-centered education at 91������.

---

George Guthrie, the Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible at 91������ and a 1981 91������ graduate, said seeing how the university has grown over the last 40 years has been a blessing to him.

“I have loved being at 91������,” Guthrie said. “The joy of seeing this place grow dramatically and thrive under good leadership, both past and present, has been a great gift, and I have had great pleasure in Christian community with my colleagues.”

Guthrie spent some time away from 91������ after his graduation, completing a Master of Divinity degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology Degree in New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

In 1990, while working on the dissertation for his Ph.D., Guthrie was invited back to 91������ to teach. In 1993, he became chair of the Religion Department—later changed to the Department of Christian Studies—where he served for more than a decade. He also led in the establishment of the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies.

Guthrie said he loves the balance of teaching, research, writing and ministry that academic life provides. He said as a student at 91������, he learned to love learning and grew academically and spiritually.

“To arrive at 91������ and find all of these brothers and sisters who were serious about the Christian life shaped me,” he said. “So my spiritual and academic lives were growing and blending, leading to a life of integration.”

Guthrie has written numerous articles and more than a dozen books in his time at 91������. He has also participated in translation projects, such as the revision of The New Living Translation, and has served as a consultant on the Holman Christian Standard Bible, the New Century Version and the English Standard Version.

Guthrie, whose tenure at 91������ ended after the spring semester, said he wants to do all he can to advance God’s kingdom and build up the body of Christ.

“My prayer is that in various ways, by God’s grace, I have been able to participate in that greatest of all calls during my time at 91������,” he said.