The Time It Is

by Dan O. Via

1 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 1982

About the author

Dan was born and reared in Charlottesville and attended public schools here. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Davidson College, and is a member of Phi Gamma Delta and Phi Beta Kappa. He received the Bachelor of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his PhD in biblical studies from Duke University. He was awarded the honorary Doctor of Letters by Davidson College. Dan's primary field of teaching and research was the New Testament, especially its theology and ethics. He also had an interest in literary criticism and the religious significance of fiction. After serving on the faculties of Wake Forest University, the University of Virginia and The Divinity School of Duke University, he retired from the latter in 1991 as Emeritus Professor of New Testament. Over the course of his career, he taught as a visiting professor at Harvard Divinity School, the University of Zimbabwe, Acadia Divinity College in Canada, and the Iliff School of Theology. He and his family were much enriched by sabbaticals spent in France, Canada and England. Dan was the author of 11 books on biblical and theological topics and the editor of another 17. His most recent book, "The Hardened Heart & Tragic Finitude," was published in 2012. He was also the author of some 40 articles in various scholarly journals. He served as president of the North Carolina Teachers of Religion and of the Southern Section of the American Academy of Religion, and served on the editorial board of several journals. In 1975, he was selected by The Christian Century as one of 13 mid-career scholars to have made a significant mark on religious studies during the decade from 1965 until 1975. (via Duke University News)

Reviews

[Garry Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1967 University of Virginia Religion Professor Dan Otto Via Jr published his notable book The Parables, combining his expertise and interests in literary interpretation and religious texts. Fifteen years later, in 1982, a much more limited but personally significant publication appeared, the play The Time It Is, which offered Via's own articulation of the theology and ministry of Jesus. For that entire period - from my first year at the University in 1969 until I finished my graduate degree and left Charlottesville - Dan Via was someone I learned from, chatted with, worshipped with, and came to know well. Recently I rediscovered the existence of this play and was lucky enough to borrow a copy from his son and namesake, since none was available for sale or from the local public libraries. Much of it is familiar from the abundant gospel passages that constitute half of its dialogue. But all of it gradually became familiar to me, as I realized that I had read it when it first came out.

It was wonderful to imagine hearing Dan's voice as I read his words. I doubt that many congregations or youth groups would choose to perform this work - it's a bit too liberal for the traditional conservative congregations that I grew up in and too scripturally faithfully to make for an exciting, innovative performance. Without a Godspell or Jesus Christ Superstar style of soundtrack, I fear any production would be more static and talky than filled with dramatic action. But I found the story of Jesus's quest to understand his calling and stay faithful to his growing sense of mission both poignant and moving. Most of all I was prompted to be grateful that Dan and Margaret were an important part of my life.