Life Imitating Life

Youthworks lecturer in Greek and the New Testament Viv Cheung recently graduated with her PhD-four years and 100,000 words after she started.

The PhD is titled Called “My People” by God's Sovereign Grace: The Calling Motif in Romans.

A summary of her work is that in Romans, Paul uses the language of calling to denote God's naming of those who are not His people as His people. This is in fulfilment of Old Testament promises.

Its key message is that according to Paul ‘calling’ is about identity formation-God’s naming a person His child. And that this is actually the core of your being.

Furthermore, she says God has named you His child: “The question then becomes how does that impact your everyday decisions? How does this impact your life now?

“Calling and vocation are important for young people as they make decisions. I’m lecturing to equip kids and youth ministers as they teach kids and youth. Not only does the topic of calling apply to the kids but it also applies to our students in their decisions.”

Viv says that even though her work exists on that academic level, investigating Romans’ theology, it necessarily impacts our practice and our lives.

She has been able to incorporate her PhD study into her teaching almost immediately. It is informing her lecturing on the New Testament.

“Having a better understanding of Paul and his theology is amazing,” she says. “I can give depth where deeper thinking is required. ”

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