Academics
THE REVEREND THOMAS N. BUCHAN III, PhD
tbuchan@nashotah.edu
(262)646-6521
MA, Wheaton College Graduate School; Theological Studies: Church History (1995)BA, Wheaton College; Biblical Studies: New Testament (1994)
Associate Professor of Church History
Called to ordained ministry in his teens, Fr. Thomas Buchan began an undergraduate degree in biblical studies with the intention of going on to seminary and the pastorate. Somewhat unexpectedly, a required course in historical theology awakened interests in the history of Christianity that would not abate. While completing his bachelor’s degree in biblical studieshe also began work on a master’s degree in church history. Later, as a doctoral student at Drew University, Fr. Buchan read widely in church history East and West, ancient and modern. He also contributed to several volumes of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (IVP), edited by Dr. Thomas C. Oden.
Fr. Buchan’s wide-ranging interests in church history were focused during his research at Drew, taking him on a journey through Latin, Greek, and finally Syriac Christianity. His dissertation, “Blessed Is He Who Has Brought Adam From Sheol”: The Doctrine of Christ’s Descent to theDead in the Theology of Saint Ephrem the Syrian was the first book-length treatment of the subject and was subsequently published by Gorgias Press (2004).
From 1998-2006, Fr. Buchan taught as an adjunct professor in the fields of church history and New Testament, as well as historical and systematic theology. He also worked as an editor for Gorgias Press and with Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute. In 2006, Fr. Buchan was appointed to the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He was ordained deacon and priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida in 2009. He began teaching in Nashotah House’s Distance Learning program in 2010 and was invited to join the residential faculty in the Spring of 2012.
Fr. Buchan’s academic interests include historiography, ancient Christian martyrdom and asceticism, the history of doctrines and practices of sanctification and holiness, Trinitarian theology, Christology, and the history of exegesis. He has published essays on biblical authority, “theosis” in Ephrem the Syrian, and the historical-theological method of John Wesley.
Fr. Buchan and his wife, Shelly, have two children. As a family, they enjoy hiking, biking, reading, and their dog, Trixie.
