Moore College

Equipping men and women to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ

Moore College gives thanks for the life and ministry of Tim Keller

Moore College gives thanks for the life and ministry of Tim Keller

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Christians all over the world are indebted to the ministry of Tim Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. A gifted preacher, insightful apologist, tireless encourager of others, Keller was called home by his Lord on Friday 19 May 2023. 

We at Moore College are saddened by his loss but deeply grateful for his ministry. Tim Keller modelled careful, intelligent engagement with those caught up in the confusion of what some have labelled the “post-Christian age”. He understood their questions, commitments and concerns and with consummate skill demonstrated how the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ provided better answers than those they had embraced.  

Tim was keen to see the gospel lived out with a concern for justice and compassion. As a result, the ministries he started during his 28 year service at Redeemer Presbyterian covered a wide range of activities. Very significantly, he was one of the founders of The Gospel Coalition and helped to draft its foundation documents. His was a powerful and influential voice in the contemporary religious landscape. 

We are thankful to Tim for his faithfulness and to our God for calling him and providing him with opportunities to use his extraordinary gifts for the benefit of others all around the world. Many have been profoundly shaped as they have read his books, listened to his sermons in person or online, or been practically helped by one of the ministries for which he was ultimately responsible. 

We pray especially at this time for his wife Kathy and their three sons as they grieve their husband and father in the knowledge that the man they loved was loved by many others throughout the world and most of all by his God and Saviour. 

Here are two articles paying tribute to Tim Keller from those who knew him well:

  1. Don Carson pays tribute to Tim Keller (by Don Carson)
  2. I met my hero, Tim Keller (by Collin Hansen)

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Where does Mark end? Handling snakes and ancient manuscripts.

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The majority of surviving Greek manuscripts include Mark 16:9–20 at the end of the Gospel, and the majority of Christians throughout church history have received these verses as God’s word. Nevertheless, both external and internal evidence suggest that Mark likely ended his Gospel at verse 8, however abrupt the conclusion may seem. Externally, the earliest Greek manuscripts omit the longer ending, and a key early witness weighs against it. Internally, the shorter ending offers the more difficult conclusion and, therefore, the more likely reading. Either way, nothing in the longer ending contradicts the other Gospels, and Christians may still read the material as helpful commentary, even if not as inspired Scripture.
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Moore College Welcomes New COO

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Moore College is pleased to announce the appointment of our new Chief Operating Officer,  Mr Soo Sing Goh.

Mr Goh is currently the Finance Director and Company Secretary at the Church Missionary Society Australia (CMS-A). Prior to this he was a director of a major Indonesian property firm (Indonesia Prima Property TBK) and has extensive experience in financial and property matters. While at CMS-A, he oversaw the redevelopment of St Andrews Hall in Melbourne. He is a keen Christian man and is a member of Northmead Anglican Church, where he is involved in several ministries. 

Mr Goh will be starting with Moore College on the 1st of August. Please pray for him as he finishes with CMS-A and takes a brief break before beginning this new ministry.  

The current COO, Dr Laurie Scandrett, has been with Moore College on an interim basis and will be retiring from his position in early September.  

‘While Dr Scandrett served us wonderfully as a COO in an interim capacity and made a very significant contribution, the Governing Board has realised a full-time permanent COO is required as we move into the future,’ said Dr Mark Thompson, the College Principal. ‘We are thrilled that Mr Goh has accepted to take up this position, and I look forward to him starting with us.’  
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Archbishop gets his MasterChef on during Wahroonga’s mission month

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It’s one thing to host evangelistic events at your church. It’s quite another when your outreach function features an apron-clad Archbishop cooking a curry.

“People loved it and really enjoyed hearing from Kanishka – his story, his Sri Lankan background, and he was clearly passionate about Sri Lankan curries as well!” says one of the parish’s assistant ministers, the Rev Gavin Parsons.
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Book Review: Living Without Fear – Using the Psalms to End Your Worry and Anxiety

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Dr Kirsten Birkett brings a wide range of intellectual interests to the Psalms. She has written books on science and the Christian faith, the epistemology of the Reformers, the spiritual practices of the Puritans, psychology, feminism, and the family. While on faculty at Oak Hill College, London, she also published in the area of pedagogy and theological education. Her latest book, in three small volumes, draws on many of these interests. As the subtitle clarifies, Living Without Fear seeks to address our anxieties, and Birkett applies tools from psychology and the science of human behaviour to the task. Fears are often deep-rooted and hard to alter, but pedagogical insights can help us move knowledge from the head to the heart. Most importantly, however, Birkett understands that the answer to our fears does not lie within, nor in anything we might do to alter our circumstances, but is only found in knowing God himself.
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Biblical Languages in the Early Modern Period at the Donald Robinson Library

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On the 12th of April, the Donald Robinson Library of Moore Theological College hosted an insightful seminar titled “Biblical Languages in the Early Modern Period.” The event featured speaker Douglas Fyfe, a pastor, Hebrew and Old Testament tutor, and PhD candidate at Sydney University. Fyfe’s expertise on biblical languages provided attendees with a fascinating overview of the publication of early modern Hebrew Bibles, the development of the standard order for biblical books, and how they shaped the field of biblical studies. 

The seminar began with an introduction to the early modern period, a time of significant scholarship in biblical languages. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century paved the way for numerous key editions of the Hebrew Bible and Greek New Testament to be published by major printing houses. The emergence of polyglot Bibles, such as Brian Walton’s 1657 Biblia Sacra Polyglotta, also allowed scholars to compare linguistic differences and similarities across different languages. 

The seminar also highlighted several early works on display at the Donald Robinson Library’s lower ground floor. These exhibits showcased rare and valuable examples of early modern printed editions alongside two 19th century manuscripts, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to examine these artifacts up close. Fyfe’s expertise and guidance made the examination of these works an enlightening and engaging experience for all in attendance. 

Throughout the event, Douglas Fyfe demonstrated his passion for the subject by sharing his extensive knowledge of the Old Testament and the Hebrew language. His background as a pastor, tutor, and researcher allowed him to provide a well-rounded and insightful perspective on the importance of biblical languages in the early modern period.  

The event not only showcased the significance of the printing press and early modern manuscripts in shaping the field of biblical studies but also highlighted the importance of preserving these historical artifacts for future generations. Douglas Fyfe’s engaging presentation and the opportunity to examine rare biblical works made the event a memorable and enriching experience for all who attended. 

New Testament lecturer Chris Conyers attended the event and reflected on it afterwards: “Printed texts are everywhere today, but seeing the care and effort that went into books in previous ages reminds us how precious a book can really be. I was especially struck by the way Hebrew scribes went to so much effort to make their text look special by putting crowns on every letter! It was also incredible to see an interlinear Bible from 1608, designed to help the Latin speaker learn Hebrew – I never would have guessed that such a thing existed, but it’s a great insight into how our forbears studied the scriptures.” 

Erin Mollenhauer, the Senior Archivist of the Donald Robinson Library, shared her thoughts on the event, saying, “It was a privilege to host Douglas Fyfe and have our guests explore the rich history of biblical languages. His expertise brought these artifacts to life, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the scholarly work of the early modern period. We hope this event fosters continued interest in our collection and the invaluable knowledge it holds for understanding the development of biblical studies.” 


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