Dan Olinger

"If the Bible is true, then none of our fears are legitimate, none of our frustrations are permanent, and none of our opposition is significant."

Dan Olinger

Chair, Division of Biblical Studies & Theology,

Bob Jones University

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On Retiring

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I’ve made the decision to retire. 

Over the years I’ve thought about when would be the best time to do that. My university turns 100 at Commencement 2027—just a couple of years away—and that would make sense. Shortly after that, after the fall semester in 2027, I would reach 50 official years of service, and that would make sense too. 

But in the last few years I’ve noticed that my ability to produce is declining. I have increasing difficulty hearing my students’ questions, especially when the air circulation fans are going, even though I have hearing aids—good ones—and wear them all the time. My eyesight is also getting fuzzier, even with glasses, and I have trouble recognizing my students even at a middling distance. I also have difficulty looking toward a light source—I noticed it first at night, and I even got a pair of those polarized yellow “sunglasses” that they advertise to people my age on social media. They help—at night—but they don’t really solve the problem. The other day a student greeted me in the hallway; he was standing in front of a window on a sunny day, and I called him by another student’s name, based on his blond hair; I couldn’t distinguish anything about his face. 

So my effectiveness as a teacher is being affected. I think my work is still good enough, but I can see the handwriting on the wall—if it’s big enough and isn’t right next to a window. Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin. 

As I’ve been meditating on these things, this year my university is needing to reduce its faculty count—which means that if I retire, that’s one less younger, highly qualified faculty member they’ll have to let go. 

My family’s financial situation is appropriate for retirement. 

I’m 70. 

It’s time. 

That decision brings with it a lot of contemplation and rememberizing, of course. I’ve been on the same campus for 52 years, and virtually every location brings back specific memories. 

Four years as an undergraduate, first in humanities (because I had no idea what I was doing) and then in Bible. Then I left, expecting to have to work for a year or two to earn money for graduate school. But exactly in the middle of the summer, I got a letter from the famed and sometimes feared Dr. Guenter Salter, Dean of the College of Arts and Science, offering me a grad assistantship in English. (That actually makes more sense than it may sound. Freshman English was 2 semesters of grammar and composition, and as a Greek minor, I had more grammar than the English majors, who spent a lot of their time in literature.) 

So five years as a GA, learning the terminology of English grammar rather than Greek—I learned that a “gerund” is just a substantival use of the participle—grading freshman themes, doing some lecturing, and taking 90 hours of Seminary work for a PhD. Then 19 years on staff at the University Press, as an editor (thanks to all those freshman themes), then an author, then an authors’ supervisor, and finally, briefly, manager of strategic planning. 

Toward the end of those 19 years I began to get restless. I was using the PhD skills to some extent, but not to their fullest; my responsibilities included a lot of other stuff too. The Bible faculty was solid and stable. 

One day I thought, maybe I should go teach someplace else. 

The next day Dr. Bob Bell, the Seminary’s curriculum rabbi, stopped me at lunch and asked if I was interested in teaching. 

Sure was. So 25 years on the faculty, eventually settling into 18 years as the chair of the undergrad division, working under and alongside remarkable, godly, competent men and women. 

That makes 53 years here, with 47.5 years of official employment. (Undergrad doesn’t count, and GA years get half credit.) 

It is enough, in the most positive sense of that clause. The Lord gives good gifts to his people, and he gives them abundantly. 

So what’s next? 

Don’t know. I’ve done some thinking about it, but I haven’t finalized my priorities yet. Here’s a start: 

  1. Enjoy a more flexible time with my wife, and stay out of her way :-) when appropriate. 
  1. Spend time with our grandson, who lives in town. 
  1. Exercise faithfully. 
  1. Offer my skills at BJU and at church, as desired and appropriate. 
  1. Leverage my flexible schedule for other kinds of service as they may come up. 
  1. Keep the mind sharp, as much as possible. My Dad presented with dementia at 85, so I’ll be keeping an eye on the passage of time. I suppose I could do that in a couple of ways—

a. Read, read, read. Especially long reads. And stuff I’m not already familiar with. New things.

b. Write. Got a few ideas, but nothing firm. FWIW, I do intend to continue the blog on its current schedule.

I even told ChatGPT to read my blog site and suggest possible retirement activities. It came up with a few ideas that I hadn’t. 

So we’ll see how it goes, and we’ll revel in the flexibility. 

Hallelujah, in its original sense. 

Photo by Stefan Steinbauer on Unsplash

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Comments

  1. You will love retirement! Thought I would work until I was 70, but like you, I recognized that my productivity, abilities, and edge were declining. I also noticed that the joy of my work wasn’t the same. God worked out the details. You will continue to minister in new ways and find enjoyment in other activities. Praying for you!

  5. Congrats on your retirement. I turn 70 next month and I’ve been retired for 2.5 years. It is a great new job. We watch 2 of our grandchildren 3 days each week. Keeps us young. Enjoy your health while you have it. Take care, brother!

  6. You will love it. I’ve been out for almost three years and it has been great. Yes, opportunities will come your way—in my case, teaching one morning a week at the Haven of Rest Ladies’ Ministry (Anderson’s version of Miracle Hil), as well as other things—but it’s the flexibility that makes retirement so nice. DIL has a minor family emergency? Sure, we can keep the baby this afternoon. Church friend is sick? I’ve got time to make her a meal. Plus I’ve had time to do writing of my own.
    Anyway—just want you to know of the great pluses even as it seems like a great unknown!
    PS—Yes, please stay out of your wife’s way. 😀

  7. Jeff and I are at a stage in our lives where much of what we do involves mentoring and one on one discipling. It is a bit bittersweet to be working ourselves out of a job, but it’s what we are called to do. I pray you finish well and that you’ll find joy and amazement in your new opportunities. You have so much left to share! Acts 20:20-21 “I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either. publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike- the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” Paul’s good bye message to the Ephesian elders. Keep telling the “one message’ in new locations and to new faces!

  8. Congratulations on your retirement. As a freshman student you invested in my life and have always continued in impacting others for eternity as well as daily life. To God be the glory.

  9. Dr. O, thank you for your investment in my academic life. My favorite memory of you is the day you allowed me to share with the entire Systematic Theology class that my first niece had been born. That niece just celebrated her 11th birthday as a missionary kid in PNG. Your class was challenging and inspiring. God bless you.

  10. Dan – you are an amazing, capable teacher. You have been and continue to be a friend I greatly admire. And most of all, you have modeled to many of us what a good, humble servant of Jesus should be. Thank you! And may you enjoy God’s rich blessing in the days ahead.

  12. Bravo on an amazing career. Here’s hoping you will continue your online contacts, do some meaningful reading and writing, and….who knows?….hopefully there will be another Fezziwig dance or two before you shut down the theatre branch of your career!

  13. I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I took your Doctrines class a little less than 15 years ago and loved it. Love following along on your blog and this retirement announcement was refreshing to read! Congratulations and wish you all the best in retirement. Thank you for your many years of service and impact on student lives!

  14. Congratulations! You have been faithful and there’s something very enjoyable about seeing the fruits of your ministry at work serving our Christ! Enjoy! Grace to you!

  15. I am sure they are sad to see you go! Your family had such an impact on me while I lived in Greenville. Praying that retirement will be your richest season yet!! 🙏🏼 You’ve got a destination in PA if you and the Mrs. ever want to skip town. ☺️

  17. With much respect for your work in several of your areas of skill, I’m sad to see this, but glad you can retire and enjoy a different pace of activity! God bless you, our friend.

  18. Glad and sad to hear. I remember our days in freshman English, the travel back and forth across the country, and how I admired you for your dedication to your students. Your blog has often inspired me, convicted me, and made me think in ways I hadn’t before. How did life go by so fast?

  20. I enjoyed reading your blog. I just retired at the first of the year myself at age 70, and after 48 years of full time ministry. I certainly went through the same thoughts and emotions that you did. It still fills weird especially on Sunday mornings. Enjoy your retirement, I remember sitting in Greek together.

  22. I have enjoyed reading your blog over the years. You have a solid understanding of so many biblical concepts. I pray that The Lord will guide you to find the activities best suited for someone with your skill level.

  24. Congratulations. I’ve appreciated your ministry even though I haven’t always read your blog faithfully. I always enjoy what I read though. Looking forward to seeing how God uses you going forward!

  25. Thank you for your stimulating blogs. Though we have never met, you have helped and challenged me. I’ve used some of your material as a resource, looked up a number of the reference materials you cited . Redirection rather than retirement is the way I faced sudden employment changes at 57 and now at 71 I can say the Lord was gracious and opened new doors for His service.

  27. Dr Dan: Congrats! You have been faithful, and God is faithful. The best advice I got before retiring was “take a sabbatical” (or gap year, or whatever). As a planner, I wanted to know exactly what retirement was going to look like. Letting my field lay fallow (I only managed 6 months 🤷‍♂️) lifted a lot of “what will I do?” pressure. And, as expected, God has opened doors (and kicked me through them) in ways I could not have seen when I was passing through the retirement portal. FWIW. God bless. dph

  29. Thanks for sharing the news Danny, and congratulations on a full and blessed career with BJU, faithfully serving our Lord. I still have a few years before I’m ready financially so I continue to work, but I enjoyed your insight into future plans and activities. I pray our Lord continues to bless you and use you in whatever His plan is for you. Blessings my friend.

  32. Dan

    I understand the decision but know you will be missed as a most gifted teacher and friend. I hope we can keep up with our annual trip to the ballpark and maybe find time more frequent conversations.

    Al

  33. Thanks Dan for your ministry in my life as my dissertation committee chairman. You were a blessing to me. May God bless you in this next phase of ministry.

  35. I vote for Dr Olinger to again teach adult Sunday school. Best teacher ever to a packed audience. Insights, wisdom, patience and brilliance.

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