Educating Engineering Epistles

Joseph P. Driewer

Keywords: christian engineering education

TL;DR: The paper argues that the biblical concept of living letters can inform our perspective on educating engineers at Christian colleges.

Abstract: The letter has a long history as a technology for correspondence. Yet while letter materials and methods of production have changed, perhaps a constant has been the fact that the letter establishes the presence of an author in another location. In 2 Corinthians 3:1–3, the Apostle Paul employs a letter metaphor to defend his teaching. In the ancient world, teachers and officials often demonstrated their credibility through letters of reference (cf. Acts 9:2; 22:5). Paul, however, claims that his credentials are not written on paper but embodied in the Corinthians themselves, living epistles that publicly testify to the authenticity of his message. This paper explores how the concept of living epistles can inform and encourage our teaching at Christian colleges and universities. Through biblical exegesis and connection to literature, this work suggests three key insights for Christian engineering education. First, it keeps at the foreground the main goal of the education, contributing to the development of living epistles. Second, it underscores the sending role we have as educators, who contribute to the ongoing “delivery” of letters into the world. Finally, and specific to engineering education, the letter metaphor invites us to reflect on what, exactly, engineers trained at Christian colleges and universities communicate and how those living letters are read as our engineers serve in various contexts. In this way, the letter metaphor provides an encouraging framework for reimagining our work as engineering educators.

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Submission Number: 12