Remembering Daniel P. Fuller: Honoring a Legacy of Scholarship and Vision at Fuller Theological Seminary

It is with deep sadness and profound respect that Fuller Seminary announces the passing of Daniel P. Fuller, esteemed professor emeritus of hermeneutics and former dean of the School of Theology. He passed away on June 21, 2023. As the only child of Fuller Seminary’s founder, Charles E. Fuller, Daniel Fuller played an integral role in shaping the institution’s curriculum and vision. His remarkable contributions to scholarship and unwavering commitment to the Bible will be remembered and cherished by the Fuller community.

David Emmanuel Goatley, President of Fuller Seminary, expressed his gratitude for Daniel Fuller’s invaluable contributions, stating, “Dr. Fuller’s profound intellect and dedication to evangelical scholarship have left an indelible mark on Fuller Seminary. His unwavering commitment to theological rigor and faithful exegesis of Scriptures have inspired countless students and scholars. We mourn his loss while celebrating his enduring legacy.”

Born on August 28, 1925, in Los Angeles, California, and growing up during the era of his father’s radio ministry, “The Old Fashioned Revival Hour,” Daniel Fuller was present at the founding of Fuller Theological Seminary, and was a member of the first graduating class. The seminary, established in 1947 by his father, aimed to combine evangelical faith with scholarly rigor, and Daniel Fuller embodied this ethos throughout his life and work.

After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, Daniel Fuller graduated from Fuller Seminary with a BD degree in 1951 and a ThM in 1952. He went on to earn a doctorate in theology from Northern Baptist Seminary in Illinois, and a second doctor of theology degree from the University of Basel in Switzerland, where he studied under the theologian, Bo Reicke.

Throughout his academic career, Daniel Fuller’s contributions to hermeneutics and the Bible were highly regarded. He served as an associate professor of hermeneutics from 1963 to 1972 and as a professor of hermeneutics from 1973 to 1993. Additionally, he held the position of dean of the School of Theology for nine years, leaving a lasting impact on the seminary’s academic and administrative development.

In his book Reforming Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New Evangelicalism, George M. Marsden described Daniel Fuller as a “scholar’s scholar” and “a latter-day champion of the classic American evangelical apologetic enterprise.” Dr. Fuller’s commitment to an historical approach to Scripture influenced and inspired a wide number of students.

Ajith Fernando, National Director, Youth for Christ Sri Lanka, commented, “Dan Fuller taught me how to study and how to think. His influence on me has been seen every day for the past forty seven years.”

The maxim “Give me a fish and I eat for a day; teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime” summarized his teaching philosophy. He taught his students to “fish” in the text, not in commentaries. His technique of biblical analysis, called arcing, forced his students to create a visual representation of an author’s thoughts. Here’s how John Piper, founder and Chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, described Dr. Fuller’s teaching:

“He… taught us how to see the difficulties for ourselves. A student is still dependent if the only problems he can see are the ones his teacher puts before him. So he… labored to teach us how to be troubled. He …never tired of quoting John Dewey, who observed that “we never think until we are confronted with a problem.” ….Dr. Fuller …spent himself in class, in discussions, and in his writing to help us be troubled by the most important questions. This [was] a great gift.”

He not only taught students how to think, but he used his own thinking abilities in his scholarship. as evidenced in his books, Easter Faith and History, Gospel and Law and The Unity of the Bible. Amos Yong, Dean of the School of Mission and Theology recalls, “These books, among his other works, laid the foundation in the last century for Fuller to become one of the leading sites for evangelical scholarship that it is today.”

Beyond his academic endeavors, Daniel Fuller held leadership positions in the Gospel Broadcasting Association and the Fuller Evangelistic Association. He published numerous articles and served as the editor of Today’s Christian, a monthly paper that connected supporters of the broadcast “The Joyful Sound.” After his retirement, he maintained a website, “The Berean Corner,” dedicated to classical inductive Bible study and biblical theology, offering valuable resources to ministers. Today, Daniel Fuller’s mission is being carried on by numerous pastors and teachers. The website biblearc.com teaches what Daniel Fuller taught in his hermeneutics class, providing tools for pastors, teachers, and students.

Daniel Fuller’s legacy extends beyond his intellectual contributions; he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Ruth, his wife of sixty-eight years, passed away in 2019. They are survived by their four children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Fuller Seminary and the wider evangelical community mourn the loss of a distinguished scholar, visionary leader, and faithful servant of the gospel. Daniel P. Fuller’s enduring impact will continue to inspire generations of students, scholars, and ministers to faithfully engage with the Scriptures and promote evangelical values.

Service details will be forthcoming.

About Fuller Seminary

Fuller Seminary is one of the largest multidenominational seminaries in the world with a global enrollment of more than 3,000 students in its master’s and doctoral programs. Fuller Seminary students may take classes in person, online, or through a hybrid of the two via campuses in Pasadena, Houston, and Phoenix. Founded in Pasadena, California, Fuller Seminary is committed to providing indispensable, formational education to diverse Christian leaders everywhere. Responding to changes in the church and world, Fuller Seminary is transforming the seminary experience to create a global learning community where leaders can access Fuller Seminary’s traditional graduate programs, as well as non-degree courses through the digital learning platform FULLER Equip, and free resources created by FULLER studio. Fuller Seminary’s distinctive integration of its four major disciplines—housed in the School of Mission and Theology and the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy—is evident in its range of master’s and doctoral programs, uniquely equipping leaders for innovative, nuanced, and intellectually grounded service in a variety of roles and settings.