Geoffrey Grogan

The Rev Dr Geoff Grogan, who has died aged 86 of an aortic aneurysm, was a brilliant theologian who carved out a niche for himself as an eminent scholar respected internationally in academia, even by those who disagreed with his underlying convictions.

Though deeply committed to Glasgow as his adopted city he was born in Bristol; his parents were Salvationists and he attended a Methodist church whose strongly pacifist views influenced him.

He spent three years in military service, albeit in a non-combatant corps. It was then that he made a lifelong commitment to the Christian faith, helped by the writings of CS Lewis. He made his convictions known as he offered himself for baptism by total immersion in a Chester Baptist Church. He was to become a Baptist minister and for a time was associate pastor of Queens Park Baptist Church in Glasgow. In retirement he was also a part-time pastor of Shotts Baptist Church.

Early in life he had a desire to study the Bible, and enrolled as a student at Glasgow’s Bible Training Institute. This college has a unique place in the city’s history, often being fondly referred to as the BTI.

The institute’s origin is traceable to DL Moody, an American evangelist (the Billy Graham of the late 19th century) whose ministry left a marked impression on the city, there being a need for a facility to train working-class young men and women for ministry with an emphasis on foreign missions.

The BTI attracted such people and it was here the young Dr Grogan was to get his first taste of theology, which led to a lifelong pursuit. He was not to know that the college he entered as a student in later life would eventually come under his leadership.

Successfully gaining a University of London certificate of proficiency in religious knowledge, he put the bit between his teeth and successfully tackled the more rigorous bachelor of divinity and master of theology degrees.

He was appointed warden of students at BTI and then his portfolio was extended to include lecturing. When the then principal, Reverend Andrew MacBeath, went abroad on sabbatical he briefly acted as principal; a foretaste of what was to come. An unexpected invitation came from the emerging London Bible College (now the London School of Theology) to join its faculty. He moved to London and for four years lectured in the Old Testament and the philosophy of religion.

Glasgow’s magnetism never lost its power, however, and on the retirement of his predecessor Dr Grogan and his family returned to the city and took over the reins of the BTI.

During his principalship the college moved from its premises near Central Station, relocating to an architecturally splendid but little-used Church of Scotland at the intersection of Byres Road and Great Western Road in the west end, diagonally across from the Botanic Gardens (where DL Moody had once held his great tent meetings).

Dr Grogan’s leadership, pastoral role and lectures devoured his time. His desire to keep in touch with the growing alumni became legendary. Nonetheless he made room for writing, and his literary output was prodigious. The titles of his books and published essays, allowing for a couple of lines of summary, fill six A4 pages on my computer. His scholarly and intellectual ability prompted invitations to serve as an adjunct professor in several seminaries both in the United States and Europe. The staggering breadth of his led to the Open University conferring on him the degree of doctor of the university.

Dr Grogan was a remarkable apologist. His books underscore the authority of scripture and focus on salvation offered through Jesus Christ as a result of his atoning death and resurrection. He remained steadfast as a conservative evangelical theologian throughout his long life; he was one of the most robust defenders of the historic biblical faith. Eschewing any hint of obscurantism, he kept abreast of the writings of those who were out of sympathy with him. CS Lewis’s influence lived on.

With other fellow apologists, such as the late Reverend Doctor John Stott and Martyn Lloyd-Jones, he pleaded with Christians to outthink those who differed from them.

His students were asked to reason their faith and justify their beliefs. The title of his final book, written at the age of 85, says it all: The Faith Once Entrusted To The Saints? (IVP, 2010).

Here he takes up the cudgel and makes his case against liberalism and post-modernism. At 6ft 6in he physically as well as intellectually towered over his charge, but his temperament contrasted with his physique. He was a humble, self effacing man and was affectionately dubbed by his students “the gentle giant”.

In the birth of the International Christian College Dr Grogan had influence behind the scenes. A natural guru with a commitment to the core values of the old BTI he helped shape the new offspring. The Apostle Paul is described as “aged and yet not aging”. Dr Grogan mirrored this.

He always paid tribute to his beloved wife Eva who shared his pastoral commitment and survives him with their three children Fiona, Anne and John, and three grandchildren.