Fairchild to present annual faculty lecture

Huntington, Ind. "Dr. Mark Fairchild will deliver the annual Huntington University faculty lecture on Thursday, February 2, 2006, at 7 p.m. in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts.


Dr. Mark Fairchild
Fairchild, professor of Bible and religion, will present Skeletons in the Closet: Modern Scholarship and the Apostle Paul's Ignominious Past. Fairchild was awarded the annual honor after a competitive review process. The public is invited to attend this free lecture.

Fairchild will explore two profound experiences from Paul's unseemly past that greatly impacted his life and theology "enslavement during the Roman conquest and his participation in a radical Jewish zealot group that advocated violence.

After his conversion to Christianity, Paul renounced violence, but these early experiences conditioned his theology and are reflected in the letters he wrote to other Christians, Fairchild said. More than any other New Testament writer, Paul's thought revolved around the metaphor of slavery to sin, and freedom in Christ.

During this past January term, Fairchild led Huntington University students on a trip to Israel and Egypt. Fairchild has served on the University's faculty since 1986. He holds a Bachelor of Science in biology (genetics) from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and theology from Toccoa Falls College (Ga.), a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies (Specialized Curriculum) from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Master of Philosophy and Ph.D. in New Testament from Drew University.