Research Interests:
- Primary: Canon Studies (historical, theological, and hermeneutical angles); biblical theology; bibliology (revelation + Scripture); serving the local churches and the local academy;
- Secondary: Literary studies; theology of suffering and lament; Ezra-Nehemiah; Hebrews; history of interpretation; paronomasia; migraine research; chess opening theory; and the serious study of video games;
Books
1. Toward A Canon-Conscious Reading of the Bible: Exploring the History and Hermeneutics of the Canon. New Testament Monographs, 34. Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2014. (Details + Table of Contents) (amz)
2. Invitation to Biblical Theology: Exploring the Shape, Storyline, and Themes of Scripture. With Jeremy Kimble. Kregel, 2020. (Details + Table of Contents) (amz)
3. The Seminary as a Textual Community: Exploring John Sailhamer's Vision for Theological Education. Edited with Jason K. Lee. Fontes Press, 2021. (Details + Table of Contents) (amz)
4. One Holy Book: How the Bible Came To Be & Why It Matters. Codex Books, 2021. (Details + Table of Contents) (amz)
5. Irenaeus: Essential Readings. Edited with a New Introduction. Patristic Essentials Series. Fontes Press, 2023. (Details + Table of Contents) (amz)
6. One Grand Story: How the Bible Tells its Story and Why it Matters. Codex Books, 2024. (Details & Table of Contents) (amz)Articles and Essays
1. "Dreams as a Structural Framework in Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses." In The Explicator 66.3 (Spring 2008), 166-170. Reprinted in Novels For Students, Volume 36 (Detroit: Gale-Cengage, 2011), 35–37. (full text) (pdf)
2. "The Canon after Google: Implications of a Digitized and Destabilized Codex." In Princeton Theological Review 16.2 (Fall 2010), 39–42. (pdf)
3. "When Hope Screams: Learning How to Suffer as Sons From the Book of Hebrews." In Southwestern Journal of Theology 53.2 (Spring 2011): 112–34. (pdf)
4. "I Wait Upon My God: Exploring the Life and Letters of Michael Sattler." In Southwestern Journal of Theology 56.2 (Spring 2014): 183–97. (pdf) 
5. "The Scribe Who Has Become A Disciple: Identifying and Becoming the Ideal Reader of the Biblical Canon." In Themelios 41.1 (2016): 37–51. (full text) (pdf)
6. "The Drama of Discipline: Toward an Intertextual Profile of Paideia in Hebrews 12." In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59.3 (2016): 487–506. (pdf)
7. "Current Trends in Cancer Support within the Religious Community." With Karen Wonders, Luke Tse, Andrew Wonders, and Brittany Stout. In Nursing and Palliative Care 2.4 (2017): 1–4. (full text)
8. "Nehemiah's New Shadow: Reading and Rereading the Ezra-Nehemiah Narrative." In Southeastern Theological Review 9.1 (Spring 2018): 3–22. (pdf)
9. "What Remains of Our Lament? Exploring the Relationship between Death, Memory, and Grief in the Christian Life and in Recent Cultural Texts." In Southwestern Journal of Theology 69.1 (Fall 2019): 33–55. (pdf)
10. "Video Games as Serious Cultural Texts: That Dragon, Cancer as a Case Study," Art and Philosophy of Religion (Cambridge Scholars, 2021), 4–24.
11–12. "The Seminary as a Textual Community: Reflections on John Sailhamer's Vision for Theological Education," w/ Jason K. Lee (47–72) & "Hermeneutics, History, and Disciplinary Dialogue in John Sailhamer's Scholarship," in The Seminary as a Textual Community (75–81). 
13. "A Web of Significations: The Hermeneutics of Theological Anthropology in Marvel's Spiderman (2018)," in Theology and Spiderman (Lexington | Rowan & Littlefield, 2021), 149–73.
14. "Training for Ministry in a Textual Community," Didaktikos: Journal of Theological Education. 5.4 (April 2022): 36–38.
15. "Hermeneutical Reflections on Canonical Sub-Collections: Retrospect and Prospect," in Canon Formation: Tracing the Role of Sub-Collections in the Biblical Canon (T&T Clark, 2023), 311–31.
15. "Hermeneutical Reflections on Canonical Sub-Collections: Retrospect and Prospect," in Canon Formation: Tracing the Role of Sub-Collections in the Biblical Canon (T&T Clark, 2023), 311–31.16. "The Metaphors We Read Canonical Collections By: Exploring the Nature and Effect of Canonical Contextuality." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 65.2 (2022): 261–76.
17. "Bear with this Anonymous Exhortation: The Hermeneutical Effect of Anonymous Authorship for Readers of the New Testament" (forthcoming).
18. "Two Testaments to Tell: Biblical Theology and the Canonical Shape of the Gospel." Journal of Theological Interpretation, forthcoming.
19. "Carrying the Fire and Finding the Fireflies: Hope, Despair, and Godtalk in the Dystopian Stories of Naughty Dog and Cormac McCarthy." In Peter Admirand, ed. The Last of Us: Violence, Ethics, Redemption? (Lexington | Rowan & Littlefield, 2024), 179–92.
20. "The Narrative Function of Sickness in the Book of Chronicles." In Biblische Notizen, forthcoming.
21. "The Hermeneutical Basis for a Canonical Approach to the New Testament," forthcoming.
22. "Canonical Criticism and the Synoptic Gospels," forthcoming.
Book Reviews
Below are reviews that appear in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Bulletin for Biblical Research, Trinity Journal, The Gospel Coalition, Themelios, Christianity and Literature, Reviews of Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Horizons in Biblical Theology, Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Review and Expositor, Southeastern Theological Review, Southwestern Journal of Theology, Midwestern Journal of Theology, Journal of Youth Ministry, and here on the blog.
1. Review of Anthony Thiselton, Thiselton on Hermeneutics: Collected Works with New Essays. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 50.1 (Fall 2007), 121-23.
2. Review of Timothy George, ed., God the Holy Trinity. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 50.1 (Fall 2007), 110-12.
3. Review of Fred Sanders and Klaus Issler, eds, Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective. In Trinity Journal 29.2 (Fall 2008), 341-42.
4. Review of Daniel Treier, Introducing Theological Interpretation of Scripture: Recovering a Christian Practice. In The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 12.3 (Fall 2008), 111-12.
5. Review of James Beilby and Paul Eddy, eds., The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 51.1 (Fall 2008), 113-15.
6. Review of Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger, eds., Simple Church. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 50.2 (Spring 2008), 241-43.
7. Review of Chad Owen Brand and R. Stanton Norman, eds., Perspectives on Church Government: Five Views of Church Polity.
8. Review of John Mark Reynolds and Roger Overton, eds, The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Podcasting for Christ. In Themelios 34.1 (April 2009), 152-53.
9. Review of T.D. Herbert, Kenosis and Priesthood: Towards a Protestant Re-Evaluation of the Ordained Ministry. In Trinity Journal 30.2 (Fall 2009), 298-99.
10. Review of Constantine R. Campbell, Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek. In Review and Expositor 106.4 (Fall 2009), 633-35.
11. Review of Jeannine K. Brown, Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 52.2 (Spring 2010), 230-32.
12. Review of The UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader's Edition, complied by Barclay M. Newman. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 52.2 (Spring 2010), 187-88. Also at BaptistTheology.org (October 2008).
13. Review of Kenneth Berding and Jonathan Lunde, eds., Three Views of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 52.2 (Spring 2010), 201-03.
14. Review of Stephen E. Fowl, Theological Interpretation of Scripture. In Themelios 35.2 (July 2010), 350-52.
15. Review of Thomas R. Schreiner, New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. In Horizons in Biblical Theology 32.2 (2010), 237-40.
16. Review of William D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek, 3rd edition. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 53.1 (Fall 2010), 95-96.
17. Review of Nancy Guthrie, Be Still, My Soul: Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering. In Themelios 35.3 (November 2010), 548-49.
18. Review of Brevard Childs, The Church's Guide for Reading Paul: The Canonical Shaping of the Pauline Corpus. In Review and Expositor 107.4 (Fall 2010), 562-64.
19. Review of Robert L. Plummer, 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible. At BaptistTheology.org (August 2010). Also in Southwestern Journal of Theology 55.2 (Spring 2013): 317-19.
20. Review of Paul Hoskins, That Scripture might be Fulfilled: Typology and the Death of Christ. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 53.2 (Spring 2011): 218-20. Also at BaptistTheology.org (March 2010).
21. Review of Charles E. Hill, Who Chose the Gospels? Probing the Great Gospel Conspiracy. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 54.3 (September 2011): 631-34.
22. Review of Richard Hays, et al, Reading the Bible Intertextually. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 54.1 (Fall 2011): 80-83.
23. Review of Christopher R. Seitz, The Goodly Fellowship of the Prophets: The Achievement of Association in Canon Formation. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 54.1 (Fall 2011): 77-80.
24. Review of Thomas R. Schreiner, Magnifying God in Christ: A Summary of New Testament Theology. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 54.1 (Fall 2011): 76-77.
25. Review of Daniel R. Driver, Brevard Childs, Biblical Theologian. In Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 15.3 (Fall 2011): 97.
26. Review of David Allen and Steve Lemke, The Return of Christ. In Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry 8.1 (Spring 2011): 123-25.
27. Review of Andreas Köstenberger, A Theology of John's Gospel and Letters. Biblical Theology of the New Testament Series. Posted in July, 2011. 
28. Review of Alan Jacobs, The Pleasure of Reading in an Age of Distraction. In Themelios 37.1 (April 2012): 164-66.
29. Review of Lee M. McDonald, The Origin of the Bible: A Guide for the Perplexed. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 55.1 (March 2012), 153-55.
30. Review of Peter T. O'Brien, The Letter to the Hebrews in the Pillar New Testament Commentary Series. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 55.2 (Spring 2013): 312-14.
31. Review of John Bolt, editor and translator, Reformed Dogmatics: Abridged in One Volume. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 55.3 (Spring 2013): 280-81.
32. Review of Andreas Köstenberger and Richard Patterson, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation. In Trinity Journal 34.1 (Spring 2013): 123-25.
33. Review of Richard B. Hays and Stefan Alkier, Revelation and the Politics of Apocalyptic Interpretation. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 56.2 (June 2013): 445-48.
34. Review of Allen P. Ross, A Commentary on the Psalms. Volume 1 (1-41). In Southwestern Journal of Theology 56.1 (Fall 2013): 90-92.
35. Review of Scott R. Swain, Trinity, Revelation, And Reading: A Theological Introduction to the Bible and its Interpretation. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 56.1 (Fall 2013): 99-101.
36. Review of Tullian Tchividjian, Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free. In Themelios 38.2 (August 2013): 332-33.
37. Review of Michael Shepherd, Textual World of the Bible. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 57.1 (March 2014): 149-50.
38. Review of Timothy J. Stone, The Compilational History of the Megilloth: Canon, Contoured Intertextuality and Meaning in the Writings. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 57.3 (September 2014): 599-602.
39. Review of Robert Wall and David R. Nienhuis, Reading the Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude as Scripture. In Themelios 39.2 (July 2014): 324-26.
40. Review of Kevin DeYoung, Taking God at his Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What that Means for You and Me. In Themelios 39.2 (July 2014): 356-58.
41. Review of Charles E. Hill and Michael J. Kruger, The Early Text of the New Testament. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 57.1 (Fall 2014): 106-09.
42. Review of John Anthony Dunne, Esther and Her Elusive God: How a Secular Story Functions as Scripture. In Themelios 39.3 (November 2014): 517-19.
43. Review of Matthew Y. Emerson, Christ and the New Creation: A Canonical Approach to the Theology of the New Testament. Posted in October, 2014.
44. Review of Christopher Seitz, Colossians (Brazos Theological Commentary). In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 58.3 (September 2015): 655-58.
45. Review of Jonathan I. Griffiths, Hebrews and Divine Speech. In Themelios 40.2 (August 2015): 305-06.
46. Review of Jens Schröter, From Jesus to the New Testament: Early Christian Theology and the Origin of the New Testament Canon. Translated by Wayne Coppins. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 58.1 (Fall 2015): 122-24.
47. Review of BibleWorks 9 (4 parts). Posted in June, 2015.
48. Review of Francis Watson, Gospel Writing: A Canonical Perspective. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 58.1 (Fall 2015): 124-26.
49. Review of Michael Shepherd, The Text in the Middle. In Southeastern Theological Review 6.2 (Winter 2015): 236-38.
50. Review of David M. Allen, Deuteronomy and Exhortation in Hebrews: A Study in Narrative Re-presentation. Posted in July 2015. Also in Midwestern Journal of Theology 14.2 (Fall 2015): 108-13.
51. Review of Matthew W. Bates, The Birth of the Trinity: Jesus, God, and Spirit in New Testament and Early Christian Interpretation of the Old Testament. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59.3 (2016): 601-03.
52. Review of Thomas Bokedal, The Formation and Significance of the Christian Biblical Canon: A Study in Text, Ritual and Interpretation. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59.3 (2016): 655-58.
53. Review of Julius Steinberg and Timothy J. Stone, The Shape of the Writings. In Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament. In Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament 6.1 (2020): 95-99.
54. Review of Matthew Crawford, Cyril of Alexandria's Trinitarian Theology of Scripture. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 60.1 (Fall 2017): 107-08.
55. Review of Keith Bodner, An Ark on the Nile: Beginning of the Book of Exodus. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 60.2 (2017): 385-87.
56. Review of Keith Houston, The Book: A Cover-to-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of our Time. In Christianity and Literature 67.1 (December 2017): 223-25.
57. Review of ESV Reader's Bible, Six Volume Set. In Themelios 42.2 (August 2017): 407-10.
58. Review of Craig G. Bartholomew and Heath A. Thomas, A Manifesto for Theological Interpretation. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 60.1 (Fall 2017): 101-02.
59. Review of Richard Hays, Echoes of Scripture in the Gospels. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 60.2 (Spring 2018): 233-34.
60. Review of John Peckham, Canonical Theology: The Biblical Canon, Sola Scriptura, and Theological Method. In Themelios 42.3 (December 2017): 569-70.
61. Review of Paul M. Hoskins, The Book of Revelation: A Theological and Exegetical Commentary. In Themelios 42.3 (December 2017): 534-35.
62. Review of Brian J. Wright, Communal Reading in the Time of Jesus: A Window Into Early Christian Reading Practices, forthcoming.
63. Review of Edmon L. Gallagher and John D. Meade, The Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 69.1 (Fall 2019): 104.
64. Review of Christopher R. Seitz, The Elder Testament: Canon, Theology, Trinity. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 62.4 (December 2019): 811-13.
65. Review of Matthew R. Crawford, The Eusebian Canon Tables: Ordering Textual Knowledge in Late Antiquity. In Themelios 45.2 (August 2020): 426-27.
66. Review of Michael Rydelnik and Edwin Blum, eds., The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy: Studies and Expositions of the Messiah in the Old Testament. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 63.2 (June 2020): 354-57.
67. Review of Frank G. Bosman, Gaming and the Divine: A New Systematic Theology of Video Games. In Journal of Youth Ministry 18.2 (2020): 143–47. 
68. Review of David A. Smith, The Epistles for All Christians: Epistolary Literature, Circulation, and the Gospel for All Christians. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 64.3 (September 2021): 620–22.
69. Review of Chris Keith, The Gospel as Manuscript: An Early History of the Jesus Tradition as Material Artifact. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 64.1 (Fall 2021): 160–62. 
70. Review of Kevin Chen, The Messianic Vision of the Pentateuch. Posted June, 2021.
71. Review of Matthew Mullins, Enjoying the Bible: Literary Approaches to Loving the Scriptures. At For the Church (July 2021). 
72. Review of Christopher R. Seitz, Convergences: Canon and Catholicity. In Bulletin for Biblical Research 32.1 (2022): 67–69. 
73. Review of Adonis Vidu, The Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology. In Themelios 46.3 (December 2021): 705–08. 
74. Review of Christopher R. Seitz, Essays on Prophecy and Canon: The Rise of a New Model of Interpretation. In Trinity Journal 43.1 (Spring 2022): 96–97.
75. Review of Casey Croy, Sequencing of the Hebrew Bible: The Order of Books. In Southwestern Journal of Theology 65.1 (Fall 2022): 136–38.
76. Review of David Young, The Concept of Canon in the Reception of the Epistle to the Hebrews. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 65.4 (December 2022): 813–14.
77. Review of Simon Gathercole, The Gospel and the Gospels: Christian Proclamation and Early Jesus Books. In Southeastern Theological Review 14.2 (Fall 2023): 143–145.
78. Review of Jeremiah Coogan, Eusebius the Evangelist: Rewriting the Fourfold Gospel in Late Antiquity. In Themelios 48.3 (December 2023): 681–83.
79. Review of Benjamin Laird, Creating the Canon: Composition, Controversy, and the Authority of the New Testament and John Meade and Peter Gurry, Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible, posted at The Gospel Coalition (September 8, 2023).
80. Review of Mark Giacobbe, Luke the Chronicler: The Narrative Arc of Samuel–Kings and Chronicles in Luke-Acts, posted at Reviews of Biblical and Early Christian Studies (April 13, 2024).
81. Review of Stanley Porter, Interpretation for Preaching and Teaching: An Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics. In Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 67.1 (2024): 145–46.
82. Review of Stephen Dempster, Return of the Kingdom: A Biblical Theology of God's Reign, posted at The Gospel Coalition (November 5, 2024).
83. Review of Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments, posted at The Gospel Coalition (forthcoming).
84. Review of C. Kavin Rowe, Method, Context, and Meaning in New Testament Studies and Studies in Luke, Acts, and Paul. In Southeastern Theological Review, forthcoming.
85. Review of Michael Licona, Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels tell the Same Story Differently. In Southeastern Theological Review, forthcoming.
86. Review of Dragos Andrei Giulea, Antioch, Nicaea, and the Synthesis of Constantinople: Revisiting Trajectories in the Fourth-Century Christological Debates, forthcoming.
Public Scholarship
- The Textual Community Podcast
- Substack Series on the "Canonical Approach"
- Articles Contributions to For the Church.
- Podcast: Church Grammar—June 23, 2022 Episode on Anonymous Authors & NT (w/ Madison Pierce & Brandon Smith)
- Podcast: Church Grammar—June 4, 2021 Episode on Theological Interpretation, Canon, and Hermeneutics (w/ Brandon D. Smith)
- Podcast: Church Grammar—March 2, 2020 Episode on Canon-consciousness, Biblical theology, and "puns as pedagogy" (w/ Brandon D. Smith)
- Podcast: Reformed Gamers Podcast—Episode 146 on Theology & What Remains of Edith Finch (w/ Matthew Millsap)
related posts
May 18, 2020
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