Western Seminary

M. James Sawyer, Ph.D.
Professor of Theology
(408) 356-6889 mjsawyer@aol.com

B.A., Biola University; Th.M., Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary. Simpson College, 1984-89; Western, part-time, 1988-89; full-time, 1989 -

Online Publications / Resources / Home Page

Dr. Sawyer is an ordained minister who has taught Theology, Church History and Historical Theology for more than twenty years. For the past sixteen years he has served as Professor of Theology and Church History at Western Seminary’s Northern California extension. He is the author of numerous articles and books including, Taxonomic Charts of Theology and Biblical Studies, Charles Augustus Briggs and Tensions in Late Nineteenth Century Theology, and The Survivor’s Guide to Theology (forthcoming). He has broad ministry experience including Youth for Christ, mission work in South America, teaching at Simpson College, and San Jose Christian College/William Jessup University and the Evangelical Seminary of the Caribbean in Puerto Rico. He is regularly involved with the “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” as well as being a frequent speaker in churches in Northern California. In addition he has served on the board of the Bay Cities Bible Institute and the advisory board of Christian Counseling International. He and his wife Kay have four sons and one granddaughter.

Education

Ph.D. 1987 Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX, Historical Theology.

Charles Augustus Briggs and Tensions in Late Nineteenth Century American Theology.

Th.M. 1978 Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX, New Testament, with honors.

An Analysis of the Larger Semantic Units of Galatians.

B.A. 1973 Biola University, La Mirada, CA, Biblical Studies.

Publications

"Evangelicals and the Canon of the New Testament," Grace Theological Journal
"Dispensationalism" in the Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought
Charles Augustus Briggs and Tensions in Late Nineteenth Century American Theology, Mellen Research University Press.
Review of Schleiermacher's Ethics in JETS.
Review of Pilgrim Theology in JETS.
Taxonomic Charts on Biblical and Theological Studies, Zondervan.
The Survivor's Guide to Theology, Zondervan, forthcoming.
Who's Afraid of the Holy Spirit?, Baker, forthcoming.

Online Publications

Memberships

Evangelical Theological Society

Vice President ETS Far West-2000-2001
Secretary-Treasurer, ETS Far West-1999-2000

Conference on Faith and History
Society of Biblical Literature
American Academy of Religion
Society for the Study of Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism

Courses Taught

April 1989- present:	Professor of Theology, Western Seminary San Jose, CA. Academic Coordinator & Chairman of the Academic Committee.
	*Courses taught*: Hermeneutics, Theology I (Prolegomena, Bibliology, Theology Proper, Theology II (anthropology, angelology, Christology) Theology III (salvation, sanctification, church & eschatology), Define & Defend The Christian World View (apologetics, worldviews and current theological issues), History of Doctrine, Church History, Theological Systems, Pauline Theology, Introductory Greek, Intermediate Greek, Greek Exegesis, Exposition of Romans, C. S. Lewis in Contemporary Thought.
September 1984-June 1989	Assistant Professor, Simpson College, San Francisco, CA.
	*Courses taught*: Introduction to Christian Theology, Christian Theology I (God, Christ, man & sin), Christian Theology II (atonement, Holy Spirit, salvation, sanctification, church, eschatology); develop and conduct graduate courses in New Testament Theology, History of Doctrine, Current Issues in Theology, Advanced Hermeneutics.
September 1987- June 1989	Adjunct Professor, Logos School of the Bible (San Jose Christian College)
	*Courses taught:* Basic Theology, and Basic Hermeneutics.

Contributed Papers

April 1988	"Evangelicals and the Canon of the New Testament." Annual Meeting of the Far West ETS.
November 1991	"Some Thoughts on Lordship Salvation" ETS National Meetings, Kansas City.
April 1992	"Inspiration Authority and Criticism in the Thought of Charles Augustus Briggs," Annual Meeting of the Far West ETS.
November 1996	"The Witness of the Spirit in the Protestant Tradition" ETS National Meetings, Jackson, MS,
April 1988	"Authority in Theology, Do Evangelicals Really Practice Sola Scriptura?," Annual Meeting of the Far West ETS.
April 1988	"Theology Ministry and the Internet," Annual Meeting of the Far West ETS.
May 1999	"Talking Theology in a Pluralistic World," Annual Meeting of the Far West ETS.
April, 2000	Response to Dr. Elmer Martens plenary address, "From Scripture to Doctrine," Annual Meeting of the Far West ETS.