The Sunday Story | Dr. Roger Greene to Retire After 46 Years
One of Mississippi College's most established & impactful Christian Studies professors is entering retirement.
Dr. Roger Greene has spent the majority of his working years as a professor of Christian Studies at Mississippi College, having worked at MC longer than any of the other professors currently in the Department of Christian Studies and the Arts. From Louisiana, Greene joined the staff at Mississippi College in 1979, and completed his bachelor’s degree at Louisiana Tech University before finishing his Masters of Divinity and Ph.D at Southern Theological Seminary.
Greene’s favorite part of working at MC is teaching students who want to learn about the Bible. He loves when students take their education seriously and enjoys watching them develop throughout their time in college. The most rewarding part of his job is having students return years later to say thank you for his classes and instruction.
“I watch them develop through their four years here,” Greene said. “And I’m proud to have students working around the world now. I have invested my time in students and their learning. Those who come back five, ten, fifteen, twenty years later and thank me for what they learned in my classes, that’s been very rewarding.”
Greene aims to live his life according to his favorite verse Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (NIV). He urges students to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way because there is no guarantee that it will come again.
“What sets Dr. Greene apart is that he challenges students to question and find out for themselves what scripture says,” J.M. Holmes, a junior at MC, said in a written response. “He sees what students are capable of, maybe even before they do, and pushes them to a high standard.”
He has authored four books on the Apostle Paul: The Ministry of Paul the Apostle: History and Redaction, A Theology of Paul the Apostle, Part One Paul’s Eschatological Gospel, A Theology of Paul the Apostle , Part Two: Cross and Atonement, and Imagine Paul: Apostle of God. He has also written a Greek grammar book that he teaches from in his Greek classes.
“In recent years, I have written a lot of poetry and written some music, although I’m not a musician per se,” Greene said. “I’ve turned the poetry into music, hymns, and hope to continue doing that.”
Greene has led numerous groups from both the community and MC to the Mediterranean where they have visited Israel, Greece, and Turkey. In his free time, he raises guppies and enjoys listening to old rock music and instrumental hymns.
“My freshman year, I had the privilege of being advised by him,” Holmes said. “I was a little unsure and overwhelmed but he was able to provide me with a clear sense of purpose and direction, letting me know that if there is anything I needed, I could come to him. This was my first glimpse of what an incredibly Christ-centered campus Mississippi College is.”
In May, Greene will retire after completing his 46th year as a professor. Although he will not return as a full time professor, he will continue to teach as an adjunct professor for the Department of Christian Studies and the Arts.
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