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God Our Teacher: Theological Basics in Christian Education Paperback – November 1, 2001

by Robert W. Pazmiño (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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A topic of frequent discussion in religious education circles is the relationship between theology and practice. How does Christian theology work itself out in the teaching ministries of the church? Noted Christian education thinker Robert Pazmiño contemplates this debate and offers a contemporary overview of the messages theology brings to Christian education.
Sensitive to today's expanding global culture, God Our Teacher reaffirms the essential role theology plays in developing educational practices and conventions, and carefully fleshes out what it means to use the Trinity as a model for ordering educational thought and practice. This book will be welcomed by all those involved in fostering the growth and development of Christian education.
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  1. Print length
    202 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Baker Academic
  4. Publication date
    November 1, 2001
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0801022843
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0801022845
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Here is a book that can be read for many purposes: as a substantial review of the calling of education in the mission of the church, as a challenging text on the theological foundations of Christian education, and as a stretching exercise for those who are serious about the educational and missional aspects of ministry."
-Ted Ward, Michigan State University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, emeritus

"A refreshing and wise look at the teaching ministry of the church. Pazmiño has done well at grounding his reflections in a winsome and irenic historic orthodoxy."
-James Wilhoit, Wheaton College

"God Our Teacher explores the important roles of the Trinity in teaching ministries. Pazmiño serves the reader well in his call for balancing unity and diversity and engaging the world in a holistic ministry of teaching."
-Cathy Stonehouse, Asbury Theological Seminary

"God Our Teacher presents a balanced view that is continually framed by biblical boundaries and demonstrates Pazmiño's encyclopedic grasp of the resources that have stimulated his thinking."
-Julie Gorman, Fuller Theological Seminary

"God Our Teacher is a carefully crafted, robust, and theologically grounded vision for Christian education. A worthwhile read for anyone committed to the teaching ministry of the church."
-Robert Drovdahl, Seattle Pacific University

"God Our Teacher is different from typical books on teaching and learning in that it begins with Scripture and presents a theologically informed perspective for Christian education."
-Dennis E. Williams, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"No contemporary educator more creatively develops teaching metaphors or is better able to design theologically strong models for Christian education than Robert Pazmiño."
-Marlene LeFever, author of Creative Teaching Methods and Learning Styles


Robert W. Pazmiño (Ed.D., Columbia University) is Valeria Stone Professor of Christian Education at Andover Newton Theological School.

About the Author

Robert W. Pazmiño (Ed.D., Teacher's College, Columbia University) is Valeria Stone Professor of Christian Education at Andover Newton Theological School. His many works include Foundational Issues in Christian Education and By What Authority Do We Teach?

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baker Academic (November 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0801022843
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0801022845
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

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Robert W. Pazmino

Robert W. Pazmino

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Originally from Brooklyn, New York (1948-), Bob has been a professor of Christian education since 1981 having taught all ages in his ministries and at theological schools across the U.S. and abroad. He is the Valeria Stone Professor of Christian Education at Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. He is the author of several books including his current memoir, "A Boy Grows in Brooklyn: An Educational and Spiritual Memoir" and he is writing the third volume of his theological trinity on teaching entitled "Anointed Teaching" that is co-authored with Elizabeth Conde-Frazier and Octavio Esqueda and explores the ministry of the Holy Spirit in teaching and learning.

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Joy Clement Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2017
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Great experience.
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Hachimenum
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2013
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I have so rated this book because it's among the best anyone can find on this subject. Comprehensive and worded in easy to understand grammar. I recommend this book to all who want to improve their delivery power in teaching. It's an excellent book for every library.
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Evelyn F.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2017
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excellent
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Jeffery Watkins
5.0 out of 5 stars A CRITIQUE OF ROBERT PAZMINO'S "GOD OUR TEACHER"
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2008
The book God Our Teacher by Dr. Robert W. Pazmiño is a wonderful work about the harmonization between Christian education and theology. The book's focus deals with the instructive model of Christian teaching by synthesizing it with some of the different theological aspects that Christians interact with in education. The book, chapter by chapter, explains the different perspectives that humans have as they relate with the Triune God. This book critique will speak to both the positive and negative aspects of the volume in question. In examining the book, this paper will critically assess each chapter by what it purports and how effective the author is in communicating his ideas.

Robert Pazmiño is the author of God Our Teacher: Theological Basics in Christian Education. He was educated at the esteemed Columbia University, where he received a Doctorate of Education. Robert Pazmiño and his wife, Wanda, live in Massachusetts where he is a professor at Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS). Dr. Pazmiño currently serves as the Valeria Stone Professor of Christian Education at ANTS. He is the author of several other books including: By What Authority Do We Teach?, Principles and Practices of Christian Education, and The Seminary In The City.

Although the author does not explicitly state his purpose in writing the book God Our Teacher, Pazmiño does indicate his reasoning behind creating a book that delineates a theological basis for Christian education. The writer begins his book in the introduction by simple stating what existence truly means: "Ultimately, life and theology come down to God and us. Therefore, the ultimate questions about life can be viewed in terms of our relationships with others and our communion with God (pg 6)." That quote sums up the purpose of humanity and the author's reasoning for writing his book.

The book God Our Teacher: Theological Basics in Christian Education is a very good evaluation of the dynamics between Christian education and theology. Once the text is analyzed, the reader will render the conclusion that Dr. Robert Pazmiño certainly is a scholar on the subject. The author writes his thoughts in a way, so much so, that they are very academically focused, but quickly understood by thinking through the topics. Sometimes, however, the author's point is not always conveyed intelligibly. Overall the book is well written and an interesting read.

Dr. Pazmiño sets in motion chapter one by clearly identifying the purpose of his study. Whether an area of issue in education or any other subject, a Trinitarian view, for Christians, is the starting point. Understanding how the Divine deals with humanity in the Godhead model will assist humans in understanding how God interacts with his creation in all avenues of life. The first chapter argues this very well and it makes sense to the reader where the writer's heart is. However, there are some places where the author's arguments are not coherent. Even though the common person can read the book and develop a clear conclusion, sometimes the writer's intent is not easily comprehendible. In one particular instance, the case the author makes is seemingly nonsense. Dr. Pazmiño addresses recent works of erudition on the topic of the Trinity, but quickly jumps to talking about something altogether different:

"Persons as beings-for suggest the need to consider the purposes, directions, commitments, and ministries of participants. The concern for human freedom in education includes a consideration of a freedom for beyond the freedom from any sources of oppression. Freedom for requires consideration of God's purposes and God's demands in relation to human callings and vocations (pg 21)."

Even though the author's inability to communicate in direct language is found at this specific moment, nowhere else does his language and arguments seem quite as officious.

In the next chapter, the author addresses issues pertaining to all people. The author does not necessarily direct this part of his book to Christians, but more to humanity in general. Throughout the chapter, he does address Christian issues; but at the beginning, Pazmiño deals with soteriology and harmitology, the study of salvation and sin, respectively, as it relates to all persons. The writer develops his arguments and presents them to the reader in a way that the audience cannot help but grasp his point. The subject is so important to the writer that he takes time in constructing his arguments, and it shows in the writing. The subject is imperative to understanding theology, as it relates to Christian education, and Pazmiño emphasizes that in the chapter.

Chapter three switches modes and gets back to speaking about the Trinity in relation to God the Son. The author does a fantastic job here in making a clear indication about Jesus being "the Master teacher" (pg 59). Dr. Pazmiño offers a Christological argument for Christian education. He then uses his argument about Christ, and purports the notion that Jesus is the example for teaching, because he is truly the ultimate instructor. It is evident to the audience to see how Jesus did indeed use theology in his education and he did this through being what the author calls "rabbinic and unrabbinic" (pg 65). Finally, in the last portion of the chapter, the author adds his main thesis for why Jesus was the best example of a teacher. The author's explanation for this claim is that Jesus was a great teacher because of how he built relationships with his learners. The Lord did this, not to boss them around or have mindless clones, but to meet his audience's needs--everyone one of them. Instead of just telling the people what to do, Christ instructed them through common language and parables that they could understand. "Therefore," Pazmiño says, "Jesus' priority of relationships included those whom others readily sought to avoid. Jesus incarnated the Galilean principle in his teaching by mixing with those on the margins" (pg 84). Relationships with the people in his culture were just as important as his relationship with the people who are alive today.

The next section of the book, chapter four, deals with how Christians are supposed to relate to the Godhead in the person of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Pazmiño brings his educational talks into focus by emphasizing how the Christian learns from and through the Holy Spirit. Why might the pneumatology (study of spirituality) of education be worth mentioning? It is the author's view that the Spirit of God has been present in the world and interacting with human beings since man's creation. The writer deals with this assertion by citing Old, as well as New Testament reference that support his claim. The author also deals with how the Holy Spirit currently interacts with the church today. It is this point that Pazmiño shifts his focus some. The author begins to address how the Holy Spirit is involved in the education process. Through the steps of teaching spiritually-mind, the author says that the Spirit is involved in the "preparation, instruction, and evaluation" (105). All of the Pazmiño's claims give evidence to how he feels about the Holy Spirit's working through education.

Chapter five, God Through Us: The Church and Teaching, is an interesting chapter to say the least. The author does a fantastic job of establishing a solid argument, defending it with sound logic and scripture, and then concluding it with an ecclesiological summation. Pazmiño addresses the issues of people, but not to the point of only talking about those that are redeemed, to the exclusion of non-believers. The writer tells his audience that all learners should be treated like the people of God (although he acknowledges that Christians are actually the people of God). The part where non-Christians come into play is their role in the missiological aspect of teaching. The teaching of Saints applies to the church, but trying to bring more people into the fold is the purpose of missions. The teacher should focus instruction on dealing with those two aspects of the educational process.

And finally, chapter six, Dr. Pazmiño's address to those educators who have a stake in the Christian ministry of teaching in the future. The writer intends this section of the book to be an encouragement for Christian educators. He does this by offering several tips for instructors who will be doing this beyond tomorrow. This portion of the chapter is really well written and does exhort those who are involved in the process of relaying information to learners. The writer takes the time here to involve himself in the world of the reader, often using personal experience to communicate his message. Chapter six by itself makes the book worth reading. The culmination of Pazmiño's experience and work has been represented in this book, God Our Teacher. It is an excellent and enjoyable reference for anyone who is in Christian education.
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Benjamin Snyder
1.0 out of 5 stars Good title, but fails to deliver
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2010
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I had high expectations for this book given the title. What I encountered was "academic bloviating." The book is filled with undefined or poorly defined principles or concepts, and is rather vague. (It reminds me of the old Dilbert Mission Statement Generator.) Some of the undefined or poorly defined terms include "Chalcedonian form," "Galilean principle," "educational trinity," "trinitarian grammar," "huddling," "mixing," and more. One can eventually figure out some of the terms as reading goes on, but then there is no explanation for how these terms actually find their root or explanation in the Scripture.

There is also incessant references to his own works or to others works. Normally I like this, but his use of this technique is bad for two reasons. First, many of these references should just be relegated to footnotes. And second, the references either don't add anything to the conversation, or fail to do so because they are not explained. He sort of assumes that you've read the books too and know what he's talking about.

The main argument of the book is expressed in the 6 chapter titles... namely...

1. The trinity is an example of what to base our teaching model on. Teaching is expressing content to persons in context.

2. Sin has marred our existence and thus needs to be dealt with by salvation. In our teaching we are always mindful of our limitations and need for salvation.

3. Jesus is the master teacher leaving us with great examples in both his life and teachings.

4. The Holy Spirit works in us to help us overcome sin and to teach with power.

5. The church is the framework within which we carry out our teaching to the world.

6. Eschatology moves us to be driven and impassioned as we teach because we have a living hope in which we live and teach.

If this were not a required book for my class, I would have stopped reading at the first chapter. I don't like to give negative reviews, but I really can't recommend this book.
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Fran or Teresa Trascritti
4.0 out of 5 stars "Must Read" for all new Christian teachers
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2004
Pazmino's book is helpful for new Christian teachers to understand the concept of teaching that is explicitly Christian. It is a reminder for seasoned Christian teachers that their teaching focus should never waiver from Christ. I agree with Pazmino that Christian education encompasses proclamation, community formation, service, advocacy, and worship.

Sunday school and Discipleship teachers present Christ to their students through the Bible while using their words and actions. Teachers then educate their students so that one day they will tell others about Jesus, share each other's burdens, do ministry, intercede in prayer, and glorify God. This is the process that Pazmino describes as "formation and transformation of person as beings for others (21)."

Overall, I enjoyed reading Pazmino's book because he encapsulates principles central to the teachings of Christianity. He dissects the topic of Christian education and presents the various parts to the reader. This is a book all new Christian teachers should read.

Pazmino's six "theological teachings" summarizes the main points of his book:

· "God is the starting point of Christian education" (35)

· "We teach: God transforms sin through salvation" (57)

· "Jesus Christ provides a model for teaching that transcends time" (86)

· "The Holy Spirit empowers us for teaching" (112)

· "God works through us to accomplish His mission in the world" (132)

· "God wants us to embrace the future of Christian education with living hope" (157)
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