Obituary of Richard Norman Longenecker
Richard N. Longenecker died on June 7, 2021 (born July 21, 1930), slipping away without discomfort. The son of Ward and Ruth Longenecker, Richard grew up in Indiana and attended Wheaton College (B.A. 1953, Archaeology and History; M.A. 1956, Theology), where he met Frances Lee Wilson, his life partner to whom he was unendingly devoted (married from August 1955 until her death on October 16, 2016). His Ph.D. (from the University of Edinburgh, 1959) resulted in the publication of his first book, Paul Apostle of Liberty (1964). He held positions at Wheaton College and Graduate School (1954-57; 1960-63); Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1963-72); Wycliffe College (Toronto, 1972-94, from which he received an honorary doctorate in 1996); University of St. Michael’s College (Toronto, 1976-78); and McMaster Divinity College (Hamilton, 1994-2001).
He prioritized his teaching over the years, and took great pride in his work with graduate students, many of whom have gone on to lead lives of significance in the academy and the church. Academically he wrote seven monographs, two major commentaries, and about fifty articles — also editing or co-editing eight books. In Paul Apostle of Liberty he took positions that would only later become mainstream in academic scholarship — such as the covenantal character of Jewish obedience to the Torah, and the importance to Paul’s theology of the phrase “the faithfulness of Christ.” Other important books include his commentary on Galatians (1990), Introducing Romans (2011) and his commentary on Romans (2016). He is survived by his three children, Beth (and Larry Lougheed), David (and Judy Au), and Bruce (and Fiona Bond).
