Mark Dever on the PhD and the Pulpit: “On Having a Doctorate in the Pastorate”

Should a pastor have a PhD? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Mark Dever spoke on the assigned topic: “Why a PhD is Needed in the Pulpit” (mp3) but changed the title to “On Having a Doctorate in the Pastorate.” I outlined his brief remarks below and included some quotes from the questions and answers segment I found helpful.

Here’s the archive description: “Opening remarks and question/answer session conducted at the Feb. 27, 2002 meeting of the Graduate Club in the President’s Reception Room, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.”
Five Reasons a PhD May be Helpful for Pastoral Ministry

• It may be helpful for the matter of what you study. If you pick something you’re edified by it can assist and help your ministry.
• It may be helpful from the very form of the studies. Doctoral studies should improve your ability to research and at best your ability to think.
• It may be helpful for the ministry you have while you’re in your doctoral studies.
• It may be helpful for the connections you make through your studies. Consider the community and relationships you’ll build which may serve your ministry in the future.
• It may be helpful for the credibility you may have with non-Christians and carnal Christians and Christians you don’t know very well.

A PhD is Certainly Unnecessary for Pastoral Ministry

• Great learning can be ill-used.
• You can become prideful.
• You can do people little good – you may speak above people’s comprehension.
• Little learning can be well-used
• John Owen on John Bunyan – “If I could possess that tinker’s abilities for preaching I would most gladly relinquish all my learning.”

Conclusion: “Involvement in a good church is unquestionably far more helpful in the pastorate than a doctorate. But a doctorate can be useful in the pastorate. To say less would be misleading, but to say more, any more, would be false.”

For more of this post see Slavepj.com