Twenty Years of Teaching the New Testament at Senate of Serampore University

Though I started teaching the Bible as a Sunday school teacher in my local church set up in Kerala (1987-1993) and as a Bible Trainer at Faith Bible Training Center, Faridabad, Haryana (1997-1999), I settled as a New Testament teacher when I started equipping students at the BD level in Serampore College, Hooghly, West Bengal, from 2001 onward. The same is continued until today as a faculty member in the United Theological College, Bengaluru. In 2021, I complete twenty years of teaching the New Testament at the BD level

Serampore College, Hooghly, West Bengal (2001-2004)

In June 2001, I was appointed as Lecturer of New Testament at BD level in Serampore College. Serampore College is located in Serampore, in Hooghly district, West Bengal state, India. Established in 1818, it is the second oldest college in the country after Presidency College, Kolkata, and one of the oldest educational institutes in India that is still functional. The college consists of two entities: The theological faculty and a separate college with faculties of arts, science, and commerce. As a college founded by William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and William Ward, popularly known as “The Serampore Trio,” I was influenced by the great works of the Serampore missionaries and the legacy of the college. During my four years of teaching at Serampore College, I also served the institution in the capacity of College Chaplain. Thanks to the Serampore College Council and the administration for the opportunity to begin my teaching ministry at the BD level.

Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, Maharashtra (2008-2021)

In June 2008, I was appointed as Lecturer of New Testament at Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, Maharashtra, one of the premier Evangelical theological institutions in the country. Over the years, I was promoted at the Assistant and Associate professor levels and was occupying the offices of Head of the Department of New Testament, Dean of Biblical Studies, and Dean of Distance Learning program. Union Biblical Seminary (UBS) is founded by Wesleyan and Methodist denominations in India. UBS started as a Marathi-medium Bible School opened by the Free Methodist Church and was finally established in 1953 and initially located in Yavatmal, before relocating it to Pune in 1983. It is affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College (University) and accredited to the Asia Theological Association (ATA). The Union Biblical Seminary is unique in the sense that it represents evangelical Christians from almost all the major Indian ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups as well as from other countries. The dynamic principle of ‘unity in diversity’ finds expression in everyday experience based on the solid foundation of the person of Jesus Christ, to whom every member of the UBS family is committed. I was teaching and guiding students at the BD, MDiv, MTh, and DTh levels in the seminary. I remain thankful to the Board and administration of UBS for my teaching ministry over a period of 13 years.

The United Theological College, Bengaluru, Karnataka (2021 onward)

In July 2021, I am appointed as professor of New Testament at The United Theological College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, one of the prestigious ecumenical theological institutions that completed 110 years of fulfilling ministry in the national and international levels. The United Theological College (UTC) is a Christian college founded in 1910 situated in the southern city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in South India and affiliated to India’s first Theological University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal. Since 1976, UTC has been granted the status of an autonomous college under the University. The college has welcomed world leaders. Mahatma Gandhi visited it in 1927 and declared: “To live the gospel is the most effective way . . . I can say that the life of service and uttermost simplicity is the best preaching.” India Post released a centenary commemorative stamp in honor of the United Theological College (UTC) on 8 July 2011. The college emphasizes the freedom of expression, academic and ministerial emphases, national and international connectivity, transparent administrative system, and ecumenical theological framework. I enjoy teaching and guiding at the BD, MTh, and DTh levels in the college.

During the last twenty years, teaching the New Testament equipped me to interpret the Scripture by taking into consideration the ethos and pathos of the nation of India, the local and global aspects embedded within the Scripture, and the historical, literary, theological, and contextual layers of the Bible. A wider-ecumenical path in which I was able to develop a dialogical interpretative framework between Western and Eastern, Christian and non-Christian, Catholic and Protestant, Pentecostal and Charismatic, Dalit and non-Dalit, Tribal and non-Tribal, feminine and masculine, and other ideologies for convergence and crosspollination. Thanks to all my friends, colleagues, churches, institutions, and organizations for being part of my life realities, ministerial involvements, and interpretative endeavors.

Your brother and friend

Johnson Thomaskutty

The United Theological College

Bengaluru, India