Leland Ryken

Leland Ryken – Life, Career, and Contributions

: Leland Ryken (born 1942) is an influential American educator and literary scholar specializing in the intersection of the Bible and English literature. Explore his biography, academic contributions, works, and enduring legacy.

Introduction

Leland Ryken is an eminent American scholar, writer, and educator who has shaped how Christians think about literature and Scripture. For decades he taught English at Wheaton College and has authored or edited more than fifty books, especially on how to read the Bible as literature. His work bridges the worlds of faith and literary study, helping readers see the Bible not only as sacred text but also as a richly crafted literary work. In doing so, he has influenced pastors, students, and literary-minded Christians globally.

Early Life and Family

Leland Ryken was born on May 17, 1942, in New Sharon, Iowa (some sources list Pella, Iowa as an alternate birthplace) Frank Ryken, and his mother Eva (née Bos) Mary Graham, and they went on to have three children: Philip Graham Ryken, Margaret Lynn, and Nancy Elizabeth .

His son Philip Graham Ryken is now known in his own right as a theologian and academic administrator.

Education and Academic Formation

Ryken pursued his undergraduate studies at Central College (now Central University of Iowa), earning his B.A. in 1964 University of Oregon, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1968 .

His doctoral work laid a foundation for his lifelong interest in literature, poetry, and especially the relationship between Scripture and literary form.

Career and Major Works

Teaching at Wheaton College

Shortly after earning his doctorate, Ryken joined the English faculty at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, where he would teach for decades and ultimately become Professor Emeritus of English .

Although Ryken officially retired in 2012, he has continued teaching part-time and remained active in writing and speaking .

Scholarly Focus and Vision

Ryken became particularly known for his unique focus: treating the Bible as literature. He argued that to understand Scripture deeply, one must appreciate its literary genres, tropes, structure, and artistry—without undermining its theological or spiritual claims. His mission was to help Christians read the Bible more skillfully by bringing literary insight to bear on sacred text .

He also served as literary stylist for the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, published in 2001, contributing to its literary coherence and style. ESV Study Bible (2008).

Selected Works

Ryken’s bibliography is substantial. Among his notable books are:

• How to Read the Bible as Literature — guiding readers to see narrative, poetry, and rhetorical features of Scripture

• Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible — a widely used text that treats individual biblical books from a literary lens

• The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation — exploring principles for translating Scripture well

• Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (editor) — examining imagery across biblical books

• The Christian Imagination: The Practice of Faith in Literature and Writing — exploring how faith and imagination interact in literature

• The Legacy of the King James Bible: Celebrating 400 Years of the Most Influential English Translation — Ryken’s historical-literary take on the enduring KJV

He has also written or contributed to books on the classics, Puritan literature, and devotional poetry.

Historical & Intellectual Context

Ryken’s work emerged in a period when biblical studies and literary criticism had often been seen as separate disciplines. Some scholars approached Scripture purely from historical, linguistic, or theological angles, while literary critics often ignored the Bible. Ryken’s integration sought to bridge that divide.

In evangelical and Christian intellectual circles, his voice encouraged a more cultured, literate, and aesthetic approach to Scripture—without weakening its theological convictions. He argued that Christians should cultivate literary sensibilities when engaging their sacred texts, believing that doing so enriches both faith and understanding.

His career paralleled other movements in Bible translation, hermeneutics, and the role of narrative theology. His involvement in the ESV project positioned him at a crossroads of translation, literary style, and evangelical readability.

Legacy and Influence

• Pedagogical impact: Through his courses over decades, Ryken has shaped countless students, many of whom became pastors, scholars, or literary readers in their own right.

• Cross-disciplinary bridge: He provided a model for integrating literature and theology—especially within Christian education.

• Influence on Bible translation and style: His role in the ESV and his writings on translation have influenced how many Christians and translators think about the literary quality of Scripture.

• Enduring readership: His books are still widely used in seminaries, colleges, and Christian book markets.

His legacy is the encouragement of deeper, more nuanced engagement with Scripture, inviting readers to see the Bible not only as a source of doctrine but also as a work of literary art.

Personality, Values & Approach

From interviews, we see that Ryken describes himself somewhat humbly as a “farm boy from Iowa” .

He values humility, faithfulness, and craft. In one interview, he selected a biblical verse—“Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not” (Jeremiah 45:5)—as a guiding motif, indicating his preference for service over self-promotion.

Ryken has also described the interplay between literature and Bible as a “two-way street”: knowledge of literature helps one read the Bible better, and knowledge of Scripture deepens one’s reading of secular literature.

He emphasizes close reading, attentiveness to genre and poetic devices, and respect for the text. He does not see literary sensitivity as conflicting with biblical authority, but as complementary.

Select Quotes & Insights

Ryken is not known primarily for pithy quips, but through his writings and interviews we can glean valuable insights:

• “A very fruitful two-way street exists between literature and the Bible.”

• “Knowing the Bible enables us to see much more in literature … our knowledge of literature makes us better readers of the Bible.”

• On his own writing journey: “My greatest contribution to the Kingdom has been by publishing.”

These statements reflect his conviction that literary sensitivity and Christian faith go hand in hand, and that his vocation is service through writing and teaching.

Lessons from Leland Ryken

1. Integration over isolation
   Ryken’s career shows the power of integrating disciplines—literature and theology—so that each enriches the other.

2. Read with attention and respect
   His method emphasizes close reading, listening to the text’s form, genre, and rhetorical features, not just using the Bible as a source for doctrine.

3. Humility in vocation
   His life suggests that contributions often grow over time, through steady work, rather than grand ambitions alone.

4. The role of style and beauty
   He reminds us that doctrine alone may leave texts flat; literary and aesthetic sensitivity helps Scripture resonate emotionally and intellectually.

5. Lifelong contribution
   Even after formal retirement, Ryken continues writing, speaking, and teaching—a reminder that vocation often extends beyond institutional roles.

Conclusion

Leland Ryken (born 1942) stands as one of the most influential figures in modern Christian literary scholarship. His commitment to bridging the Bible and English literature created a legacy within Christian education: a way to read Scripture with aesthetic, theological, and intellectual depth. His books, his students, and his influence on Bible translation all testify to a career that combined conviction with craftsmanship.

If you’d like, I can also compile a list of his most influential essays or extract full-length quotes for further reflection. Would you like me to do that?