John Wilson

P. C. Rossin Professor of Church History
Year started at PTS: 1984

Contact Info

jwilson@pts.edu
412-924-1391

Education

• Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School / Philosophical Theology, 1975 
• theol. habil., University of Basel / Modern Church History, 1983
• B.D., Drew University Theological School / Theology, 1967
• B.A., Emory University / Humanities, 1964

Bio

The Rev. Dr. John E. Wilson, P.C. Rossin Professor of Church History, has taught at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary since 1984. In 1999 he was named vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty and served in this capacity until June 2005. Before coming to Pittsburgh he was Privatdozent for Church History at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and a parish minister in the Swiss Reformed Church, where he was ordained to Word and Sacrament. His B.A. is from Emory University, his B.D. from Drew University Theological School, and his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School. He also has a habilitation in theology (theol. habil.) from the University of Basel. He was a visiting professor at the Protestant Theological Faculty of the University of Prague in 1996. Although he teaches all periods of church history, his main area of research is 19th century hermeneutics and religious thought. His books include: Introduction to Modern Theology; Schelling und Nietzsche; Schellings Mythologie; Heinrich W.J. Thiersch und sein Lehrer Schelling; and Gott, Mensch und Welt bei Franz Overbeck. He is also the translator of two works: Franz Overbeck, The Christianity of Theology; and Karl Barth, Early Preaching. He is married and has three adult children and three grandchildren.

Church Association

Ordination: Swiss Reformed Church Year, 1974 as Minister of Word and Sacrament

Professional Competencies

Areas of Specialty

•  19th century hermeneutics and religious thought

Awards/Fellowships/Distinctions

• 1964/65: Rockefeller Theological Fellow
• 1970-72: Assistant, Theological Faculty, University of Basel

Additional Resources

Complete CV
Publications
High res image
Chapel Audio 1
Chapel Audio 2
Chapel Audio 3
Chapel Audio 4