Two volumes of Systematic Theology, completed between 1997 and 1999, represent the capstone of Robert Jenson’s intellectual contribution to American religious thought. A prolific academic and ecumenical thinker, he spent decades navigating the intersections of Lutheran tradition, patristic studies, and modern philosophy to address the nature of divine being and the future-oriented essence of God.
Formative Academic Years
Born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1930, Jenson began his higher education at Luther College before moving to Luther Seminary in 1951. An accident during his initial year prompted an intense engagement with Søren Kierkegaard and Immanuel Kant. Under the guidance of Herman Preus, he developed an interest in Lutheran scholasticism. His graduate studies led him to Heidelberg, where he worked under Peter Brunner and studied alongside Wolfhart Pannenberg, ultimately completing his dissertation in Basel under the observation of Karl Barth.
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Jenson returned to Luther College to teach but faced departmental opposition regarding his openness to biblical criticism and evolutionary biology. Following the resignation of several colleagues, he rebuilt the department’s philosophy curriculum. His career later transitioned to international settings, including a tenure as Dean and Tutor of Lutheran Studies at Mansfield College, Oxford University. This period fostered his interest in Anglicanism and deepened his commitment to ecumenical worship, which informed his subsequent works like The Knowledge of Things Hoped For.
Ecumenical Engagement and Later Career
Upon returning to the United States in 1968, Jenson joined the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, where he focused on trinitarian theology and patristic thought. In 1988, he moved to St. Olaf College and subsequently co-founded the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology with Carl Braaten in 1991. He served as the director of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton after his retirement from teaching in 1998, continuing his editorial work for the journal Pro Ecclesia until his death in 2017.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Eau Claire, United States
- Died: 2017
- Education: Luther Seminary and Heidelberg University
- Key Publication: Systematic Theology (1997–1999)
- Professional Affiliations: University of Oxford, St. Olaf College, Princeton Theological Seminary
- Fields: Theology, Ecumenical Theology, Systematic Theology
- Nationality: United States
Questions readers ask
What was Jenson’s primary area of study?
He focused on systematic, ecumenical, and Lutheran theology.
Where did Jenson teach during his career?
He held positions at Luther College, Mansfield College (Oxford), Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, St. Olaf College, and the Center of Theological Inquiry.
Achievements
- Held posts at St. Olaf College, Princeton Theological Seminary and University of Oxford
- Fields: theology, systematic theology and ecumenical theology
