Bryan W. Ball
British theologian
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Bryan W. Ball (11 July 1935 – 12 November 2025) was a British theologian, author, teacher, former president of Avondale College and former president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific.[1][2][3][4]
Bryan W. Ball | |
|---|---|
| 27th President of Avondale College | |
| In office 1984–1990 | |
| Preceded by | J. J. C. Cox |
| Succeeded by | G. A. Madigan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 July 1935 Bere Ferrers, Devon, England |
| Alma mater | Newbold College Andrews University |
| Profession | Theologian, college administrator, author and teacher |
Biography
Bryan William Ball was born in Bere Ferrers, Devon, England on 11 July 1935,[1][5] the son of Cecil William Richard Ball and Nora (née Beardsell).[1]
Ball was educated at Bedford Modern School and Tavistock Grammar School.[1] He graduated BA from Newbold College, MA in Religion from Andrews University and was awarded a PhD from the University of London.[5]
Ball was Chair of Theology at Newbold College between 1976 and 1984.[3] In 1984 he moved to Australia to become president of Avondale College between 1984 and 1990.[6] He was later made president of the South Pacific Division between 1990 and 1997[7] where he was instrumental in the further development of the Sydney Adventist Hospital and helped the Pacific Adventist College in Papua New Guinea achieve university status.[3][4]
Ball is a widely cited scholar who has written extensively on current and historical theological issues.[8][9]
Selected bibliography
- A great expectation: eschatological thought in English Protestantism to 1660. Published by Brill, Leiden, 1975[10][11]
- The English connection: the Puritan roots of Seventh-Day Adventist belief. Published by J. Clarke, Cambridge, England, 1981[12][13]
- The Seventh-day Men: Sabbatarians and Sabbatarianism in England and Wales, 1600-1800. Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York City, 1994[14][15]
- The essential Jesus: the man, His message, His mission. Published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, Nampa, Idaho, 2002; Warburton, Victoria, Australia, 2002[16]
- Christopher Feake 1612-1683. Entry in the DNB, Oxford University Press, 2004[17]
- Can we still believe the Bible? : and does it really matter? Published by Signs Publishing Company, Victoria, Australia, 2007[18]
- The soul sleepers: Christian mortalism from Wycliffe to Priestley. Published by James Clarke & Co., Cambridge, 2008[19]
- In the beginning: science and scripture confirm creation. Published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, Nampa, Idaho, 2012[20]
- Grounds for Assurance and Hope - Selected Biblical and Historical writings of Bryan W. Ball. Published by Avondale Academic Press, 2015[21]