May 1, 2007
The community of Western Theological Seminary is mourning the death of Dr. James Ivan Cook, professor of New Testament from 1963-1995. His humility, vulnerability and life of grace touched the hearts, minds and souls of students, friends, congregations and colleagues, inspiring all to be genuine, kind and true in relationships.
“Over the weeks of his illness, Jim received hundreds of cards, emails, and other expressions of love,” says Western Seminary’s president, Dr. Dennis N. Voskuil. “I have never known anyone so loved and revered by such a wide variety of people. It is surely evidence of a life well lived to receive so much back at the end of one’s life.”
Vicky Menning, a friend, colleague, and former student of Jim Cook, said in a 2004 WTS Distinguished Alum tribute that a gentle and gracious spirit emanated from Jim Cook’s core. “In whatever role he fulfilled—proud grandparent, loving husband and father, loyal friend, fierce table tennis player, adept churchman, engaging teacher, lover of literature, music and drama, or compassionate pastor—he made life richer and brought God’s grace closer to all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
James Ivan Cook was born in 1925 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the fourth of five sons. He graduated from South High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College in 1948 after two and a half years in the army during World War II. He earned a Masters in English literature from Michigan State University in 1949, a Bachelor of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in 1952, and a Doctor of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1964. While attending Princeton, he, with his wife Jean, served the Blawenburg Reformed Church, Blawenburg, New Jersey as pastor from 1953-1963.
Dr. Cook taught generations of students as the Anton Biemolt Professor of New Testament at Western Seminary from 1963-1995 and continued to teach courses as needed until his last class in the Fall of 2004, “Christianity in Literature.” He gave his philosophy of teaching as, “I enjoy teaching that the Bible, like Jesus the living Word, is both human and divine; that the grace of God is the supreme miracle we are asked to believe; and that great literature is theologically rich and relevant.”
In the early 1980s, Dr. Cook served the Reformed Church in America as the vice president and president of General Synod. He chaired the Commission on Theology and edited two volumes of its papers (1959-84 and 1984-2000), published as part of the Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America. He also edited essays in honor of Lester J. Kuyper (Grace Upon Grace) and essays in honor of Richard C. Oudersluys (Saved by Hope) – two colleagues and theologians he greatly admired.
Perhaps his most beloved piece of writing is a little booklet called, Shared Pain and Sorrow: Reflections of a Secondary Sufferer, published in 1991. Many have received comfort and understanding for their own pain by reading Jim and Jean Cook’s experience of the suffering and death of their son Paul, taken by cancer as a young man.
Faith Link, a 1995 WTS graduate and pastor of Stanton Reformed Church in Stanton, NJ remembers how nervous she was the first day of Dr. Cook’s Greek class. Someone had told her he was a “legend”. “Over the years Dr. Cook proved to be just what that person whispered—a legend—but now fear doesn’t seize me when I hear or say it. Rather, my heart fills with joy,” she says with a smile. “It didn’t take long to learn that Dr. James I .Cook, the legend, wasn’t a legend because he could parse Greek words, preach on the Pauline Epistles or debate theologically. He was a legend because he embodied Christ’s Gospel, lived out his sermons, and knew in dealing with people that the correct word (in Greek or English) is always this: GRACE.”
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Jim Cook distinguished alum article:
http://wtseminary.gospelcom.net/pdf/commons/june2004.pdf
1995 retirement photo:
http://wtseminary.gospelcom.net/images/hr-JimC-bw.jpg
Other photo requests may be made to Carla Weese at carlaw@westernsem.edu
