BRISTOL, Tenn., Nov. 1, 2021 — King University’s Institute for Faith & Culture (IFC) welcomes Peter Croft, founder of the J.B. Phillips Society, as the 2021-22 speaker series, “Listen to Your Life,” continues Monday, Nov. 8.
Croft serves as the director of the J.B. Phillips Society, an organization named for his late grandfather, an English Bible scholar, translator, author, and clergyman. Phillips was best known for “The New Testament in Modern English,” first published in 1959. The goal of the J.B. Phillips Society is to encourage new generations to be challenged and changed by the living quality of scripture.
Croft will share “J.B. Phillips: The Ring of Truth and the Price of Success” at 9:15 a.m. in the Memorial Chapel on King’s main campus in Bristol, and “J.B. Phillips: The Fresh Air of Heaven” at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Bristol, Va. Guests are requested to follow relevant masking and/or social distancing guidelines.
“Peter has shared the story of how his grandfather, in the midst of the Blitz in London, started translating the New Testament for young people who could not understand the King James version. He sent a copy of his translation of the book of Colossians to C.S. Lewis,” said Martin Dotterweich, Ph.D., director of the IFC. “Lewis told him, ‘Thank you a hundred times … it is like looking at a familiar picture after it has been cleaned.’ We greatly look forward to hearing Peter share his own insights into the works of J.B. Phillips, how his work continues to nourish new generations and illustrate the loving, patient, generous nature of God.”
Along with his leadership at the J.B. Phillips Society, Croft also works as a businessman in Austin, Texas, where he focuses on issues of work, faith, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. A native of England, he has also served as a schoolmaster at Bryanston School in Dorset, and as a teacher and assistant chaplain at Cranleigh School in Surrey.
Croft earned a Bachelor of Arts in Combined Arts (Theology and Geography) from the University of Durham, England, and a post-graduate certificate in teaching from Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge, England. He also received a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from the University of London, England, and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from Acton School of Business in Austin, Texas.
For more information about the Institute, including the full schedule for the speaker series, visit king.edu/faithandculture.