My Study Interests

Hermeneutics

I love to read and write in the area of hermeneutics. This interest began in my own seminary days. The theoretical issues that arise from Bible interpretation were fascinating to me but also so clearly important for study of the Bible for Christians and for the church.

1. Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics: (2007), with the second edition planned for 2021. This book brings theoretical issues and models to bear on a reading of the Bible “on its own terms.” In the end it’s important to recognize the Bible as written in a culture and time other than our own, if we are to rightly understand it as it speaks authoritatively into our own cultures.

2. “Genre Criticism and the Bible” in Words and the Word (2009) explores the theoretical discussions on genre from literary and rhetorical criticisms to see what biblical interpreters might learn from that discussion.

3. The Topic of Intertextuality (i.e, the use of the Old Testament in the New), including “Metalepsis” in Exploring Intertextuality (Cascade, 2016).

The Gospels

Since writing my dissertation on the Gospel of Matthew, my interest in the Gospels has only increased. Early in my work on the Gospels, I became captivated by their theological nature. Each gospel writer desired to communicate a theological telling of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Quite a few of my writing projects have focused here, including some that focus on the hermeneutical question of intertextuality:

1. The Disciples in Narrative Perspective (2002) explores the disciples’ characterization in Matthew as often misunderstanding Jesus’ mission and message as well as how that characterization functions for the reader’s own journey in discipleship.

2. “Direct Engagement of the Reader in Matthew’s Discourses: Rhetorical Techniques and Scholarly Consensus.” New Testament Studies 51 (January, 2005) 19-35.

3. “The Rhetoric of Hearing: The Use of the Isaianic Hearing Motif in Matt 11:2-16:20.” In Built upon the Rock: Studies in the Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

4. “Matthew,” in The Baker Illlustrated Bible Commentary. Edited by Andrew E. Hill & Gary M. Burge.

5. “Creation’s Renewal in the Gospel of John,” CBQ 72 (April, 2010) 272-90.

6. “Genesis in Matthew’s Gospel.” In Genesis in the New Testament. Continuum, 2012.

7. “Matthew’s ‘Least of These’ Theology and Subversion of Us/Other Categories.” In Matthew: Texts @ Context.” Fortress, 2013.

8. Matthew in Teach the Text New Testament Commentary series. Baker Books, 2015.

9. Matthew in the Two Horizons New Testament Commentary series. Eerdmans, 2018.

10. The Gospels as Stories: A Narrative Approach to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Baker Academic, 2020.

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New Testament Epistles

Teaching an upper level Greek course on 1 Peter has led to a couple of writing projects on that letter. I am fascinated by the way 1 Peter speaks to the issue of living out faithful allegiance to Jesus as Lord in the midst of culture. I’m also beginning research and writing on Philippians.

1. “Silent Wives, Verbal Believers: Ethical and Hermeneutical Considerations in I Peter 3:1-6 and Its Context.” Word and World 24 (Fall, 2004) 395-403.

2. “Just a Busybody? A Look at the Greco-Roman Topos of Meddling for Defining allotrieposkopos in 1 Peter 4:15.” Journal of Biblical Literature 150 (Fall, 2006) 527-46.

4 thoughts on “My Study Interests”

  1. I myself have taken an academic interest in the Gospel of Matthew, from a sociolinguistic perspective, particularly according to my thesis work at Regent University: Antilanguage in the Synoptic Gospels: A Sociolinguistic Inquiry. I would love to work with your perspective en route to finishing a PhD; hoping to move onto a professorship position at a Bible believing seminary.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for posting, Justin. I’d be interested in seeing your work on the Gospels. A upcoming project I’m working on (for Baker) is a book on narrative methods in the Gospels.

      Reply

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