The following is part of a series of short Q&A essays exploring advice for prospective seminary PhD students.
This essay features Dr. David Rathel, Associate Professor of Christian Theology/Director of Academic Graduate Studies at Gateway Seminary
How did you enter into ministry in the academy/desire to pursue a PhD?
The desire to pursue a PhD emerged on the first day of my MDiv-level systematic theology 1 class. I loved the questions the professor addressed during class time; I realized, perhaps for the first time in my life, that Christianity has intellectually satisfying answers to pressing questions. Also, I loved the passion with which the professor taught. I knew then that, whatever that professor was doing, I wanted to do it too. I decided to become a teacher. I knew pursuing a PhD would help me accomplish that goal.
How is educational ministry indeed a ministry that can serve the church?
God commands us to love him with our minds. Deep contemplation of God and his works has value for our worship; it is an undertaking that reaps many spiritual rewards.
In addition, I see education ministry as supporting church work that is occurring on the front lines. We live in a complex society in which Christian belief is not taken for granted; often, it is misunderstood or even rejected. Gospel workers need to know what they believe and why they hold their convictions so they can offer credible answers to a questioning world. My job at the seminary supports ministry workers by helping them develop and refine their theological commitments.
How did you develop your research interests?
I honestly just pursue what interests me the most. At the moment, I am very excited about work in Christology, and a lot of my research is going in that direction. Contemplating Christology allows us to consider several aspects of theology—the doctrine of God, the manner of God’s operations in the economy, the God-world relation, etc. I also continue to have some interest in 18th-century Baptist life. I find many of the evangelicals from that era had a powerful spiritual life. I find their writings inspiring.
Tell us about your publications and current research.
I have a new book on 18th-century Baptist theologians—John Gill, Andrew Fuller, etc.—releasing with T & T Clark this autumn. That work is a published version of the dissertation I completed at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. I have published several peer-reviewed journal articles in this field and am grateful to now see the book release. These days, most of my writing time goes to the book on Christology I am writing for B & H Academic. I have been offering several conference papers and developing several journal articles that emerge from the book’s underlying research.
What advice do you have for beginning PhD students or students who desire to research and write well?
If you are passionate about research and writing, pursue the work with all of your ability to God’s glory. The academic job market is difficult, and no one is guaranteed a job, but I have personally never seen someone’s PhD go to waste. God honors our work. If we undertake our studies well, completing a PhD allows us to develop spiritually and academically. God can use our training in ways beyond our imagination.
What excites you about your field and what research openings/questions remain in your field?
I’m most excited about the questions I am considering in my current writing project on Christology. I enjoy immersing myself in the relevant literature and weighing competing claims. Then, I enjoy synthesizing and analyzing the material I have been considering and packaging it in a way that might benefit the church.
