Dr. Alexander Pierce found his calling to theological education confirmed while teaching the Gospel of Mark to African refugees in Athens, Greece. With a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and dual degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, he serves as Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at the North American Lutheran Seminary and General Editor of Word & Sacrament Magazine. His passion is enriching the lives and ministries of future pastors with the insights of the catholic faith, especially the early Christian witness and Lutheran tradition. Studying in evangelical and Roman Catholic institutions fostered an ecumenical spirit in him that yearns for Christian unity.
Dr. Pierce provides robust theological education that invites students into a journey of seeking the face of God. Known for demanding academic rigor, he prays it also stimulates in students a greater desire to know and love God and their neighbors. He teaches the history and theology of the catholic faith and confessional Lutheranism to form pastors committed to contemplating the deep things of God, faithfully caring for souls, building up Christ's Church, and proclaiming the Gospel.
He is grateful for Trinity's commitment to spiritual formation in tight-knit community. With his family, he enjoys traveling, playing games, doing puzzles, and solving murder mysteries. For quieter pleasure, he enjoys fishing and reading. He roots for Minnesota's Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves, and Twins (a form of mortification) and cheers for the Notre Dame Irish. GO IRISH!
Dr. Pierce’s research focuses on the early Church, its theological reflection, biblical exegesis, and spirituality. One area of particular interest to Dr. Pierce concerns the relationships of Christians to one another (e.g., in church councils, friendship, or theological controversies) and to those outside the Church (e.g., use of philosophy, apologetics). Along these lines, he has co-authored a small book—Why Does Friendship Matter? (Lexham Press)—outlining the value of a classical, Christian approach to friendship. He is also interested in the historical development of theological traditions and their later reception, especially the Augustinian tradition and its reception within medieval scholasticism and the Lutheran Reformation. Dr. Pierce has contributed to several peer-reviewed academic journals such as Augustinian Studies, Journal of Early Christian Studies, Church History, and Pro Ecclesia. Presently, he is in the process of revising his dissertation, Augustine’s Theology of the Sacramental Economy, for publication and working on two translation projects: (1) church councils in Roman Africa (345–427) and (2) the extant fragment of Origen’s Commentary on Genesis. Dr. Pierce is excited to explore connections between the Lutheran Reformation and the apostolic faith in which it was rooted.
Trinity is to be an evangelical seminary in the Anglican tradition. To this end we develop Christian leaders who can plant, renew, and grow churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ.
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