When Robert Coughenour joined the faculty of Western Theological Seminary in 1975 to become the Cornelius Van der Meulen Professor of Old Testament, he was already a seasoned and successful teacher. Trained at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Western Reserve University, and Case Western Reserve University, he had been an instructor and assistant professor of Bible at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, from 1962-1969. In 1969 he moved to Hope College, Holland, Michigan, where as associate professor and professor of biblical studies, he taught for six years. There, among other honors, he was i.:hosen by the graduating class of 1974 to be the recipient of the annual H.O.P.E. (Hope's Outstanding Professor-Educator) Award. The shift from a liberal arts college to a theological seminary gave Robert the opportunity to move from Old and New Testament survey courses based on the English Bible to the more specialized teaching of Hebrew and exegetical courses which examined individual Old Testament books in thefr original language, together with the full range of traditional Old Testament subjects. There were still occasional forays into New Testament curriculum offerings, but his passion for his chosen discipline is unmistakable in these paragraphs from his pen: The church is impoverished to the extent that it ignores or gives short shrift to the language and literature of the Old Testament. Linguistic and literary competencies are essential as is research into the history and development of God's people. Not every person can or should be so equipped, but in the community of faith, a place must continue to be kept for such scholarship. Every classroom situation is simultaneously for information and inspiration, for the communication of the head and the heart, for rational analysis and compassionate synthesis…. I hear in the Old Testament, and earnestly desire to pass along, the richness of its diversity, the nuanced subtlety of its narrative, the earthiness and honesty of its humanity, the power of its ...