Alden Thompson


Alden Lloyd Thompson is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian theologian, author, and seminar presenter. He is also a professor of biblical studies at Walla Walla University in Washington, United States.

Biography

He graduated from Walla Walla College in 1965 with a BA.
The same year he married Wanda Hoffman. Thompson graduated from Andrews University with an MA in 1966 and a BD in 1967.
After serving as a pastor in southeastern California from 1967 to 1970, he became a faculty member of Walla Walla University in 1970. From 1972 to 1974 he attended the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He was awarded with a doctorate in Old Testament and Judaic Studies in 1974, and his dissertation was published in 1977 by Scholars Press.
In 1980 and 1981, he taught at Marienhoehe Seminary in Darmstadt, Germany. From 1986 to 1990 he served as the academic vice president of Walla Walla College, returning to full-time teaching in the School of Theology in 1990.

Theology

Thompson has written much about the inspiration of the Bible and prophets. He published a 4-part series "Adventists and Inspiration" in the Adventist Review, in 1985. Subsequently, church publisher Review and Herald invited him to submit a book manuscript for publication. This became the 1991 book Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers, which had a large impact in the Adventist church. Two conservative responses to Thompson were published. Firstly was Issues in Revelation and Inspiration, published by the Adventist Theological Society the following year. Secondly was Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Receiving the Word which was reviewed by Thompson in turn. Thompson is open to a small use of the historical-critical method of Bible interpretation, although many Adventists reject this method, for example, the 1986 statement , "urge Adventist Bible students to avoid relying on the use of the presuppositions and the resultant deductions associated with the historical-critical method."
He is very much concerned with church unity, and has described his 2009 book Beyond Common Ground: Why Liberals and Conservatives Need Each Other as "a kind of capstone to my teaching career." He has also discussed differing personality types and how they relate to God and the church.
He supports the process of change, and has argued for significant change in Ellen G. White's views of God has a similar theme.
Thompson's speaking engagements and writings cover many topics, including the Bible, especially the Old Testament, Ellen White studies, inspiration, and Adventist history.

Non scholarly books and denominational publications

His books include:
Two chapters were withdrawn from Inspiration prior to publication, "", and "", which describes three dominant strands of Adventist theology. These were eventually published in Beyond Common Ground.