Growing in Understanding

‘I have greatly enjoyed these unusual and spiritually perceptive devotions for Christian academics. These short chapters are deeply rooted in the careful reading of Scripture and earthed in the author’s commitment to encouraging faithfulness in believers engaged in academic studies. Having heard many of these in Tuesday chapels at Tyndale House, I have greatly enjoyed being reminded of the author’s pastoral concern and insightful comments, often accompanied by a lovely dry sense of humour.’ – The Revd Christopher Ash, Writer in Residence, Tyndale House, Cambridge, UK‘This book is a must read for all Christian academics, particularly for those of us who believe that Christian scholarship is fundamentally a divine calling. The messages given by Dirk at the chapel services and that are published here had a profound influence on my convictions and attitudes as an aspiring Christian academic completing my PhD studies at Tyndale House. They are a model of Christian scholarship that I strive to emulate in my own academic work, teaching and training in Brazil. I am unaware of anyone more careful and incisive in the application of Scripture to the realities of academic life than Dirk Jongkind.’ – Dr Diego dy Carlos, Research Lecturer, Seminario Martin Bucer, Brazil‘Has the Bible a vital message for academics? Dirk Jongkind’s devotions show that God’s word pierces with a cutting edge through the thicket of scholarship. Passages from the Old and New Testament give advice on how to keep up joy in the often stressful environment of the university, how to deal with ambivalent motivations such as ambition, how to build an academic career on the sound ground of God’s calling and character. A must read for everyone who pursues an academic career not only as a job, but as a vocation!’ – Dr Alexander Fink, Director, Institut fur Glaube und Wissenschaft, Marburg, Germany‘If you are a Christian academic and want to grow in your faith, then this little book is for you. Dirk Jongkind leads the reader carefully though nineteen passages selected from the Bible, with a detailed devotional commentary and several probing questions. Any academic that works through these passages thoughtfully and prayerfully with Dirk as guide is surely certain to find their faith increased.’ – Dr Daniel J. Hill, , Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Liverpool, UK‘Young Christian academics often express a desire to be mentored by older scholars, but pastorally minded academics are not always available to take on that role. This book helps to fill the gap. Dirk Jongkind’s decades of studying Scripture and working alongside other academics in a research institute have allowed him to become very familiar with the particular struggles academics face, and the comfort and challenge Scripture offers them… I highly recommend it, not only for academics looking for devotional material but also for postgraduate and academic fellowship groups, since the discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter make it ideal for group study.’ – Anja Lijcklama a Nijeholt, Fellows Programme Coordinator, Forming a Christian Mind, Cambridge, and Postgraduate Ministry Coordinator, UCCF and IFES Europe‘Dirk Jongkind’s book Growing in Understanding is distilled wisdom from a gifted Cambridge University faculty member. I remember the first time I heard Dirk teach these devotionals to a group of talented young academics at the Cambridge Scholars Network. As embodied and taught by Dirk, God’s word made a stunning impact on the eager, young scholars. Further, the biblical vision in this book - of how to be a Christian academic - has, over the last two decades, shaped the European Leadership Forum’s vision of equipping and mentoring Christian academics for faithful and excellent work. If you read these short chapters and meditate on them and on the passages of Scripture they unpack, God can change your life, including your understanding and practice of your academic calling.’ – Dr Greg Pritchard, Director, European Leadership Forum, and President, Forum of Christian Leaders, Naperville, Illinois, USA‘Postgraduate studies can often be a very isolating and lonely journey that can bring up all sorts of negative feelings and struggles, such as stress, insecurities, disillusionment and despair. Amid this internal turmoil, we can easily lose sight of how our Christian faith relates to our work. With years of academic research and association with Tyndale House, Dirk Jongkind has authored Growing in Understanding to encourage Christians in the academy to come to a better understanding of ourselves and the occupational hazards that we face, which can easily derail our devotion to God. Dirk helps us by providing solid, godly biblical wisdom that aids us in our research journey, focusing our gaze on God as we pursue our research. Through a careful exegesis of various biblical passages, Dirk encourages us to be devotional in our academic pursuits by helping us to understand who we are in Jesus and how that relationship with Jesus has supremacy over everything we do.’ – The Revd Dr Vuyani Sindo, Vice Principal (Development) and Head of Biblical Studies, George Whitefield College, Cape Town, South Africa‘In this book, Dirk Jongkind provides an inspiring and practical guide for those who seek to reflect God’s wisdom in every area of life, with a special focus on academics. I found it deeply challenging for my personal devotions as well as in mentoring young academics on how to develop biblical discernment. Having had the privilege of observing the way he lives out his convictions at home and work - through devotional times with his children and with his students at Tyndale - and now reading his book, I must testify that my love for the word of God has deepened. The selected scriptures from both the Old and New Testaments are highly relevant to our contemporary European academic context, a culture often hostile to the gospel. It was a timely reminder of the vital importance of allowing Scripture to shape my understanding of God’s wisdom before engaging in academic research or mentoring students. This book left me informed, alarmed, rebuked and inspired to take action.’ – Emanuel Tundrea, Associate Professor of IT, Emanuel University of Oradea, Romania

Dirk Jongkind is Vice Principal (Academic) at Tyndale House, in Cambridge, England. He served as editor of the Tyndale House Greek New Testament, and is an Associate Editor of the Tyndale Bulletin. He is a Fellow of St Edmund’s College and a Member of the Faculty of Divinity.