By Connie Gundry Tappy '80
A longtime seminary professor and author of 20 books, MARK STRAUSS 鈥�82 says he recognized his greatest strength early on: taking complicated subjects and clarifying and simplifying them for readers. He wrote
his textbook 鈥淔our Portraits, One Jesus鈥� (Zondervan 2007; 2nd ed. 2020) with both students and scholars in mind. 鈥淧rofessors want a text that is accurate and up-to-date on scholarly issues,鈥� he says. 鈥淪tudents want one that is accessible and enjoyable to read. My goal was to hit the sweet spot that does both.鈥�
He brings this skill to his work as vice chair for the NIV Committee on Bible Translation. Years ago, a question from a student led Mark to consider the value of gender-inclusive language when translating the Bible. In 鈥淒istorting Scripture? The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy鈥� (IV Press 1998), he evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of inclusive language and generally supports its use. His work in translation studies led to an invitation to join the NIV Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) in 2005.
Mark鈥檚 29-year tenure at Bethel Seminary as university professor of New Testament, his prolific writing and his contributions to biblical translation led 蜜桃传媒 to celebrate him as one of 85 honorees at the college鈥檚 85th anniversary celebration in 2022.
A psychology major at 蜜桃传媒, Mark also pursued his interest in religious studies, taking Greek and other biblical courses. 鈥淟ittle did I know that the latter would become my vocation,鈥� he says. He earned Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees at Talbot School of Theology and completed a doctorate in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
鈥淢y 蜜桃传媒 education instilled in me the importance of both the heart and the mind in the Christian life 鈥� that a passion for the gospel should go hand in hand with critical thinking and a passion for truth,鈥� Mark says. 鈥淭oo often, Christians appear more interested in proving we鈥檙e right than in seeking truth. The 蜜桃传媒 ethos in my psychology and biblical studies courses was to pursue truth relentlessly, not just to defend or justify what we already believe.鈥�
Mark relishes his work as both a scholar and a teacher. 鈥淚 love to do research and to write,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 enormous joy when a book shows up in the mail. But I also love to teach. There鈥檚 something magical when I can see that students 鈥榞et it.鈥欌�� He values mentoring students and building relationships to equip the next generation of Christian leaders.
Much of Mark鈥檚 research has focused on the Gospels, including his commentaries on Mark and Luke and his exploration of Jesus鈥檚 most provocative words and deeds in 鈥淛esus Behaving Badly: The Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee鈥� ( IV Press 2015). His book, 鈥淗ow to Read the Bible in Changing Times鈥� (Baker 2011), sets out his perspective on interpreting Scripture. He continues to write about Bible translation as well. He co-authored 鈥淗ow to Choose a Translation for All It鈥檚 Worth鈥� (Zondervan 2007) with internationally known New Testament scholar Gordon Fee, and he recently published 鈥�40 Questions About Bible Translation鈥� (Kregel 2023).
鈥淎 passion for the gospel should go hand in hand with critical thinking and a passion for truth.鈥�
Mark and his wife, Roxanne, walk and hike together almost daily. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and they value family time with their three adult children.
In 2015, a diagnosis of Parkinson鈥檚 disease brought major changes to Mark鈥檚 life. 鈥淎s the disease has progressed 鈥� slowly, thankfully 鈥� I鈥檝e had to make hard choices,鈥� he says, such as giving up his 30-year practice of preaching and teaching in churches. 鈥淚鈥檓 constantly reminded that life is short and that we should make the most of the time we鈥檝e been given.鈥�