Paul the apostle and distance educator: Ancient pedagogy for the pandemic era

Abstract

Perceptions about remote theological education inevitably cluster around questions of embodiment, community, and unity. The letters of the apostle Paul have quite a bit to say about these themes. This essay examines Paul's treatment of distance in the formation and education of Christians, focused around the image of the “body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians and the “presence” of Paul's absence through his letter-writing. Reflecting on distance education with reference to Paul's Corinthian correspondence proves useful in developing a biblical and theological grammar for understanding remote formation, including an alternative to traditional theological anthropology. The 2020–2022 global pandemic has underscored the importance and urgency of developing such a reassessment of theological formation. Following the lessons learned from Paul as distance educator, the essay concludes with a series of questions for institutions to ask themselves as they seek a way forward in the pandemic era.