Major Publications
John, Word Biblical Commentary series, 2 vols. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, under contract).
Rediscovering the New Testament with David Capes and Rodney Reeves (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, under contract).
Inscriptions, Papyri, and Other Artifacts, eds. James R. Harrison and E. Randolph Richards, vol. 10 in Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies, gen eds. Craig Evans and Cecilia Wassén (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2023).
Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World, with Richard James (Downers Grove, InterVarsity Press, 2020).
Rediscovering Paul: His World, Letters and Theology, rev. ed., with David Capes and Rodney Reeves (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2017).
A Little Book for New Biblical Scholars, with Joseph Dodson (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2017).
Paul Behaving Badly, with Brandon O’Brien (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2016).
Rediscovering Jesus, with David Capes and Rodney Reeves (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2015).
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, with Brandon O’Brien (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2012).
Rediscovering Paul: His World, Letters and Theology, with David Capes and Rodney Reeves (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2007).
Paul and First Century Letter Writing. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004).
“In Exile but on the Brink of Restoration: The Story of Israel in the General Epistles.” In The Story of Israel: a Biblical Theology, ed. Marvin Pate, pp. 232-254 (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004).
“Signs of the Restoration.” In The Story of Israel: a Biblical Theology, ed. Marvin Pate, pp. 153-176 (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004).
The Secretary in the Letters of Paul, in the Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament Series, no. 2/42, ed. Martin Hengel (Tübingen: Mohr/Siebeck, 1991).
Refereed Publications
“Did Ancients Know the Testaments Were Pseudepigraphic? Implications for 2 Peter,” with Kevin Boyle, Bulletin for Biblical Research 30.3 (2020): 403-23.
“The Shaming of Jesus in John,” in Honor, Shame, and the Gospel, eds. Chris Flanders and Werner Mischke (Pasadena: William Carey Publishing, 2020). Pp. 73-85.
“When is a Letter not a Letter? Paul, Cicero and Seneca as Letter Writers,” in Paul and the Giants of Philosophy: Reading the Apostle in Greco-Roman Context, eds. J. Dodson and D. Briones (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2019). Pp. 86-94.
“Was Matthew a Plagiarist? Plagiarism in Greco-Roman Antiquity,” in Christian Origins and the Establishment of the Early Jesus Movement, eds. Stanley Porter and Andrew W. Pitts. TENTS 12; Early Christianity in its Hellenistic Context 4. Leiden: Brill, 2018. Pp. 108-33.
“Some Observations on Paul and Seneca as Letter Writers,” in Paul and Seneca in Dialogue, eds. David Briones and Joey Dodson. New Testament and Ancient Philosophy Series. Leiden: Brill, 2017. Pp. 49-72.
Reading Scripture Deeply, with Richard Hess (eds.), Proceedings from the Young Scholars Summit (Tyndale House, Cambridge, 2013). Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Publishing, 2015.
“Reading, Writing, and the Production and Transmission of Manuscripts” in The Background of the New Testament: An Examination of the Context of Early Christianity, eds. Joel B. Green and Lee Martin McDonald. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013. Pp. 300-17.
“Pauline Prescripts and Greco-Roman Epistolary Convention” in Christian Origins and Greco-Roman Culture: Social and Literary Contexts for the New Testament, eds. Stanley Porter and Andrew Pitts. Early Christianity in its Hellenistic Context 1. Leiden: Brill, 2012. Pp. 497-514.
“Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? The Author in Greco-Roman Letter Writing” in Come Let Us Reason: New Essays in Christian Apologetics, eds. Paul Copan and William Craig. Nashville: B&H Academic, 2012. Pp. 113-36.
“(Mis)Reading Paul’s Letters through Western Eyes” in Paul as Missionary: His Identity, Activity, Theology and Practice, ed. Trevor Burke, LNTS (formerly JSNTS) 420. T & T Clark, 2011. Pp. 247-63.
“An Honor/Shame Argument for Two Temple Clearings,” Trinity Journal 29, ns (2008): 19-43.
“Letters and Letter Writing,” The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, 4 vols., ed., K. D. Sakenfeld. Nashville: Abingdon, 2008. Pp. 3:638-41.
“Silvanus was not Peter’s Secretary: Theological Bias in Reading 1Pet. 5:12,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 43/3 (2000): 417-32.
“Ministering in a Tough Place: Paul’s Pattern in Thessalonica,” Southwestern Journal of Theology (Fall 1999): 17-38.
“The Codex and the Early Collection of Paul’s Letters,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 8 (1998): 151-66.
Refereed Presentations
“Applications for the Study of Greek Shorthand,” presented with Josh Parker to the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, Denver, November 17, 2022.
“Hebrews was Always in the Pauline Canon,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, Denver, November 14, 2022.
“Interpretation, Proclamation, and Representation in the Post-Covid World,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society, Far West Region, Ontario, CA, April 1, 2022.
“The Public Shaming of Jesus in John,” The Ellis Lecture, Wheaton College, March 25, 2019.
“Paul the Broker,” presented to the Patronage Symposium, Beirut, Lebanon, October 2018.
“Honor/Shame and the Gospel of John,” presented to the Honor, Shame and the Gospels Conference, Wheaton, June 2017.
“Honor/Shame, Plagiarism and Publishing the Gospels Anonymously,” HBU Theology Conference, presented to the HBU Theology Conference Annual Meeting, Houston, March 2017.
“Slave Children in Greco-Roman Antiquity and the Colossian Household Code,” panel presented to the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, Atlanta, November 2015.
“Plagiarism and Intellectual Property in Greco-Roman Antiquity,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, November 2014.
“Ancient Authorship Models and the Pastoral Epistles,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, Boston, November 2013.
“The Author in Greco-Roman Letter Writing,” presented to the New Testament Graduate Seminar, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, June 2011.
“Western Influences on the Reading of Paul,” presented to the New Testament Post-Graduate Seminar of the International Christian College, University of Aberdeen, October 2010.
“Dewesternizing Paul,” presented to the International Reference Library for Biblical Research Annual Meeting in Fort Worth, March 2010
“(Mis)Reading Paul through Western Eyes,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, November 2009.
“A Defense of Two Temple Cleansings,” presented to the International Reference Library of Biblical Research, Ft. Worth, TX, March 2007.
“1 Peter’s Reuse of Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles,” presented to the SBL Consultation on Methodological Reassessments of the Letters of James, Peter, and Jude, at the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting in Washington, D.C., November 2006.
“Another Brick in the Argument for Two Temple Cleansings,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society in Philadelphia, November 2005.
“A Comparison of Acehnese (Islamic) and Dani (Christian) Death Rituals in Search of an Underlying Indigenous Indonesian View of the Soul,” presented to the Indigenous Traditions group of the American Academy of Religion in Philadelphia, November 2005.
“Death Rituals in Tsunami-Devastated North Sumatra: a Study of Islamic Acehnese Funeral Beliefs,” presented to the Death, Dying and Beyond Consultation of the American Academy of Religion in Philadelphia, November 2005.
“Not Posthumous and Not Collected: A Defense of a Complete Pauline Corpus before A.D. 66,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society in Nashville, November 2003.
“A Defense of Non-Pauline Interpolations in the Pauline Letters,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society in Toronto, November 2002.
“Paul, the Writer, as Told in Our Own Image,” presented to the Evangelical Theological Society in Colorado Springs, November 2001.
“Teaching Theology Across Racially Tense Lines: Fractured Theological Education in Myanmar,” presented to the American Academy of Religion, Southwest region, March 2000.
“Theological Bias in Interpreting δια Σιλουανου εγραψα in 1Pet. 5:12?”, presented to the Society of Biblical Literature, Southwest Region, March 1999 and to the Evangelical Theological Society in Boston, November 1999.
“The Wind (Spirit) Blows (Speaks) Where It (He) Wills (Jn 3:8),” presented to the Evangelical Missiological Society, Southwest Region, March 1998.
“Shamanism in a Post-Death Ritual among Some Christian Dani Tribesmen in Irian Jaya?” presented to the American Academy of Religion, Southwest Region, March 1998.
“The Codex and the Early Collection of Paul’s Letters,” presented at the Society of Biblical Literature, Southwest Region, March 1997.
Selected Presentations and Publications by Invitation
“Canon,” “Letters,” and “Patronage” in The Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 2nd ed., eds. Scot McKnight, Lynn Cohick and Nijay Gupta (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2023).
“Reading Scripture with the Majority World,” panel presentation, Lanier Theological Library, Houston, TX, March 3, 2023.
Four Keynote Lectures on the “Role of Culture in Interpreting Scripture,” presented to the Network of Biblical Storytellers, February 3-4, 2023.
“Greek Shorthand in the Time of the New Testament,” in God’s Grace Inscribed on the Human Heart, James R. Harrison Festschrift, eds. Peter Bolt and Sehyun Kim, pp. 119-43 (Sydney: SCD Press, 2022).
“The Implications for Ancient Letter Writing for Trusting Scripture,” panel presentation, Lanier Theological Library, Houston, TX, April 22, 2022.
“At the Pool of Bethesda,” Biblical Illustrator 46.4 (2020): 64-66.
“Paul the Writer” in Journeys of the Apostle Paul, ed. David Bomar (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019), pp. 96-101.
“Foreword” for Jackson W., Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes: Honor and Shame in Paul’s Message and Mission (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2019).
“Reading the Jesus Story,” ACSI International School Leaders Conference, Slovenia, April 2018.
“Literacy in New Testament and Greco-Roman Antiquity,” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, vol. 16: Lectionary-Lots, eds. Nicole Rupschus, Michaela Göbels, Gary Helft (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2018).
“Paul the Writer: Spreading the Gospel Through Everyday Letters,” Bible Study Magazine (March 2018).
Articles in The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary, eds. J. Daniel Hays and J. Scott Duvall (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017): “Ancient Letter Writing,” “Shipping Practices in the First Century,” “Banquets and Meals,” and “Money in the NT World.”
“Honor in the Life of Jesus,” Middle East Bible Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2016.
“Scrolls, Books and Seals,” The Biblical Illustrator (Summer 2015): 90-92.
“Worldview,” International Christian Educators Conference, Kenya, Africa, April 2014.
Articles in The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Tremper Longman. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013: “Amanuensis,” “Codex,” “John the Baptist,” “Letter Form and Function,” “Library,” Life, Book of,” “Manuscript,” “Secretary,” “Sosthenes,” “Thanksgiving,” “Transportation and Travel,” and “Writing Implements and Materials.”
Review of Bruce W. Longenecker. Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the Greco-Roman World (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010) in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (June 2012): 430-33.
“Flattery, Favors and Obligations: Patrons and Clients in Greco-Roman Culture,” The Biblical Illustrator (Spring 2011): 26-29.
Articles in The Baker Illustrated Bible Handbook, eds. J. Daniel Hays and J. Scott Duvall. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011: “Jerusalem Collection,” “Paul, the Letter Writer,” and “Roman Names.”
Review of George H. Van Kooten, Paul’s Anthropology in Context, Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2/232 (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006) in The Bulletin for Biblical Research 20/2 (2010): 191-92.
Review of Michael Bird, Introducing Paul (Downers Grove: IVP, 2008) in The Journal for the Evangelical Theological Society 53(2010): 405-07.
Review of Tor Vegge, Paulus und das Antike Schulwesen: Schule und Bildung des Paulus, GZNW 134(Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2006) in The Bulletin for Biblical Research 19 (2009): 617-19.
“Roman Ships and Fleets,” The Biblical Illustrator (December 2008): 39-42.
Review of David R. Nienhuis, Not by Paul Alone: The Formation of the Catholic Epistle Collection and the Christian Canon (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2007) in The Bulletin for Biblical Research 19.1 (2009): 140-142.
Review of Juan Hernández Jr., Scribal Habits and Theological Influences in the Apocalypse: the Singular Readings of Sinaiticus, Alexandrinus, and Ephraemi. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2/218. (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2006) in The Bulletin for Biblical Research 18.2 (2008): 345-46.
Review with Karelynne Ayayo of Jerry Camery-Hoggatt, Reading the Good Book Well: A Guide to Biblical Interpretation (Nashville: Abingdon, 2007) in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 51 (2008): 105-106.
Review with Vic Copan of Gäckle, Volker. Die Starken und die Schwachen in Korinth und in Rom. Zu Herkunft und Funktion der Antithese in 1 Kor 8,1*11,1 und in Röm 14,1*15,13. WUNT 2/200 (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2005) in The Bulletin for Biblical Research 18 (2008): 158-60.
Review of Hans-Josef Klauck and Daniel Bailey, Ancient Letters and the New Testament: a Guide to Context and Exegesis (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2007) in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 50 (2007): 611-13.
Review of Ego, Beate, and Helmut Merkel, eds. Religiöses Lernen in der biblischen, frühjüdischen und frühchristlichen Überlieferung. WUNT 180 (Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 2005) in The Bulletin for Biblical Research (2007).
“Paul, the Letter Writer,” Biblical Illustrator (Summer 2006).
Review of Terry L. Wilder, Pseudonymity, the New Testament, and Deception: an Inquiry into Intention and Reception (Lanham: University Press of America, 2004), in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (September 2005): 662-63.
Review of L. Timothy Johnson, The First and Second Letters to Timothy, Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 2001), in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (September 2003).
Review of Bruce Winter, After Paul Left Corinth: the Influence of Secular Ethics and Social Change (Eerdmans, 2001), in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (September 2002).
Review of C. Marvin Pate, The Reverse of the Curse, WUNT 2000, in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (September 2002).
“The Greek Gymnasium and 1 Tim. 4:8,” Biblical Illustrator (2001).
“Rebuilding Corinth,” Biblical Illustrator (Spring 2000): 70-73.
“Stop Lying,” Biblical Illustrator (Spring 1999): 77-80.
“Peter, Babylon and Rome,” Biblical Illustrator (Summer 1998): 12-15.
“Disciplin Gereja,” presented to the Seminari Teologi Baptis Indonesia, 1995.
“Patience in Pauline Theology,” Biblical Illustrator (Summer 1995): 69-72.
“‘Judgment Seat’ in the Theology of Paul,” Biblical Illustrator (Summer 1994): 35-37.
“Konsep Perjanjian Baru tentang Pelayanan Diakon-Diakonis,” presented to the Rapat Gembala Sidang, 1994.
“Fungsi Pelayanan Kunjungan dalam Pelayanan Gembala Sidang,” presented to the Perseketuan Tahunan Pekerja Tetap, KGBI, 1992.
“Membongkar Kebarat-baratan Pengharapan Kebangkitan Paulus,” presented to the Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Indonesia, 1991.
“Building Stones: Ashlar Masonry in the Second Temple Period,” Biblical Illustrator (Summer 1990): 26-30.
Educational Administrative Experience
I advanced through professorial ranks, earning tenure, full professorship and a research chair. I taught in the local language eight years at an Indonesian seminary, served as a department chair for eleven years at two different Christian universities, and have served as a dean for eleven years. Under my leadership, the School of Ministry began with about 70 students. The academic rigor was poor, particularly in the evening and satellite programs. Faculty morale was very low and there was no vision. We created a unifying vision statement; student enrollment increased about 400%; academic rigor is consistent and high. We added a fully online undergraduate program and two masters programs. We laid the foundation for what became (when I was provost) four more masters programs, a BA offered in Spanish, and a Ph.D. program in practical theology.
When I began leading the Rinker Center for Experiential Learning, there were three dysfunctional travel-study trips, one inactive London semester and a few CCCU-sponsored programs. Student engagement was under 30 students a year. I created and implemented policies, procedures, and paperwork to facilitate international travel. Ten years later, there are robust London, Italy and Edinburgh programs, plus over 30 partner programs, in addition to the CCCU programs. Travel-study trips, mission trips and other international travel activities are fully organized under PBA control. About 800-1000 travel applications are processed every year. This center of excellence has grown dramatically, is donor-funded, and is positioned for more growth.
From 2017-2022, I had the blessing to serve as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer. I began with ten deans, over 180 faculty, and eight academic support areas. I led a “right-sizing” process, which resulted in seven deans and about 150 faculty. I also instituted a faculty remediation process, as well as a post-tenure review, while still maintaining faculty morale and a good rapport with faculty senate. In many ways, accomplishing this “tightening up” while keeping faculty happy may be my greatest accomplishment so far. Major funding has been raised for nearly half of the colleges and schools. With regard to new program development, I created a process for sunsetting degree programs and launching new ones. I launched major efforts to upgrade and rebrand business, nursing, computer science and have tripled the number of online programs. Concerning accreditations, I led successful reaffirmations with SACSCOC, CCNE, ACPE, and NASM. We gained tier-one accreditation in business (AACSB) and theology (ATS), and began launches of ARC-PA, ACS, and NASD.
In 2022, after a total of sixteen years in higher administration, I was rewarded with a research professorship in New Testament in order to end my academic career with my first love: the classroom.
Most Recent Honors and Awards
2020- Elected to Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS).
2019- Editorial Board, Ancient Literature for New Testament Studies (Zondervan Publishers).
2017- Editorial Board, Didaktikos: Journal of Theological Education (Lexham Press).
2016- Mentor, Scholars Initiative, Museum of the Bible, Ancient Manuscripts Project.
2016- President, Ellis Foundation for Biblical Research.
2015-18 Chairman, Greco-Roman Backgrounds, Evangelical Theological Society.
Ministerial Involvement
I am an ordained Baptist minister and former missionary. I often lead semester-long adult Bible studies at local churches, as well as interim pastorates. I also speak at training conferences for missionaries and church leaders.
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