Faculty Update: Professor Levi Berntson, Ph.D.

Posted On December 20, 2024

Rev. Levi Berntson, RBC’s assistant professor of theology, recently obtained his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the University of Aberdeen. We asked him to reflect on the challenges, insights, and joys of pursuing his doctorate.

What inspired you to pursue a Ph.D.?

I grew up on a farm in North Dakota, and throughout those years I developed a great love for listening to preachers and programs while I did my work, including Renewing Your Mind. Over time, I began to discern a call to ministry in some capacity, and as I continued through college and seminary, I grew more and more to love the academic study of God’s Word. Not only this, but many mentors, professors, and friends whom I greatly respected and admired had pursued advanced degrees, and I came to believe that it would be a necessary part of God’s calling for my life.

How did your experience at the University of Aberdeen shape your academic journey?

I completed my undergraduate degree at John Witherspoon College, a small Christian liberal arts college, and my seminary training at Reformed Theological Seminary. Both institutions were tremendous, and I am deeply grateful for the training I received. My education at Aberdeen was tremendous as well, but in a different way. Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is one of the oldest English-speaking universities in the world, and it remains a top-ranked institution for theological studies. My peers, supervisor, and examiners were not from my same theological circles, and so this experience drove me to deeper thought and precision as I interacted with them. I am thankful for the unique challenge that this posed and the experience that I have as a result.

Can you share about a memorable or challenging moment from your studies?

The most memorable part of the degree was a research trip that I was able to take to Europe during the course of my program. Though I already had access to a plentitude of sources here in the U.S., there were rare primary source works that I needed to track down overseas. I spent a few weeks living at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland (as well as Glasgow and Edinburgh) studying Latin texts from the late seventeenth century. I also traveled in the Netherlands through Leeuwarden and Franeker searching for and discovering rare works in the libraries there.

What influenced your choice of dissertation topic?

My research concentrated on Reformed theology during the early period of the Enlightenment. I focused specifically on subjects of reason, revelation, and God in the theology of the Dutch theologian Campegius Vitringa (1659–1722) and sought to use him to help describe the rest of the Reformed tradition at that time. I chose this topic not only because of my interest in this unique period of history, but especially because I wanted my doctoral work to provide a thorough foundation for me in theology’s first principles.

“Dr. Berntson’s scholarly achievement exemplifies the commitment to theological fidelity and academic excellence that we strive for at RBC. Our students are already benefiting from the first fruits of his research with the recent publication of his translation of The Fundamentals of Sacred Theology. We congratulate Dr. Berntson on this milestone and look forward to seeing how his work will continue to serve the church and the academy.” —Dr. John Tweeddale, Vice President of Academics

What did you find most rewarding about the research and writing process?

One of the most rewarding parts of my studies at Aberdeen has been how much guidance I have received in academic writing. My thesis supervisor, Paul Nimmo, dutifully read many chapter drafts from me, and he was always willing to give me his honest feedback. I remember in one place, he praised a particular paragraph for its eloquence. But, in the next section, he wrote, “This paragraph is not worthy of a dissertation.” Honest but insightful feedback was always something I appreciated from him! Another rewarding part of my studies is my increased reading fluency in Latin. Most of the primary sources in my thesis are untranslated Latin texts, which means that I spent years pouring over these works in great detail. At present, I have loved putting my Latin to good use here at RBC as I teach our Latin courses.

How do you hope your Ph.D. will benefit your students and RBC as a whole?

In one sense, having a Ph.D. doesn’t change a thing; I look forward to continuing to serve the students of RBC and the church by teaching the Word of God faithfully. In another sense, the completion of this degree opens new professional opportunities for me as I continue to research, teach, and write. As one of my professors used to say, a Ph.D. is really a “learning certificate,” and I intend to make good use of this certificate.

Who has supported or encouraged you along the way?

I am so thankful for my wife, Jordan, and my daughter, Thea Felicity, who were my closest and constant supports over the past couple of years. I’m also very grateful for the staff and faculty of RBC, all of whom were extremely supportive through this very busy season. And I cannot neglect to mention that my students at RBC have continued to express their prayerful encouragement through my journey. I cannot underemphasize how important the encouragement of family, friends, colleagues, and students has been to me.

What’s next for you in terms of academic or personal goals?

What’s next? More teaching and more writing! I currently have two books under contract that I am very much looking forward to continuing to write: *A Latin Reader of Theology *(Zondervan) and How Firm a Foundation: The Preservation of Scripture in Historical, Biblical, and Theological Perspective (Mentor). I’m also working on several articles and book chapters, as well as starting the process of publishing my thesis. Finishing my Ph.D. is not the end of my work, but—Lord willing—only the beginning.

“It has been a delight to have Professor Levi Berntson on our faculty here at RBC. He has demonstrated his love for God, for teaching here at RBC, and for the students. He’s also demonstrated a high capacity for scholarship. On behalf of all of RBC, congratulations, Dr. Berntson.” —Dr. Stephen Nichols, President