Writing Endorsements

It was the second endorsement that I wrote for my former supervisor who is one of the top New Testament scholars in Australasia. I asked him in 2023 how many PhD students he had personally supervised and his answer was a staggering 55. I only supervised two DTh students during my time in Singapore, but one student changed supervisor mid-way as I marked her drafts full of red ink, as I could not understand her English half the time. The other, I suggested it was not her gift to do a doctoral degree as I saw her struggling reading just one academic article. One has to cite or interact with at least 100 learned articles and just as many commentaries and monographs for a proper doctorate.

But I am honoured to be asked to write endorsement for his forthcoming commentary (with co-authors) on 2 Timothy and Titus. He asked, "what is your "label" Tony? Yes, just followed the previous one written in 2023. "Tony Siew, PhD. Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB) Sabah, Malaysia." That's my designation and I am happy with it. 

I did not even insist on my so-called title "pastor" or "pst" to be included because most would expect a "Reverend" or "Rev". I would imagine most (95%) of my students in Singapore now are Reverends, but not their teacher. But I struggle and fight for righteousness, humility and truth as the Psalmist says in Psalm 45. The least of my concerns are titles or honorifics. 

I covet the power of the Holy Spirit and that alone is my spiritual authority. No one who invites me asks me whether I am a Reverend or not. In my first month out of a job, I shall speaking for the third time this Sunday and the fourth time next week in a Leadership Seminar. Not because I hold titles, but because the Lord has sent me to do His work. He has opened doors and will open more doors. 

Yet, I am honoured by my former Professor who has taught NT for 38 years (since 1988) and he is a good friend as well. He came to visit me in Singapore in 2010 and from that visit, a MOU was later signed between TTC and Otago University. I am honoured to write the endorsement for him because my Professor knows I hold no office or even titles befitting someone who would write endorsements for commentaries written by world-class scholars. I am a nobody, but yet my name will appear once again in one of the commentaries soon to be published.