Mariano Avila

Professor of New Testament (2001)
B.A.Th. Licenciatura en Teología. (Seminario Teológico Juan Calvino, 1975)
M. Div. Licenciatura en Teología (Universidad Evangélica de las Américas, 2003)
Th.M. (Calvin Theological Seminary, 1980)
M.A. His. (Temple University, 1991)
Ph.D. (Westminster Theological Seminary, 1996)
Ph.D. (Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco, México)

Mariano Avila was born in México City, where he served as pastor of five Presbyterian churches. He has also served in the Seminary of the National Presbyterian Church as professor, academic dean, and president, and was professor of Biblical Studies at the Comunidad Teológica de México. He was Academic Dean of the Facultad Latinoamericana de Estudios Teológicos (Miami, Florida)., and is a member of the Academic Council of PRODOLA, the doctoral program (Ph.D.) for professors, leaders, and pastors in Latin America. For several years he was coordinator of urban ministries and theological adviser for World Vision México and for the Spanish ministry of CRC Publications. He was a member of the Biblical Translation Committee (International Bible Society) that produced the Nueva Versión Internacional and also he is one of the translators of the Traducción en Lenguaje Actual (United Bible Societies), a translation in contemporary Spanish from the original languages. Mariano's rich experience in field ministry and the academic world has equipped him to effectively train students for ministry:

"In my own experience as a pastor and educator and also in training others for ministry, I found that there are three sine qua non tools for a significant ministry in our complex world: a solid knowledge and love for Scriptures, a well articulated Reformed world and life view, and a good understanding of the cultural, social, and political realities we want to transform so that they may express Jesus' Lordship over all of creation. I am convinced that God's gifts to his Church are well equipped leaders who will lead and train God's people for service in a world that urgently needs salvation, justice, reconciliation, and shalom."

Mariano Avila is married to Rosa María and has two adult sons, Mariano III and Luis.

Speaking Topics (show | hide)

Christian Living:: Hospitality: Our Christian response to Immigrants; Hospitalidad: Nuestra respuesta cristiana ante los inmigrantes
New Testament:: The Message of Ephesians for Today; El mensaje de Efesios para las iglesias de hoy; Discipleship in the Gospel of Matthew for the Church today; El discipulado en el evangelio de Mateo y la iglesia actual
On Being Reformed:: The Latin American accent of our Reformed Identity; El acento latinoamericano de nuestra identidad Reformada
Worship:: A Biblical Perspective on Worship; Una perspectiva bíblica sobre la adoración cristiana

Curriculum Vitae (show | hide)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Home: 1804 Stilesgate St. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508
Office: 3233 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
Tel: Home: 616-514-5023, Office: 616-957-6934

PERSONAL:

Place and Date of birth: June 4, 1952, Mexico City. MEXICO.
Married to Rosa Maria Avila (December 1976)
Two sons: Mariano and Luis

DEGREES

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation. Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (1987-1996).
Dissertation: “Towards a Latin American Hermeneutics: A critical examination of the hermeneutics of the Latin American Theological Fraternity.” (1996)
Doctor in Social Sciences (Ph.D.) Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco, México D.F. México. (1995 to the present).
Dissertation: “The relations between Evangelical Churches and the Mexican State, since the 1992 Constitutional changes.”

ACADEMIC AND MINISTERIAL EXPERIENCE

1975-1978 Professor and President of the Instituto Biblico Abierto Reformado
1981-1987 Professor of Bible at the Seminario Teologico Presbiteriano de Mexico (STPM)
1983-1985 Academic Dean STPM
1986 Interim President of STPM
1986-1987 Coordinator Urban Ministries World Vision, Mexico
1991-1993 Academic Dean of Facultad Latinoamericana de Estudios Teologicos
1993-1996 Old and New Testament Professor in several Seminaries in México.
1994-1998 Translator for the United Bible Societies of the Biblia en Lenguaje Sencillo.
(Contemporary English Version). From the original languages (Daniel and Ezra,
Leviticus, Numbers, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah,
Ezekiel, Minor Prophets, Deuterocanonical Books, James and Jude.
1996-1998 Member of the Bible Translation Committee in the International Bible Society of
the Spanish New International Version: Nueva Versión Internacional.
1996-2003 Reviewer of the Nueva Biblia al Día (New Living Translation), OT books:
Leviticus,Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 1 and 2
Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs,
Ecclessiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezequiel, Daniel, Minor Prophets,
and all the NT.
2000– 2002 Contributor of the notes for 20 OT books for the Biblia
de Estudio (Study Bible), of the Nueva Versión Internacional.

August 2000- May 2001 Lecturer at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

August 2001- present Professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

PASTORAL EXPERIENCE

1972-1975 Pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana “Jesucristo”, Jojutla, Morelos, Mexico.
1976-1978 Pastor of Congregation “Ojo de Agua,” Mexico
1978-1980 Voluntary pastoral assistant, Iglesia Hispana CRC, Wyoming, Michigan.
1980-1983 Pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana “Berith,” Coyoacán, Mexico.
1983-1986 Pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana “Eben Ezer,” Mexico
1991-1993 Pastor of congregation “Jesucristo Viene,” Mexico
1993-1997 Pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana “Puerta de Salvación,” Mexico
1999-2000 Pastor of Iglesia Presbiteriana “El Redentor,” (PCA), Miami, Florida.

PUBLICATIONS:

Historia Social y Política de la Iglesia Evangélica en México. Kyrios: México, 1991.
La Comunidad en que Vivo. A Biblical Theological Study on Urban Ministry. FLET. Miami, 1992.
Análisis Exegético de los Evangelios. FLET, Universidad: Miami, 2000.
Principios de Exposición Bíblica. FLET, Universidad: Miami, 2002

REPRESENTATIVE ARTICLES:

“El salmo 46: Canto de Absoluta Confianza en Dios.” Revista Teológica, (Año VI, 1974,
Número 21:16-22, 46).
“El Reino del Ungido de Yahveh.” Revista Teológica, (Vol. IX, 1978, Número 31-32:68-76).
“Desarrollo de temas teológicos en el Evangelio de Mateo: La internacionalización del pueblo de
Dios: Particularismo-rechazo-universalismo.” Oikodomein Comunidad Teológica de
México, 1996, Año 2, 3:33-47.
“La vocación profética: Un acercamiento misionológico.” In Bases Bíblicas de la Misión.
Perspectivas Latinoamericanas. Nueva Creación: Buenos Aires y Grand Rapids, 1998.

MEMBERSHIP

Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana FTL (Latin American Theological Fraternity) (Since 1990).
President of the Mexican chapter of the FTL (1994-1995).
Institute of Biblical Research (IBR) (Since 2001).
Society of Biblical Literature (Since 2001).

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