Editing Stephen E. Robinson

{{Short description|American Mormon religious scholar}}
{{For|other people named Steve, Stephen or Steven Robinson|Steve Robinson (disambiguation)}}

'''Stephen Edward Robinson''' (May 23, 1947 &ndash; June 17, 2018) was a religious scholar and [[apologist]], who was a member of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church).

== Biography ==

Stephen E. Robinson was born and raised in Southern California (La Crescenta/La Canada) and served a two-year [[Missionary (LDS Church)|mission]] for the LDS Church in the Northern States [[Mission (LDS Church)|Mission]] (Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin). In 1972, he married Janet Bowen (B.A., B.S., CPA), and they have six children. He has been a member of the faculty at [[Brigham Young University]] (BYU) since 1986, and he was appointed chairman of the Department of Ancient Scripture there in 1990.  Robinson received a B.A. in English and Philosophy from the BYU Honors Program in 1971, graduating with "High Honors with Distinction."  He received a Ph.D. in [[Biblical Studies]] and Classics from [[Duke University]] in 1978, and was tenured at [[Lycoming College]] in 1984, after teaching religion there, at [[Hampden–Sydney College]], at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke.  Robinson also served as chairman of the Scholars Program, of the Religion Department, and of the Faculty Senate at Lycoming.<ref>Short author intro on page 134 of [[C. Wilfred Griggs]] edited, ''Apocryphal Writings and the Latter-day Saints'' (Provo: [[Religious Studies Center]], [[Brigham Young University]], 1986)</ref> He has published in scholarly venues such as the [[Society of Biblical Literature]], Revue de Qumran, [[the Coptic Encyclopedia]], Journal for the Study of Judaism, and the [[Anchor Bible Dictionary]]. Robinson also has several popular books, ''Are Mormons Christians?,'' ''Believing Christ'' (the "Best Book" Award-winner at ILDS Booksellers for 1995), ''Following Christ'' (the "Best Book" at ILDSB for 1996), and ''How Wide the Divide?'' (a "Best Book" Award-winner at ''[[Christianity Today]]'' in 1997).  He has received numerous awards for his research, teaching, and writing.<ref>[[Phi Kappa Phi]] National Honor Society, BYUSAA Teacher of the Year, March 1990, Deseret Book Excellence in Writing Award, January 1994, Independent LDS Booksellers Award for Best Book (''Believing Christ''), 1995, ILDSB Award for Best Doctrinal Book (''Believing Christ''), 1995, ILDS Award for Best Book (''Following Christ''), 1996, ILDSB Award for Best Doctrinal Book (''Following Christ''), 1996, ''Christianity Today'' Book Award “Top 25 Books in Religion” April 27, 1998, The Richard Lloyd Anderson Research Award, March 1999), [[Golden Key International Honour Society|Golden Key National Honor Society]] “Most Influential Teacher Award,” April 1998, Chi Gamma Lambda Comparative Literature Honor Society, “Literature Professor of the Year,” 2001</ref>  Robinson retired in 2012 and received ''emeritus'' status at BYU.

Besides his professional work in Biblical Studies, Robinson is also widely known for his ecumenical dialogue with non-Mormon scholars.  He was the first practicing Latter-day Saint to be tenured in Religion at a non-Mormon institution (Lycoming College).  Robinson and Craig Blomberg, an Evangelical New Testament scholar at the Denver Seminary, co-authored an important book on LDS/Evangelical relations entitled ''How Wide the Divide?'' (1997), which in turn led to an ongoing series of friendly and objective exchanges between LDS and traditional Christian scholars.

Robinson died June 17, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bergmortuary.com/obituaries/Stephen-Robinson-5/#!/Obituary|title=Stephen Edward Robinson - View Obituary & Service Information}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
In LDS circles, Robinson is generally considered to be orthodox and to have a reliable grasp of LDS doctrine.  He came to the center of a conflict between the [[Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies]] (FARMS) and Salt Lake City publisher [[Signature Books]], through his critical review of the writing of [[Dan Vogel]], by describing it as being patterned after the teachings of Korihor,<ref>{{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |title= The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture (by Dan Vogel, A review of) |url= http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=3&num=1&id=74 |journal= [[FARMS Review]] |volume= 3 |issue= 1 |pages= 312–318 |location= Provo, Utah |publisher= Maxwell Institute |year= 1991 |doi= 10.2307/44792683 |jstor= 44792683 |s2cid= 54906601 }}</ref> an atheist orator in the [[Book of Mormon]] ({{lds|Alma|alma|30}}). According to [[Daniel C. Peterson]], then editor of the ''FARMS Review'', FARMS tried to quiet down the counter-attack by Signature Books by emphasizing that Robinson's review was directed at the methodology of the writings and not the beliefs or character of the authors reviewed.<ref>{{citation |last= Peterson |first= Daniel C. |author-link= Daniel C. Peterson |title= Editor's Introduction: Questions to Legal Answers |url= http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=4&num=1&id=78 |journal= [[FARMS Review]] |volume= 4 |issue= 1 |pages= vii-lxxvi |location= Provo, Utah |publisher= Maxwell Institute |year= 1992 }} — Peterson's description of the controversy</ref>

==Bibliography==
;Books
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |year= 1982 |title= The Testament of Adam: an Examination of the Syriac and Greek Traditions |location= Chico, CA |publisher= Scholars Press |series= Dissertation series, [[Society of Biblical Literature]] (SBL), no. 52 |orig-year= 1978 |isbn= 0891303987 |oclc= 6087515}}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |title= Are Mormons Christians? |year= 1991 |location= Salt Lake City |publisher= [[Bookcraft]] |isbn= 088494784X |oclc= 23823658 |url= https://archive.org/details/aremormonschrist00step }}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |title= Believing Christ: The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News |year= 1992 |location= Salt Lake City, Utah |publisher= [[Deseret Book]] |isbn= 0875796346 |oclc= 26053779 |url= https://archive.org/details/believingchristp00robi_0 }}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |title= Following Christ: The Parable of the Divers and More Good News |year= 1995 |location= Salt Lake City |publisher= Deseret Book |isbn= 1573450596 |oclc= 32746801 }}
* {{Citation |last1= Blomberg |first1= Craig |author-link= Craig Blomberg |last2= Robinson |first2= Stephen E. |title= How Wide the Divide?: A Mormon & an Evangelical in Conversation |year= 1997 |location= Downers Grove, IL |publisher= [[InterVarsity Press]] |isbn= 0830819916 |oclc= 36059991 }}
* {{Citation |last1= Robinson |first1= Stephen E. |last2= Garrett |first2= H. Dean |title= A Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants |series= (4 volumes) |year= 2000–2005 |location= Salt Lake City |publisher= Deseret Book |isbn= 1573457841 |oclc= 44391467 }}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |title= You are Priceless: the parable of the bicycle |year= 2004 |location= Salt Lake City |publisher= Shadow Mountain |isbn= 1590383613 |oclc= 54988628 }}

;Other writings
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |title= The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture (by Dan Vogel, A review of) |url= http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=3&num=1&id=74 |journal= [[FARMS Review]] |volume= 3 |issue= 1 |pages= 312–318 |location= Provo, Utah |publisher= Maxwell Institute |year= 1991 |doi= 10.2307/44792683 |jstor= 44792683 |s2cid= 54906601 }}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1992/04/believing-christ?lang=eng |title= Believing Christ |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=April 1992 |page= 5 |publisher= LDS Church}}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |contribution= Doctrine: LDS Doctrine Compared With Other Christian Doctrines |contribution-url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/4391  |editor1-last= Ludlow |editor1-first= Daniel H |editor1-link= Daniel H. Ludlow |title= [[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]] |location= New York |publisher= [[Macmillan Publishing]] |year= 1992 |isbn= 0-02-879602-0 |oclc= 24502140 }}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |title= Nephi's "Great and Abominable Church" |url= http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=7&num=1&id=168 |journal= [[Journal of Book of Mormon Studies]] |volume= 7 |issue= 1 |pages= 32–39, 70 |location= Provo, Utah |publisher= [[Maxwell Institute]] |year= 1998 |doi= 10.2307/44759917 |jstor= 44759917 |s2cid= 191701954 }}
* {{Citation |last= Robinson |first= Stephen E. |author-mask= 2 |year= 2003 |contribution= Early Christianity and 1 Nephi 13-14 |url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/rsc/id/40996 |title= A Book of Mormon treasury: Gospel insights from general authorities and religious educators |location= Salt Lake City |publisher= [[Religious Studies Center]], Brigham Young University; Deseret Book |pages= 112–127 }}

==References==
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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Stephen E.}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:American historians of religion]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American Latter Day Saint writers]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University faculty]]
[[Category:Duke Divinity School alumni]]
[[Category:Historians of the Latter Day Saint movement]]
[[Category:Lycoming College faculty]]
[[Category:Mormon apologists]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saint biblical scholars]]
[[Category:Members of Phi Kappa Phi]]