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'''Norman Walker Porteous''' (9 September 1898 &ndash; 3 September 2003) was a noted [[theology|theologian]] and writer on [[Old Testament]] issues, and the last surviving [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] of [[World War I|the First World War]].<ref name =scotsmanobit/>ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030912/ai_n12709475/pg_1 Online obituary, ''The Independent'']</ref>
He was one of the panel of translators of the ''[[New English Bible]]''<ref name =scotsmanobit> [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-rev-professor-norman-porteous-755463.html Obituary, ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 9 September 2003] </ref> and latterly Dean of the [[University of Edinburgh]], where he was also Senior ''Professor Emeritus'';<ref name =scotsmanobit/> he may also have been its oldest graduate.
'''Norman Walker Porteous''' (9 September 1898 in Haddington, [[East Lothian]], Scotland &ndash; 3 September 2003 in Edinburgh, Scotland) was a noted [[theology|theologian]] and writer on [[Old Testament]] issues, and the last surviving [[Officer (armed forces)|military officer]] of [[World War I|the First World War]].<ref name =independent>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-rev-professor-norman-porteous-755463.html Obituary], ''[[The Independent]]'', 12 September 2003</ref>


==Education==
Porteous entered the [[University of Edinburgh]] as first [[bursar]] in 1916, but his studies were interrupted by World War I service in [[France]], where he served as a subaltern in the 13th (Service) Battalion, The [[Royal Scots]].<ref name =scotsmanobit/>
Porteous entered the [[University of Edinburgh]] as first [[bursar]] in 1916, but his studies were interrupted by World War I service in [[France]], where he served as a subaltern in the 13th (Service) Battalion, The [[Royal Scots]].<ref name =scotsmanobit/>


He graduated from the University with first class honours in Classics in 1922.<ref name =scotsmanobit/> After time spent studying and teaching in [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]] and [[Germany]],<ref name =scotsmanobit/> he rejoined the University in 1935 when he was appointed to the Chair of Old Testament Language, Literature and Theology.<ref name =scotsmanobit/>
He graduated from the university with first class honours in Classics in 1922.<ref name =scotsmanobit/> After time spent studying and teaching in [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]] and [[Germany]],<ref name =scotsmanobit/> he rejoined the university in 1935 when he was appointed to the Chair of Old Testament Language, Literature and Theology.<ref name =scotsmanobit/> In 1954, Porteous was president of the [[Society for Old Testament Study]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/sep/12/guardianobituaries.obituaries1|title=The Rev Prof Norman Porteous|last=Auld|first=Graeme|date=2003-09-12|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-02-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


==Early career==
In 1937 he was appointed to the Chair of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Semitic languages|Semitic Languages]].<ref name =scotsmanobit/> He was Principal of [[New College, Edinburgh|New College]] and also Dean of the Faculty<ref name =independent/> from 1964 until his retirement in 1968.<ref name =scotsmanobit/> He was commissioned into the Edinburgh University [[Officers' Training Corps]] in 1941, but resigned his commission as a [[Lieutenant]] in 1945.
In 1937 Porteous was appointed to the Chair of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Semitic languages|Semitic Languages]] at the University of Edinburgh.<ref name =scotsmanobit/> He was Principal of [[New College, Edinburgh|New College]] and also Dean of the Faculty<ref name =independent/> from 1964 until his retirement in 1968.<ref name =scotsmanobit/> He had been commissioned into the Edinburgh University [[Officers' Training Corps]] in 1941, but resigned his commission as a [[Lieutenant]] in 1945.


==Contributions==
Porteous died, having achieved [[centenarian]] status, at almost 105.
Norman Porteous was one of the panel of translators of the ''[[New English Bible]]''<ref name =scotsmanobit>[http://news.scotsman.com/obituaries/Norman-Porteous.2460141.jp Obituary], ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 9 September 2003</ref> and latterly Dean of the [[University of Edinburgh]], where he was also Senior ''Professor Emeritus'';<ref name =scotsmanobit/> he may also have been its oldest graduate.

In 1965, Porteous postulated that an anonymous writer wrote the [[Book of Daniel]] during the persecution under [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]]. According to this theory the anonymous author attributed events that were witnessed by this writer in the 2nd century BCE to Daniel as prophecies.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Redditt|first=Paul L.|title=Daniel: based on the New Revised Standard Version|author-link=Paul L. Redditt|year=1999|publisher=[[Sheffield Academic Press]]|location=Sheffield|isbn=978-1-84127-009-8|page=102}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|editor-last1=Longman|editor-first1=Tremper III|editor1-link=Tremper Longman|editor-last2=Garland|editor-first2=David E.|editor2-link=David E. Garland|title=Daniel-Malachi|year=2009|publisher=[[Zondervan]]|location=Grand Rapids, Mich.|isbn=978-0-310-26893-2|edition=Rev. |page=115}}</ref> [[Paul Roche]] agreed with Porteous.<ref name = "Tyndale, 352">{{harvnb|Tyndale|2001|p=352}}</ref> since the writer's incomplete and erroneous view of historical details in the second half of the sixth century support the theory of a late date of writing.<ref name = "Tyndale, 352"/> Porteous and Roche agree that the book is composed of [[Folklore|folktale]]s used to fortify the Jewish faith during a time of persecution and oppression by the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenized Seleucids]] four centuries after the [[Babylonian captivity]].<ref name="Roche, 342">{{Cite book|last=Roche|first=Paul|title=The Bible's greatest stories|year=2001|publisher=New American Library|location=New York|isbn=978-0-451-52821-6|page=342}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Porteous|first=Norman W.|title=Daniel : a commentary|author-link=Norman Porteous|year=1965|publisher=[[Westminster John Knox Press|Westminster Press]]|location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-0-664-22317-5|page=88}}</ref>

==Death==
Porteous died at the age of 104.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article1158990.ece The Times]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Authority control}}
==See also==
* [[Veterans of the First World War who died in 2003]]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Porteous, Norman Walker
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 9 September 1898
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 3 September 2003
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porteous, Norman Walker}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porteous, Norman Walker}}
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1898 births]]
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[[Category:Royal Scots officers]]
[[Category:Officers' Training Corps officers]]
[[Category:Officers' Training Corps officers]]
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[[Category:British educators]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British theologians]]
[[Category:British theologians]]
[[Category:English centenarians]]
[[Category:Scottish men centenarians]]
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[[Category:British men centenarians]]

[[Category:People from Haddington, East Lothian]]

[[Category:Presidents of the Society for Old Testament Study]]
{{UK-theologian-stub}}
{{Christian-theologian-stub}}
{{UK-army-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 03:06, 10 December 2024

Norman Walker Porteous (9 September 1898 in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland – 3 September 2003 in Edinburgh, Scotland) was a noted theologian and writer on Old Testament issues, and the last surviving military officer of the First World War.[1]

Education

[edit]

Porteous entered the University of Edinburgh as first bursar in 1916, but his studies were interrupted by World War I service in France, where he served as a subaltern in the 13th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Scots.[2]

He graduated from the university with first class honours in Classics in 1922.[2] After time spent studying and teaching in Oxford, St Andrews and Germany,[2] he rejoined the university in 1935 when he was appointed to the Chair of Old Testament Language, Literature and Theology.[2] In 1954, Porteous was president of the Society for Old Testament Study.[3]

Early career

[edit]

In 1937 Porteous was appointed to the Chair of Hebrew and Semitic Languages at the University of Edinburgh.[2] He was Principal of New College and also Dean of the Faculty[1] from 1964 until his retirement in 1968.[2] He had been commissioned into the Edinburgh University Officers' Training Corps in 1941, but resigned his commission as a Lieutenant in 1945.

Contributions

[edit]

Norman Porteous was one of the panel of translators of the New English Bible[2] and latterly Dean of the University of Edinburgh, where he was also Senior Professor Emeritus;[2] he may also have been its oldest graduate.

In 1965, Porteous postulated that an anonymous writer wrote the Book of Daniel during the persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to this theory the anonymous author attributed events that were witnessed by this writer in the 2nd century BCE to Daniel as prophecies.[4][5] Paul Roche agreed with Porteous.[6] since the writer's incomplete and erroneous view of historical details in the second half of the sixth century support the theory of a late date of writing.[6] Porteous and Roche agree that the book is composed of folktales used to fortify the Jewish faith during a time of persecution and oppression by the Hellenized Seleucids four centuries after the Babylonian captivity.[7][8]

Death

[edit]

Porteous died at the age of 104.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Obituary, The Independent, 12 September 2003
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Obituary, The Scotsman, 9 September 2003
  3. ^ Auld, Graeme (12 September 2003). "The Rev Prof Norman Porteous". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  4. ^ Redditt, Paul L. (1999). Daniel: based on the New Revised Standard Version. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-84127-009-8.
  5. ^ Longman, Tremper III; Garland, David E., eds. (2009). Daniel-Malachi (Rev. ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan. p. 115. ISBN 978-0-310-26893-2.
  6. ^ a b Tyndale 2001, p. 352
  7. ^ Roche, Paul (2001). The Bible's greatest stories. New York: New American Library. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-451-52821-6.
  8. ^ Porteous, Norman W. (1965). Daniel : a commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-664-22317-5.
  9. ^ The Times[dead link‍]
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