"Our goal is to keep pastors informed of scholarship that can help them in their day-to-day work."

Mark Throntveit has one goal in mind when he is teaching Hebrew: to help students understand the original language of the Old Testament. Hebrew helps him teach the interpretation of Old Testament texts, as well. "For example, in good Hebrew style, key words are repeated again and again to emphasize the structure of the text," Dr. Throntveit explains. "Studying Hebrew helps us make sense of the English translation."

As a scholar, Dr. Throntveit has been active in the Society of Biblical Literature and directs the Upper Midwest Region in the capacity of Regional Secretary. His books include The Learning Bible, Pentecost 2, Proclamation 5C; Ezra-Nehemiah, Interpretation Commentaries; Exploring the Yearly Lectionary Series A; and When Kings Speak: Royal Speech and Royal Prayer in Chronicles. Dr. Throntveit helped write The Bible Tutor, Luther Seminary's online Bible study course. He directs the Summer Language Institute and also is book review editor for Word & World, a journal directed to those engaged in pastoral ministry.

"Our goal is to keep pastors informed of scholarship that can help them in their day-to-day work," he says.

A native of the Chicago area, he received a B.A. degree with honors in religion from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. He earned the M.Div. degree at Luther Seminary, winning the G.M. and Minnie Bruce Award in New Testament. He received the James A. Jones Memorial Fellowship for study at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia where he received the Ph.D. degree. He joined the Luther Seminary faculty in 1981.

When he's not teaching or writing, Dr. Throntveit enjoys playing classical guitar, electronics, bicycling, playing basketball, and baking bread. "I also watch a lot of television," he confides. "In a lecture or a sermon, you need to communicate with people, and most people today know more about Seinfeld than they do about Shakespeare."

Known as a dynamic teacher, Dr. Throntveit aims to make Hebrew fun, and his office is crowded with Hebrew artifacts. Even his computer screen saver proclaims "Vanity of Vanities" in Hebrew. "When I see that, it reminds me I should get back to work," says Dr. Throntveit.