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Carroll D. Osburn

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Carroll D. Osburn
File:Headshot of Carroll D Osburn.jpg
Born
Carroll Duane Osburn

(1941-09-02) September 2, 1941 (age 82)
Arkansas City, Kansas, US
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
  • Harding University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • University of St. Andrews, Scotland
Occupations
  • Educator
  • Humanitarian
Known for
  • Textual Criticism of the New Testament
  • Bible Translation Among Pre-literate People
  • Gender Equality
  • Humanitarian Work

Carroll Duane Osburn (born September 2, 1941), an American scholar recognized as one of North America’s leading New Testament textual critics and a prominent Christian egalitarian, is Carmichael-Walling Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Abilene Christian University [1], and former Executive Director, Caris Foundation. As an author, he has been largely collected by libraries.[2]

Education

Osburn graduated from Harding University, where he was president of the senior class and received a BA in 1963, with majors in biology and Greek. He received the MTh in 1968 from Harding School of Theology. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1970 with the DDiv [now DMin] degree, he received his PhD in New Testament and early Byzantine Greek from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1974.

Academic career

From 1973-1983, Osburn served as Professor of Greek and New Testament at Harding School of Theology.[3] To students primarily from Churches of Christ, for whom the use of scripture was dogmatic proof-texting apart from context, Osburn emphasized literary and historical controls to biblical interpretation. Eugene Nida encouraged him to serve as translation consultant for Bible translators among pre-literate people. Utilizing discourse analysis, Osburn conducted numerous short-term, one-book translation workshops in Central and South America in the 1970s and 1980s.[4] He also developed sensitivity to humanitarian needs in the Developing World. Adding discourse analysis to literary and historical method led to Greek classes formerly of five or six numbering fifty or sixty. He became a popular speaker at seminars and retreats in the U.S. and around the world. In 1980, he was Visiting Professor at the University of St. Andrews, and in 1983, was named “Educator of the Year” by 20th Century Christian.[5]

Osburn became Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Pepperdine University 1983-1987.[6] Urged by Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, and Bruce Metzger, he concentrated attention on ancient manuscripts underlying the Greek New Testament, and chaired the New Testament Textual Criticism Section of the Society of Biblical Literature 1984-90.

In 1987, Osburn was invited to Abilene Christian University, where he was Carmichel-Walling Distinguished Professor of New Testament Language and Literature until 2004.[7] He was named “Honors Professor of the Year” in 1992 and 1996, and was Chair of the Faculty Senate in 1999-2000. He was on the Steering Committee of the International Greek New Testament Project on John (Birmingham, England) and co-editor of Acts of the Apostles in Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior (Institüt für neutestamentliche Textforschung; Münster, Germany) until 2004.[8] He was Visiting Professor at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens in 1989, at Universität Münster in 2003, and at Claremont School of Theology in 2008. He did archaeological work with Hebrew University of Jerusalem at the Philistine city of Ekron [Tel Miqne] in 1993. In 2004, he published The Text of the Apostolos in Epiphanius of Salamis.[9] Osburn was invited frequently to lecture at universities in Europe, Canada, Africa, and South America. He was a member of Association Internationale d’Études Patristiques and continues membership in Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas.

In addition to challenging fundamentalists to rethink polemical interpretation of biblical texts,[10] Osburn also worked to expand boundaries of exclusiveness. He was a pioneer within his religious heritage, tackling difficult issues such as dogmatic sectarianism and gender inequality. In 1993, he published "The Peaceable Kingdom: Essays Favoring Non-Sectarian Christianity",[11] and in 2001, "Women in the Church: Reclaiming the Ideal". [12] He initiated and hosted the annual Carmichael-Walling Lectures at ACU, which brought renowned scholars from around the world to the campus for stimulating lectures and discussion beyond traditional thinking. His challenges to rethink crucial issues met forceful opposition, but with passing of time, were accepted by increasing numbers of moderates. A festschrift presented to him on his sixty-fifth birthday was comprised of essays by noted scholars from around the world, some his former students.[13]

Humanitarian Career

In 2004, Osburn retired early from academia, became non-denominational, and embraced early Christian emphasis on caring for the poor, becoming Executive Director of Caris Foundation, Irving, TX, charged with providing basic needs for the poor.[14] Following construction of medical facilities in Guatemala and Haiti, he concentrated on providing water, food, shelter, clothing, medicine, and education in Africa from 2004-2008.[15] A member of Corporate Council on Africa, he was well known for rigorous due diligence, collegiality, and forging alliances among agencies.

In addition to arranging care for hundreds of orphans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he enabled the Fistula Hospital to construct a midwife training college at Desta Minder.[16] In Kenya, he worked with agencies to drill several deep wells to provide pure water,[17] provide care for thousands of orphans, enable women with AIDS to learn skills with which to earn a living, distribute thousands of anti-malarial mosquito nets, provide quality-controlled medications, and assist indigenous humanitarian efforts. He arranged construction of a major facility at Kijabe for an accredited residency program in pediatric orthopedic surgery for African doctors,[18] and funding for hundreds of clubfoot treatments in Zambia and Ethiopia.[19] In Uganda, he arranged funding for hundreds of pediatric orthopedic and neurological surgeries,[20] in northern Democratic Republic of Congo rehabilitation of several medical clinics looted and destroyed during the civil war 1997-2002,[21] and in Rwanda assistance for hundreds of child-headed households.[22] In Zambia, he arranged construction of a major AIDS clinic, TB wards, laboratories,[23] and remote clinics,[24] funded hundreds of burn surgeries,[25] and provided an x-ray machine for a rural clinic. In 2008, Osburn was Visiting Professor in the School of Management, University of St. Andrews, writing on humanitarian issues arising from his work.

Since 2005, Osburn serves on National Committee of Boy Scouts of America. From 2008-2015, he served as Advisor with Chiapas International, Dallas, Texas, providing micro-finance for the underserved in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Since 2017, he serves on the Advisory Board of Miles of Freedom, a Dallas non-profit facilitating integration of formerly incarcerated persons into society.[26]

Selected Bibliography

  • “The Greek Lectionaries of the New Testament,” In The Text of the New Testament in Contemporary Research: Essays on the Status Quaestionis. Second Edition. Ed. B. Ehrman and M. Holmes. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2013: 94-113.
  • “James, Sirach, and the Poor.” Ex Auditu 22 (2006): 113-132.
  • “Methodology in Identifying Patristic Citations in NT Textual Criticism.” Novum Testamentum 47.4 (2005): 313-343.
  • The Text of the Apostolos in Epiphanius of Salamis. NTGF 6. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 2004.
  • Women in the Church: Reclaiming the Ideal. Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2001.
  • “Letter of Jude.” In Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1998: 225-256.
  • Essays on Women in Earliest Christianity. Ed. Carroll Osburn. 2 Vols. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1993, 1995.
  • “The Johannine Comma (1 John 5:7).” In Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday, 1992: Vol. 3, 882-883.
  • “Discourse Analysis and Jewish Apocalyptic in the Epistle of Jude". In Linguistics and New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Discourse Analysis. Ed. D. A. Black. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992: 287-319.
  • “The Search for the Original Text of Acts.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 44 (1991): 39-55.
  • “Manuscripts.” In Encyclopedia of Early Christianity. New York: Garland, 1990: 563-566.
  • “1 Enoch 80:2-8 and Jude 12-13.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 47 (1985): 296-303.
  • “The Third Person Imperative in Acts 2:38.” Restoration Quarterly 26 (1983): 81-84.
  • “Historical Present in Mark as a Text-critical Criterion.” Biblica 64 (1983): 486-500.
  • “The Text of the Pauline Epistles in Hippolytus of Rome.” The Second Century 2 (1982): 97-124.
  • “Alexander Campbell and the Text of Revelation 19:13.” Restoration Quarterly 25 (1982): 129-138.
  • “Interpretation of Romans 8:28.” Westminster Theological Journal 44 (1982): 99-109.
  • “Authenteo (1 Timothy 2:12).” Restoration Quarterly 25 (1982): 1-12.
  • “The Present Indicative in Matt. 19:9.” Restoration Quarterly 24 (1981): 193-203.
  • “The Text of 1 Corinthians 10:9.” In New Testament Textual Criticism: Essays in Honour of Bruce M. Metzger. Ed. G. Fee and E. Epp. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981: 202-212.
  • “The Text of Jude 5.” Biblica 62 (1981): 107-115.
  • “The Christological Use of 1 Enoch 1.9 in Jude 14,15.” New Testament Studies 23 (1977): 334-341.
  • “The Text of Jude 22, 23.” Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Textforschung 63 (1972): 139-44.

References

  1. ^ “Osburn Retires,” Abilene Christian University Press Release, September 7, 2004.
  2. ^ "Osburn, Carroll D." worldcat.org. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Harding of Memphis Graduate School Bulletin 13.8 (Nov. 1974): 4.
  4. ^ “Carroll Osburn.” ACU Today (Spring, 1996): 13.
  5. ^ “Osburn Honored as Educator of the Year,” 20th Century Christian 45.11 (August 1983): 31.
  6. ^ “Osburn Assumes Post.” The Christian Chronicle 40.7 (July 1983): 12, and Who’s Who in the World, 1984-85.
  7. ^ “First $1 Million Endowed Chair Established.” ACU Today 41.4 (Winter, 1990): 1.
  8. ^ Osburn also served as Beirat for the Hermann Kunst-Stiftung at Münster, 2003-2005.
  9. ^ Carroll Osburn, The Text of the Apostolos in Epiphanius of Salamis. NTGF 6. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 2004.
  10. ^ E.g., “Interpreting Greek Syntax.” In Biblical Interpretation: Principles and Practices. Studies in Honor of Jack Pearl Lewis. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1986: 234-243.
  11. ^ E.g., The Peaceable Kingdom: Essays Favoring Non-Sectarian Christianity. Abilene, TX: Restoration Perspectives, 1993.
  12. ^ “Osburn Honored as Educator of the Year,” 20th Century Christian 45.11 (August 1983): 31.
  13. ^ Transmission and Reception: New Testament Text-Critical and Exegetical Studies. Texts and Studies, Third Series, Vol. 4. Ed. J. Childers and D. Parker. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2006.
  14. ^ “James, Sirach, and the Poor,” Ex Auditu 22 (2006): esp. 125-128.
  15. ^ University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Management. “MN4266, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)—Alumnus Profile, 2008, Dr. Carroll Osburn,” by Dr. Eleanor Burt. .
  16. ^ Enabled Fistula Foundation, Santa Cruz, CA to construct a midwifery college at Desta Minder. See Transformations. News from the Fistula Foundation. “Hospital begins Midwifery Training to Help Prevent Fistula,” Summer 2007, p.5. “Hamlin College of Midwives Moves Quickly Forward,” Fall 2007, pp. 1, 5. “Hamlin Midwifery College Opens in Ethiopia,” Spring 2008, pp. 1, 3..
  17. ^ Enabled Living Water International, Houston, TX to drill deep wells for rural girl’s high schools at Kangubiri, Machakos, and Mwani as well as remote Kyawango Health Centre. See Caris Foundation, Letters of Completion by John Nadolski, Program Director, LWI, 10 October 2006, and 16 July 2007. Osburn also arranged laboratory equipment from CURE and quality meds for Kyawango clinic through Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies, Nairobi, Kenya.
  18. ^ CURE International, Lemoyne, PA, to construct the Caris Surgical Centre at AIC-CURE International Children’s Hospital at Kijabe in 2007-08. See Caris Foundation, “Caris Surgical Centre, Dedication, April 21, 2008,” pp. 1-5.
  19. ^ Enabled CURE International to treat hundreds of children with clubfoot. See Caris Foundation, Letter Rick Klein, CURE, 14 June 2007.
  20. ^ CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda, “Progress Report, December 2006,” pp. 1-2.
  21. ^ Paul Carlson Partnership, Chicago, IL. See “Report to the Caris Foundation by PCP,” 30 November 2007, and “Congo Project, 2008 Project Catalog,” p. 4. Clinics were rehabilitated at Zongo, IPOK, Bokonzo, Bugose Nubea, Gbado, Bogene, and Gbadolite.
  22. ^ Enable Firelight Foundation, Santa Cruz, CA to assist care and development of 100 child-headed households by Solidarité Femmes 3x3 in Rwanda, 2007-08. See Caris Foundation, Letter from Anne Holmes, FF, 26 November 2008.
  23. ^ E.g., CIDRZ Foundation, construction of laboratory at Chongwe. See Caris Foundation, “Chongwe Laboratory Construction Report,” 19 September 2008, pp. 1-2.
  24. ^ E.g., CIDRZ Foundation for construction of clinics at Muoyo and Mitete in Zambia’s remote Western Province. See Caris Foundation, Letter of Completion, Dr. Albert Sitali, Provincial Health Director, Mongu, Zambia, 6 February 2008.
  25. ^ Funded Interplast, Mountain View, CA, to enable Dr. Goran Jovic of Lusaka to provide 200 burn surgeries in Zambia, 2007-2008. See “Report to the Caris Foundation,” 8 November 2007, and Letter from Susan Hayes, President, Interplast, 14 February 2008. See also, “Surgeons Go Online for Help With Cases,” The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 18 October 2007, p 31, and “Burns—a ‘forgotten’ crisis,” The Washington Times, 17 October 2007.
  26. ^ www.milesoffreedom.org
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