Grant R. Osborne, PhD.

I remembered what a brother from Wenzhou once shared with me. He had already studied Hermeneutics with different people five or six times before he took the Hermeneutics course with Dr. Osborne. He wondered what Dr. Osborne would be teaching. Then, in the middle of the class, he cried, and he never thought he would cry in a class on Hermeneutics.

I myself had studied Romans with Dr. Osborne. By that time he was already weak, and he had to sit through the whole lectures. Our leader Mr. Chan asked him how he was going to teach Romans, and he said, “Verse by verse”. During the lectures, he would sit with a Bible in front of him, glancing at it only occasionally when he read the verses, and for the 36 hours of the class, without any other materials, he completed the teaching on Romans.
——Letus

I took two of Dr. Osborne’s classes and was called a "fan of O" by my classmates! As a leading biblical scholar, Dr. Osborne struck me with his deep humility. I am thankful that he is now breathing freely in heaven!
——Nana

Dr. Osborne teaching on Revelation was mind-blowing with strong messages. He strongly encouraged me to study in an English-speaking seminary. “It’s just like when you wrote case studies in that American law school. If you could write legal memo, then you can study in an English-speaking seminary”, he said. I asked him, "Can women preach?" He gave me a clear answer, "Yes." "Can women serve as a leader?" Again he said clearly, "Sure."

I remembered and cherished Dr. Osborne for his nurturing, edification, encouragement to the students, and his help to students to fulfill their dreams. I am glad that I finally went abroad and finished my seminary studies. If there was any regret, it was that I should have taken his advice earlier to go abroad and study in a seminary.
——Melissa

The first time I came to study at TTi, I took the course on Revelation with Dr. Osborne. His teaching helped me find interests in learning theology. I still remembered him saying in the course of Hermeneutics, "There is no such thing as boring theology, only bad teachers." Scot McKnight was a former student and colleague of Dr. Osborne, and as Scot recollected, Dr. Osborne suffered from chronic asthma throughout his lifetime, and he said the first thing he would do in heaven was to take a deep breath. Mcknight said that now Dr. Osborne can fully enjoy his breathing in the glory of God.
——Reli

I took two intensive courses with Dr. Osborn: Romans, Jude and 1&2 Peter. I was so sad to hear that he passed away. I knew the Lord took him and I could not help crying. I remembered that back in June he was still talking in the video that he was planning on writing several commentaries, which we won't see anymore ......
——Daniel

I have attended the intensive course twice in Hong Kong, and I chose the class of Dr. Osborne both times. Although I liked diversity, and I knew that the professors of other classes were also the best, and the opportunities were rare, Dr. Osborne’s class on Romans attracted me like a magnet. I could see what Jesus our Lord was like and felt the breath of his life in that class. As Dr. Osborne lectured on Romans, many passages that were confusing and difficult to me turned into refreshing living water. I remembered one of his analogies: sin is like an army that attempts to build bridgeheads at the weak points of our life, then breaks through the defenses of our life step by step ...... His expression was serious and his gestures were powerful when he gave that analogy, and I sensed his warning as well as exhortation to us. He was already weak when he taught us Romans, and he had to sit the whole week. But even though he was weak and frail he had the strength to teach. As he taught the Bible, he also lived out the strength in Christ, and his life testimony has had a long-lasting influence on my service to this day!
——Daniel

I cried because I will never have the chance to listen to his Hermeneutics class again.
——Michael

It was sad to hear that Dr. Osborne passed away. I recalled the classes I had taken with him, his powerful voice, and an unceasing vitality in his frail body. I was deeply touched by his passionate teaching and felt that he was also a shepherd who prayed. May he rest in peace in the Lord!
——Moon

When I first heard the news of Dr. Osborne’s death, I was so sad that I didn't want to say anything. Now I have just calmed down a little bit. While Dr. Osborne was teaching the Book of Romans, I was taking Deuteronomy with Dr. Block, just next to Dr. Osborne’s class. I liked both courses, but I could only choose one. I was grateful that later we were able to study Romans with Dr. Osborne through the class videos, which took us 8 months to finish.
——Lily

Dr. Osborne had a great influence on me (although I never met him in person). After I took Dr. Osborne’s video class on Romans, I was moved to praying consistently for an opportunity to come and take intensive courses here. I miss him.
——Hong

I would like to listen to Dr. Osborne’s lectures again through the videos. His life is a great testimony.
——Linyun

It happened that last week I started reading the Commentary on Romans by Dr. Osborn. Unfortunately, I never took a course with him. Now after reading his commentary I would like to take a class from him.
——Mist

"For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." (Ezra 7:10 ) Dr. Osborne told us in his sermon, "This verse has defined my life." That testimony has stayed with me until this day!
——Xiaoming

Thank you, Dr. Osborn! As you taught me the Hermeneutical Spiral of Bible exposition, I have been practicing it since then. The method has enabled me to taste the sweetness of God’s word when I allow the Bible to speak for itself. I have also learned to meditate day and night the word of God, so to keep it in my heart. These practice has helped me find the confession of my life: “To live is to serve, and to serve is to live”. I love you, Dr. Osborne!
——Gump

Dr. Osborne was like a real-life Santa Clause to me, a gentle and loving scholar-pastor. What impressed me the most in his class was not his proficiency in Greek, but his message of love through his teaching of truth. I was at the valley of my ministry back then, and when I heard him saying "God is good", I cried for half of the class. That was almost eight years ago, yet that memory is still fresh and alive today. I miss you, Dr. Osborne!
——Betsy

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)
——Zhishi

I was grateful that when I came to study at TTi, my first class was Romans taught by Dr. Osborne, which gave me a whole new perspective on “seminary courses”. Dr. Osborne was an Arminian, but he said, "I can list 30 verses from the Bible that support Arminianism and 30 verses that support Calvinism." I learned from Dr. Osborne’s profound knowledge and his own example that I should humble myself in the face of biblical truth, be tolerant and open to views that differ from my own position, and to learn with a humble heart. Dr. Osborne is a good example of mature Christian life. He was a best benchmark for me to learn from.
——Bryan

Now I think for those saints who suffered so much physically in this world, it is wonderful that they can rest in peace, awaiting the resurrection of their body! Although Dr. Osborne’s departure was a sad thing to his family and friends, yet we should rejoice that he was finally released.
——Birdie