Abstract

A sense of disillusionment grips many doctoral students as they face financial distress, lack of adequate mentorship, concern about job prospects, and other challenges. The Old Testament book of Malachi is a little-recognized resource for students struggling with feelings of disillusionment. Malachi’s audience faced disappointment after joyfully returning from exile to a homeland beset with problems. In response to such disillusionment, even the priests at the Jerusalem temple lowered their standards. Malachi not only condemns such behavior, but also addresses the root problem by pointing beyond the immediate circumstances to the people’s continuing status in covenant with God. In this theoretical essay, we propose that doctoral students today can learn from Malachi’s words. First, these students might look beyond their present circumstances to their larger vocation as stewards. Second, they benefit from being part of a community that reminds them of their vocation. Third, just as Malachi points the priests to the positive example of their ancestor Levi, doctoral students can recall people who embody the academic vocation.

摘要

许多博士生在面临经济困难、缺乏足够的指导、担心工作前景和其他挑战时，幻灭感笼罩着他们。旧约玛拉基书是一个鲜为人知的资源，供学生在幻灭感中挣扎。玛拉基书的听众在快乐地从流放地回到一个充满问题的家乡后，面临失望。为应对这种幻灭，甚至耶路撒冷圣殿的祭司也降低了他们的标准。玛拉基不仅谴责这种行为，而且通过超越眼前的环境，指出人们在与上帝圣约中的持续地位来解决根本问题。在这篇理论文章中，我们建议今天的博士生可以学习玛拉基的话。第一的，这些学生可能会超越他们目前的情况，着眼于他们作为管家的更大职业。其次，他们受益于成为提醒他们职业的社区的一部分。第三，正如玛拉基向牧师们指出他们祖先列维的正面榜样一样，博士生可以回忆起体现学术使命的人。