Martens, Elmer A. (1930-2016)

Elmer A. Martens (1930-2016)

Elmer Arthur Martens: scholar, teacher, administrator, churchman, and pastor; born 12 August 1930 in Main Centre, Saskatchewan, Canada, the eldest of four children of Jacob H. Martens (25 July 1904, Petrovka, Naumenko, South Russia – 19 August 1980, Swift Current, Saskatchewan) and Susanna (Nickel) Martens (18 December 1904, Springfeld, Saskatchewan – 2 January 1998, Herbert, Saskatchewan). Elmer married Phyllis Jean Hiebert (15 July 1928, Mountain Lake, Minnesota, USA – 1 October 2016, Fresno, California, USA), daughter of John N. C. Hiebert (1904-1956) and Anna Luetta (Jungas) Hiebert (1906-1997) on 24 August 1956 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Elmer and Phyllis had four children: Lauren, Frances, Vernon, and Karen. Elmer died from a massive heart attack on 21 September 2016 in Fresno, California. Phyllis passed away on the day of Elmer’s memorial service.

Elmer grew up in Main Centre, where he attended high school. After graduation, he attended Bethany Bible Institute, followed by the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where he graduated with an undergraduate degree. He completed a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Elmer’s first teaching position was in Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan, where he also served as vice principal. Elmer returned to school, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity from Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (MBBS) in Fresno, California, and a doctorate in Old Testament from Claremont Graduate School. Elmer met Phyllis while he was studying at MBBS and Phyllis was teaching at Pacific Bible Institute.

Martens served as pastor of Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church in Fresno from 1958 to 1966. During these years he was also a part-time instructor at Pacific Bible Institute, which became Fresno Pacific University. Elmer devoted much of his professional life to Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. He began teaching part time from 1959 to 1961 and was a full-time member of the Old Testament faculty from 1969 to 1995. He was president of the seminary from 1977 to 1986. Elmer continued teaching at MBBS for many years after his retirement.

In addition to MBBS, Martens taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Southern Baptist Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary as well as internationally including in Japan, India, South Korea, Russia, Kenya, Brazil, and Congo.

Elmer Martens was an accomplished scholar. He was widely known for God’s Design: A Focus on Old Testament Theology, first published in 1981 and republished several times after. He also wrote Old Testament Theology (1997). His 1986 book Jeremiah is part of the Believer’s Church Bible Commentary, published by Herald Press for which Martens served as founding editor in 1972. He was co-editor of The Flowering of Old Testament Theology (1992), and recipient of an honorary volume, The Old Testament in the Life of God's People (2009).

Martens served on the translation team of the New American Standard Bible and assisted with the New King James Version. Other editing assignments included the Journal of Church and Society in 1970-71 and the MB higher education journal Direction from 1989 to 1995. He also wrote numerous articles in publications such as Bulletin for Biblical Research, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, and Christian Scholar’s Review.

As part of his life of service to the Mennonite Brethren church, Martens served on the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches boards of Christian Literature from 1966-1978 (chair 1969-1978) and Missions/Services from 1978-1997, as well as the Hymnal Committee from 1966-1972. He was part of the United States Mennonite Brethren Conference Executive Committee and Board of Reference and Counsel from 1959-1962. For the Pacific District Conference (MB), he was a member of the boards of Faith and Life, 1958-1959 and Home Missions, 1963-1966. He was conference vice chair in 1972-73.

Martens was known for his creative approaches to teaching, preaching, and scholarly writing throughout his career, making his classes engaging, his preaching innovative, and his scholarship future oriented, and he was an encourager and mentor to many.

Bibliography

Steffen, Wayne. "Martens Served as Seminary President, Faculty Member." Christian Leader (3 October 2016). Web. https://christianleadermag.com/martens-remembered-as-churchs-scholar/.

Author(s)	Richard D. Thiessen
Date Published	October 2024

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MLA style

Thiessen, Richard D.. "Martens, Elmer A. (1930-2016)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. October 2024. Web. 14 Oct 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Martens,_Elmer_A._(1930-2016)&oldid=179877.

APA style

Thiessen, Richard D.. (October 2024). Martens, Elmer A. (1930-2016). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 14 October 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Martens,_Elmer_A._(1930-2016)&oldid=179877.

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