In the shadow of the prolific theologian J. I. Packer’s death this week was the death of another great but lesser known theologian Myron J Houghton. Whereas most pastors and many Christians in this century know of and have read books of J. I. Packer, Dr. Myron Houghton quietly served Christ for nearly 50 years. He taught as the adjunct faculty in the field of systematic theology at Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary for many years (2000-2010).
I met Dr. Myron at the end of my first year of teaching seminary classes. For an entire decade, twice a year when he would come to town to teach, I would enjoy a couple of meals during the week with him. At least one afternoon per week we would spend hours together. Theses are precious memories to me as he took time out with me. I kept a running list of systematic theology questions for him so that while we were out together I would ask him about them. He would graciously answer each one of them while oftentimes I would write profusely similar to one of his many students.
On a funny note, it seemed as if something always happened to us while we were out together. It was a running joke to see what would happen the day that I got to spend the afternoon with him. Once I locked us out of the car. Another time I forgot my wallet and had nothing to pay with. Another time someone hit my vehicle and then took off so we chased the person. And more. We would look forward together to these times together as no doubt he brought each incident up again and again.
On a trip through Iowa, I had the opportunity to meet him at Faith. I got to go to his house on campus. He gave me a tour of the seminary campus and his office. Then, he drove to his favorite restaurant. That was a first. I told him it was the last. Little did I know that would be the last afternoon I got to spend with my friend on this side of heaven.
Although he was never married and had no children, he was the king of dad jokes and puns. He always asked me if I was ready for some pun-ishment when we were out together. He called himself the “Ayatollah of Ankeny.” Many of the puns were standbys that he repeated over and over. They almost never got old.
I am forever grateful for this great friend, great theologian, great scholar, and greater follower of Christ.
He took full advantage of being single to continually read and study. Here is the list of places he studied:
- Diploma, Moody Bible Institute
- B.A., Pillsbury College
- B.D., Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary
- Certificate, St. Stephen’s Course of Studies in Orthodox Theology
- Th.M., Grace Theological Seminary
- M.L.A., Southern Methodist University
- M.A., St. Thomas Theological Seminary
- Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary
- Th.D., Concordia Seminary
(all pictures from online tributes)
The following is a sample of articles and pictures I found online.
The entire Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary family is grieved by the passing of Dr. Myron J. Houghton last night at the Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny, Iowa. We rejoice in knowing that he is now with the Lord. Dr. Myron accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of nine in a weekly neighborhood Bible club in Schenectady, New York.
Dr. Houghton was born on July 26, 1941. He and his twin brother, George, were set to celebrate their 79th birthday together in less than two weeks. Dr. Myron had recently retired from Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in May of 2019 after nearly 50 years of teaching. He began his ministry in 1971 at Denver Baptist Bible College as head of the Theology Department and joined the faculty at Faith in 1983, where he would spend the rest of his teaching career impacting the lives of thousands of young men and women.
Dr. Myron was Chair of the Theology Department at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary for the first 33 years of its existence. The July-September issue of the 1989 Faith Witness described Dr. Myron’s unique approach to teaching:
“His provocative teaching methods, coupled with his zest and interest in students, makes classes in the Seminary and College both educational and entertaining.”
Upon his retirement from Faith, Dr. Myron said his favorite memory was the “incredible privilege” he had to teach all who have entered the ministry as missionaries, pastors, and other roles as Christian leaders.
Dr. Myron was well-known for his knowledge of Scripture, theology, and other religions. His fondness for puns was legendary, and the relationships he formed with his students, often over meals at the local Village Inn, made lifelong impacts that cannot be measured.
There aren’t enough puns, metaphors, or words in the English language to properly describe Dr. Myron’s impact on the history of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary. He was a favorite of many students over the years—irreplaceable, as one Faith administrator stated. (Faith Baptist Bible College)
A lifelong bachelor, Dr. Myron devoted his life to the academic study of theology. He graduated from nine different institutions of theological higher education. These schools represented not only his own fundamental, Baptist and dispensational views, but also the views held by the Grace Brethren, Methodism, confessional Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Roman Catholic Church. He also undertook arduous study of other theological perspectives.
For Dr. Myron, this was not merely an academic exercise. Rather, he aspired to be competent to provide—from direct testimony—an accurate representation of the best version of the view that any given theology had to offer. He believed that anything less than this approach was Biblically and academically unacceptable.
The idea that someone would be able to duplicate such an endeavor in today’s world seems, practically speaking, most unlikely. Dr. Myron also had the opportunity to attend schools such as Moody Bible Institute, Grace Theological Seminary and Dallas Theological Seminary at a time when he studied under many of the greats of a bygone era.
Yet Dr. Myron was not a dry or stuffy academic. He was, at heart, a preacher, and his preaching influenced me greatly. As I saw him at the lectern in seminary chapel with no notes, except for the writing and highlighting in his well-worn study Bible, his appeal as a communicator was most compelling. Everyone who sat there knew unmistakably that his was a model worthy of emulating.
He gave you that very same sense in his classes. Although he used notes there, his communication was still based around his Bible and his Greek New Testament, and you got the sense that if he were forced to lecture with nothing but those tools, he could teach in the most engaging way for an incredibly long time. (Sharper Iron)
- First of all, His love for Christ and His Word. He possessed an unquenchable thirst for the doctrines housed in the treasure house of Scripture. I used to tease him about “going heretical by degrees,” because he kept enrolling in other seminaries to learn their denominational theology firsthand. He did not want to err in representing the theology of anyone with whom he disagreed. Thus, he held a certificate in Orthodox Theology from St. Stephen’s, an M.L.A. from Southern Methodist University, an M.A. from St. Thomas Theological Seminary, and a Th.D. from Concordia Seminary. All of that in addition to his diploma from Moody Bible Institute, B.A. from Pillsbury College, B.D. from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Th.M. from Grace Theological Seminary (1968), and Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary (1971).
- Second, his personal warmth and godly transparency. Myron had a gentle spirit, even when he debated recalcitrant theologians or students. He had a disarming smile and a sincere humility. He also practiced a fervent generosity. On one occasion he remarked, “What else can I use money for, except maybe another favorite donut, which I obviously can live without?” From what I have heard of him at Faith, Myron continued to support many different individuals and causes when he became aware of a need.
- Third, Myron loved puns and was fun loving. When George came for a visit to Denver, he joined the faculty table at lunch with his brother and the two of them conducted an hour-long seminar in punning. We sat and listened to them regale us with their mastery of the English language and they even threw in a few puns from Greek and Latin to add to the celebration. It was my first opportunity to meet Myron’s brother, who had just published a book of the history of independent Baptists in America. At the time, George served as professor of Christian History at Dallas Theological Seminary. Myron also loved surprising students in the classroom with an occasional toy (like a sponge dart gun) to regain their wandering attention. (DrBarrick.org)
For a great summary of his life on the occasion of his retirement: DR. MYRON HOUGHTON: REGULAR BAPTIST THEOLOGIAN AND EDUCATOR.
A copy of his obituary is located here.
Here is the online version of his funeral.
Thank you Dr. Carson for sharing. It was always a joy and pleasure to learn from Dr. Houghton. What a great joy and pleasure it will be in eternity as we worship our Lord together!