ALAN "THE BIBLE MAN" GOES HOME

"All I want is to know Christ and
to experience the power of his resurrection"
(Philippians 3:10 GNB)

AFTER HEARING and reading tributes and testimonies about Professor Alan Stewart Duthie at his funeral on August 2, 2013 at the University of Ghana, Legon, I wished I had been closer to him and known him better while he was alive. He was born on May 19, 1938 in Dundee, Scotland, UK and was the only child of his parents, Stewart Duthie and Evelyn Mary Greig. He died on July 6, 2013 at the age of 75.

Alan obtained a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Manchester in 1964 and in the same year came to Ghana. In his own words, he "replied to advertised university linguistics lectureships in Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia; all said no; but Ghana later changed its mind! So, just after my PhD oral, I moved to Ghana in November 1964, the first year of the Department of Linguistics." He was 26 years old when he came to Ghana, seven years after the country's independence and worked for 49 years at UG, Legon till his last day on earth. A friend referred to Alan as an "Academic missionary".

Other expatriates like Alan Goodfellow of Prempeh College, Donald Banks of Africa Christian Press, Culain Morris of Scripture Union and Peter Barker of Asempa Publishers went back home to the United Kingdom after some time in Ghana. Prof. Duthie stayed on and married a Ghanaian lady, Auntie Matilda in 1993. Ghana became his home-country and Legon his home-village. One hopes Alan would be honoured by the University community. He is very much part of the history of Legon and as noted by Mrs. Correta Luther King, "As a nation honours its heroes and heroines, it interpretes its history and destines its future". Alan deserved a Ghana national award.

When Alan turned 70, he wrote the following about his life, among other things. "Over the years, I have helped with workshops of the Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation; I have also long been a member of the Translation Committee of the Bible Society of Ghana. I wrote a book on English Bible translations (Paternoster, UK, 1985, 1995), an abridged version being published in the 'Watchman' from time to time. I have taught NT Greek, OT Hebrew and Linguistics and Bible Translation at Maranatha Bible College. With three others, we co-founded Legon Interdenominational Church in 1978.

Looking back, I can see how God intervened in my life in crucial ways, at crucial times, before I could even guess how things would turn out many years later in a very different part of the world. To God be the glory; great things he has done!"

Prof. Duthie was a friend to Scripture Union (SU) Ghana and in 1975 took up the role of Editor of SU Bible Reading Notes, the "Daily Guide". The SU testifies that Prof. Duthie's giftings very well fitted the task. He was also personally convinced that, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). Manuscripts of Daily Guide Alan edited were circulated and printed in most African countries.

Tribute from his former Department says, "A testament of his influence at the Department is the fact that he taught almost every current member of staff (except those of the much younger generation). Beyond that, he actively mentored many of us to become academics".

His son, David wrote, "Flowers die, stories end, songs fade, memories are forgotten but faithful people, like my daddy will never be forgotten".

Mrs. Matilda Duthie: "Alan was my husband, father, friend and editor.... Three days after his departure, for the first time, I bought electricity units and I did not know how to feed it into the meter.... Four days after his departure, as I was reversing the car out of the house, I looked up but there was no Alan. He was always at the gate to see me off. I have to make great adjustments in my life.... I have never met anyone as organized as Alan. Everyday, his movements were mapped out, drawn with lines on a tiny sheet of paper showing he would move from A to B to C. In the course of the day if I made any suggestion for us to go somewhere he hadn't planned, he would pull out the piece of paper and fit it on his map.

"Alan was not as quiet as many people thought.... He was also very conservative. He still had the wooden ruler he used from primary school. He led an active life throughout his lifetime. Alan, I thank God for your life. God, I thank you for Alan".

On Friday, July 5 Alan was carried sick from his office at the Linguistics Department to the Legon Hospital. The following morning, on July 6 Alan went home to be with The Lord, leaving behind his wife Matilda and their son David. "Our end, the glory of The Lord"!

"Now praise we great and famous men,
The fathers, named in story;
And praise The Lord who now as then
Reveals in man His glory".
MHB 896

His loving and gentle life touched many on the Legon campus and beyond.
"Bible man" farewell. Enjoy your peaceful rest till we meet again in glory.