Author Archives: WBS

Interview: Brittany E. Wilson

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADr. Brittany E. Wilson is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Duke University Divinity School. She earned a B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin, a M.T.S. from Duke University Divinity School, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Wilson can also be found at academia.edu.

How did you decide to become a biblical scholar? Share your autobiographical journey.

I became a biblical scholar because I wanted to reconcile my faith with my curiosity about the Bible. My journey began when I was in college. Although I was very involved in my college ministry group, I found that many of my questions about the Bible were not being addressed or answered in my faith setting. Because of this gap between my faith and my intellectual inquisitiveness, or “my heart and my head,” I became a history and religious studies double major. I also started learning ancient Greek so that I could read the New Testament in its original language. I signed-up for as many Bible courses as I could, and I decided that I wanted to earn my Masters of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) at Duke Divinity School and eventually earn my Ph.D. After graduating from Duke, I did just that by going to Princeton Theological Seminary where I studied with Beverly Roberts Gaventa. Near the end of my program at Princeton, I had the opportunity to return to Duke as a visiting faculty member in New Testament. One year later, I graduated from Princeton, and one year after that, I became a regular rank, tenure-track faculty member at Duke. Since then, the rest—as they say—is history! More→

Susan Eastman on the Apostle Paul and Knowledge of Divine Action

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Dr. Susan Eastman is Associate Research Professor of New Testament at Duke University Divinity School. Below is a video presentation of her paper on “Second-Personal Knowledge of Divine Action: A View from the Apostle Paul.” Of the paper she writes:

In this paper I shall argue that we know and recognize the presence of God in the same ways that we know and recognize other human beings as different from ourselves and yet personally engaged with us. Knowledge of divine action is not primarily inward, private, esoteric, ineffable and other-worldly but interpersonal, embodied, and embedded in communal interaction. Such an argument requires two subsidiary arguments: first, concerning the sources of our capacity for thought, including the knowledge of self and others; and second, concerning the mode of knowing and experiencing God’s action. For the first argument it will be important to clarify two contrasting approaches to infant development and problems of mind in psychology and philosophy – a first- or third-personal approach starting with the self, and a second-personal approach starting with relationship. These approaches may also be discerned in different presumptions about what constitutes the knowledge and experience of divine action, or “spiritual experience”. For the second half of my argument concerning the mode of knowing God, I will draw on the writings of the apostle Paul, in whom one finds a second-personal understanding and expression of knowing and being known by God in relationship with other people through the Spirit indwelling the community of faith.

Her presentation begins at the 16:45 mark.

Interview: Lynn Cohick

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Wheaton College Bible Department Professors (Dr Lynn Cohick), July 19, 2010Dr. Lynn Cohick is Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. She earned a B.A. from Messiah College and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from the University of Pennsylvania.

How did you decide to become a biblical scholar? Share your autobiographical journey.

I think I sort of fell into this line of work. I love to read, and I enjoy teaching. I was initially an elementary education major in college, but after my sophomore year, I realized I did not have the right temperament or skill set to work with young children. So I began thinking about teaching at the college level, and since I was always drawn to history, and loved reading the Bible, I decided to major in Religious Studies. I went straight to the PhD program after graduating from college, which felt like I jumped into the deep end of the pool without having first learned to swim. I had a few moments when I thought I’d not make it, but eventually, I learned to paddle around.  More→

Web Round Up #7

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Web Round Up provides links to relevant news from around the Web, including job openings, new books, articles on women biblical scholars, etc.

1. Gail Wallace writes on “Towards a Deeper Theology of Women: 4 Contributions of Women Scholars”

2.Hindy Najman, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Yale University, speaks about the Art of Lecturing (video)

3. Kristine Garroway reviews Brettler and Enns and Harrington, The Bible and the Believer: How to Read the Bible Critically and Religiously

4. From Wabash Center: Free download of “Teaching Theology & Religion – Volume 18, Issue 1”

5. Enigma is an online resource for deciphering illegible Latin words

6. Codex Vaticanus is now digitized

7. Candida R. Moss on “Who is Ignatius of Antioch?” (short video).

8. JBL reviewed books:

Martha Himmelfarb
Between Temple and Torah: Essays on Priests, Scribes, and Visionaries in the Second Temple Period and Beyond
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9102

Cornelia Linde
How to Correct the Sacra Scriptura? Textual Criticism of the Bible between the Twelfth and Fifteenth Century
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8803

Kim Lan Nguyen
Chorus in the Dark: The Voices of the Book of Lamentations
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9646

Nili Wazana
All the Boundaries of the Land: The Promised Land in Biblical Thought in Light of the Ancient Near East
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9576

9. Job Openings:

One year Visiting Professor in New Testament at Valparaiso University

Online instructor of Judaism wanted by Utah State:

The Religious Studies Program at Utah State University seeks a part-time instructor for its new online minor in Religious Studies. The successful applicant should be able to teach an “Introduction to Judaism” course, as well as specialized course(s) in one or more of the following areas: Biblical Studies, Jewish history or practice, Holocaust, or Science and Religion. Utah State offers both funding and support staff to help with online course development. Online instructors may teach from anywhere in the United States, although the Program would provide shared office space and a collegial environment to an instructor who could be physically present on campus. The initial appointment will be made for one year, with the potential for renewal based on satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. or ABD in Religious Studies or a related discipline. The Religious Studies Program is housed in the History Department within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Send applications by email to Ms. Diane Buist: diane.buist@usu.edu. These should include a cover letter describing the candidate’s teaching and research, two letters of reference, evidence of teaching effectiveness if available, and a CV. For questions about the position, contact Dr. Ravi Gupta: ravi.gupta@usu.edu, 435-797-1196. Review of applications will begin on March 13, 2015. The successful candidate must be able to pass a background check.

 

 

Ellen F. Davis Lecture Series on Biblical Prophecy, Part III

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This video is the last of three in a series of lectures on biblical prophecy presented by Dr. Ellen F. Davis. Part III is “Abraham and the Origins of Intercessory Prayer.” The lecture discusses the importance of bold intercession and obedience in the context of intimate relationship with God. Davis is Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke University Divinity School.

Watch Part I and Part II

Ellen F. Davis Lecture Series On Biblical Prophecy, Part II

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This video is the second of three in a series of lectures on biblical prophecy presented by Dr. Ellen F. Davis. Part II is “Destroyers of the Earth: A Prophetic Critique of Empire.” The lecture examines the book of Revelation and the prophetic challenge to empire. Davis is Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke University Divinity School.

Watch Part I and Part III.

Ellen F. Davis Lecture Series On Biblical Prophecy, Part I

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This video is the first of three in a series of lectures on biblical prophecy presented by Dr. Ellen F. Davis. Part I is “A Prophetic Perspective.” The lecture draws from themes in her new book Biblical Prophecy: Perspectives for Christian Theology, Discipleship, and Ministry. She begins with five features of a prophetic perspective and how it informs Christian thought and practice. Davis is Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke University Divinity School.

Watch Part II

Interview: Mitzi J. Smith

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MitziSmith (2)Rev. Dr. Mitzi J. Smith is Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Studies at Ashland Theological Seminary in Detroit. She earned her B.A. from Columbia Union College, M.A. from The Ohio State University, M.Div. from Howard University School of Divinity, and Ph.D. from Harvard University. She blogs at Womanist Biblical Scholar Reflections and can be reached at: mitzijsmith@gmail.com.

How did you decide to become a biblical scholar? Share your autobiographical journey.

I decided to attempt to become a biblical scholar in my second year as a M.Div. student at Howard University Divinity School (HUSD). Initially, I had no idea what I would do after earning my M.Div. I was just compelled to complete my ministerial training, which I began in 1981 at Columbia Union College (CUC) where I earned a BA in Theology. When I enrolled at HUSD in 1995 I was working fulltime as a legal secretary in downtown DC. I knew then that I would likely leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). It had never entered my mind that I could be a biblical scholar. Even though I had biblical scholars as instructors for my undergraduate in theology, the possibility was never presented to me as an option (all my professors were white males and I was the only female entering the theology program in that year). A white female had entered the program a year or so ahead of me and upon completion of her degree she was offered a secretarial position in a SDA conference office. I don’t know if she ever became a pastor (the SDA church does hire women now as pastors but still does not ordain them for pastoral ministry!). So, as a woman and particularly as a black woman, I was not supposed to be in that program at all. Black SDA churches had been even slower than their white counterparts at hiring female pastors. And most black SDAs went to Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. More than ten years later I enrolled at HUSD where I encountered my first African American biblical scholar and where I was encouraged and mentored to become a biblical scholar by Profs Cain Hope Felder, Michael Newheart and Gene Rice and others.  More→

Is Song of Songs about Sex?

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For Valentine’s Day, a few thoughts on interpreting Song of Songs from Karen R. Keen, an instructor and Ph.D. Candidate in Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity at Marquette University. This post was originally published on her blog, Interpreting Scripture.

With poetic lines like “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” it might seem obvious that Song of Songs is about romance. At least that’s how the book is increasingly interpreted with the advent of modern historical-critical exegesis. Today a quick web search shows pastors and scholars praising the Song as a text about sexual love in marriage:  More→

Web Round Up #6

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Web Round Up provides links to relevant news from around the Web, including job openings, new books, articles on women biblical scholars, etc.

1. Dr. Rebecca Idestrom, Associate Professor of Old Testament, speaks at Tyndale Seminary chapel.

2. Jennifer Guo @JenniferGuo wants your suggestions for biblical studies carnival

3. New site featuring podcasts of women preachers.

4. The Reverend Dr. Margaret Aymer is associate professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary effective February 13, 2015. Congratulations!

5. Marg Mowczko on the ESV translation and Junia.

6. An interesting new Open Old Testament Learning Event at #ootle15. Possibility for Old Testament/Hebrew Bible scholars to use?

7. Joy A. Schroeder writes on “Retrieving the Voices of Women.”

8. Mitzi J. Smith has put out a new edited volume, a reader on womanist hermeneutics: “the first womanist biblical hermeneutics reader. In it readers have access, in one volume, to articles on womanist interpretative theories and theology as well as cutting-edge womanist readings of biblical texts by womanist biblical scholars.”

9. And for an academic Valentine’s Day:

Gaudete Theology @ VictoriaGaile:  “They say our love is apocryphal — but we know it’s deuterocanonical!”

Shamma Boyarin @ShammaBoyarin: “Let’s cite each other!”

Mette Bundvad @MetteBundvad: “Violets are blue, Roses are red, St. Valetine died when they cut off his head.”

Nyasha Junior @NyashaJunior: “I love you, but not your methodology.”

From Tweed Editing: “You have a tenured place in my heart” and “I love you more than my sabbatical.”

Nyasha Junior @NyashaJunior: “Much love to my fellow Black women of SBL!

Eleanor Parker @ClerkofOxford: “Some resources for a medieval Valentine’s Day:

10. Association for Jewish Studies (AJS) has fellowships and grants.

11. Job opening for Visiting Professor of Biblical Hebrew