EDUCATION
 | Ph.D. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1998 |
| M.Div. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1989 |
| B.A. Alderson-Broaddus College, 1983 |
AREAS OF DOCTORAL EXAMINATION
| Religion and Culture of the Greco-Roman World (general exam); The Ancient Novel (special focus exam) |
| History of Early Christianity (general exam); The Romans Debate (special focus exam) |
| Literature of Early Christianity (general exam); The Speeches of Acts (special focus exam) |
| Postmodern Literary Theory (general exam); Postmodern Interpretation of Faulkner's Go Down, Moses (special focus exam) |
| Greek Exam: New Testament and Apostolic Fathers |
| Dissertation: A Sophistic Paul: Ambiguity, Cunning and Deception in Greece and Rome. |
Advisor: Bart Ehrman (UNC-CH); Readers: Tom Cohen (UNC-CH; now at SUNY-Albany); Richard Hays (Duke); Dale Martin (Duke; now at Yale); Paul Meyer (UNC-CH adjunct; retired from Princeton Theological Seminary)
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
| Missouri State University
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| Meredith College
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| The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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COURSES
Instructor
| Apocalypse Now and Then (REL 397) |
| Basic Issues in Biblical Studies (REL 630) |
| Birth of Christianity (UNC) |
| Introduction to the Literature and World of the New Testament (REL 102) |
| Introduction to the Literature and History of the Bible (Meredith College) |
| Jesus of Nazareth (REL 320) |
| Paul (REL 321) |
| Ethics, Persuasion, and Early Christianity (REL 520) |
| The Postmodern Bible (REL 631; grad seminar) |
| Rhetoric in the New Testament and Religious Studies (REL 580; senior seminar) |
Teaching Associate
| Birth of Christianity (UNC; Instructor: Bart Ehrman) |
| Heresy and Orthodoxy in Early Christianity (UNC; Instructor: Bart Ehrman |
| Introduction to Judaic Civilization (UNC; Instructor: Kalman Bland of Duke) |
| Introduction to New Testament History and Literature (UNC; Instructor: Bart Ehrman) |
| Introduction to Old Testament History and Literature (UNC; Instructor: John Van Seters) |
| Introduction to World Religions (UNC; Instructor: Carl Ernst) |
RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
Books: (see also In Progress section below)
| 2001 Paul's True Rhetoric: Ambiguity, Cunning and Deception in Greece and Rome. Emory Studies in Early Christianity 7. Trinity Press International. |
Read the publisher's advertisement; the Journal of Biblical Literature and Review of Biblical Literature review; Princeton Theological Seminary's Koinonia review (see p. 138); the comprehensive Society of Biblical Literature's Rhetoric and the New Testament Section review; Currents in Theology and Mission review; Buy now at Amazon or Barnes and Noble!
Articles:
| 2008 "Paul and Writing," in Christopher Stanley and Stanley Porter, eds., . SBL Symposium Series; |
| 2005 "On His Majesty's Secret Service: The Undercover Ethos of Paul," in Thomas H. Olbricht and Anders Eriksson, eds., Rhetoric, Ethic and Moral Persuasion in Biblical Discourse. Emory Studies in Early Christianity 11; New York: T & T Clark International (r) |
| 2003 "Exegesis of John 12:20-33; Phil 2:5-11; Isa 25:6-9; John 20:19-31." Lectionary Homiletics |
| 2000 "Focus on the Millennium." Religious Studies Notebook |
| 1999 "Restoring the Inheritance in Rom 11:1." Journal of Biblical Literature 118,1 (r) |
| 1997 "True Rhetoric: Ambiguity, Cunning, and Deception in Pauline Discourse." Society of Biblical Literature 1997 Seminar Papers. Atlanta: Scholars Press. |
| 1996 "The Unknown Paul: Philosophers and Sophists in Acts 17." Society of Biblical Literature 1996 Seminar Papers. Atlanta: Scholars Press. |
| 1996 "Not Either/Or But Both/And In Paul's Areopagus Speech." Biblical Interpretation 3,3 (r) |
Book Reviews:
| 2008 Robert L. Brawley, Character Ethics and the New Testament: Moral Dimensions of Scripture, in Biblical Interpretation |
| 2008 Hans-Josef Klauck, Ancient Letters and the New Testament: A Guide to Context and Exegesis, in Journal of the American Academy of Religion |
| 2004 J. David Hester Amador, Academic Constraints in Rhetorical Criticism of the New Testament: An Introduction to a Rhetoric of Power, in Religion |
| 2004 Gordon Fee. To What End Exegesis? Essays Textual, Exegetical, and Theological, for Review of Biblical Literature |
| 2003 Bo Reicke, Re-Examining Paul's Letters: The History of the Pauline Correspondence, for Review of Biblical Literature |
| 2001 Brad Eastman, The Significance of Grace in the Letters of Paul, in Interpretation |
| 2001 Ronal F. Hock, J. Bradley Chance, and Judith Perkins, eds. Ancient Fiction and Early Christian Narrative, in Journal of the American Academy of Religion |
| 2000 Janet Eyler and Dwight E. Giles, Jr., Where's the Learning in Service Learning, in Council of Societies for the Study of Religion Bulletin |
| 2000 Wendy Dabourne, Purpose and cause in Pauline exegesis: Romans 1.16-4.25 and a new approach to the letters, in Review of Biblical Literature |
| 2000 Richard Wallace and Wynne Williams, The Three Worlds of Paul of Tarsus, in Review of Biblical Literature |
| 1998 Romano Penna, Paul the Apostle, 2 vols., in Review of Biblical Literature and Journal of Biblical Literature |
| 1997 Stanley E. Porter and David Tombs, eds. Approaches to New Testament Study, in Journal of Biblical Literature |
| 1996 Joel B. Green, ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation, in Journal of Biblical Literature |
| 1995 Marie-Eloise Rosenblatt, Paul the Accused: His Portrait in the Acts of the Apostles, in Review of Biblical Literature and Journal of Biblical Literature |
In Progress:
| Paul: Sophist of the Kingdom (working title) |
| 2006-7 Twenty dictionary articles for the New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible. |
ACADEMIC PAPERS
| 2008 "Parenesis and Peroration: The Rhetorical Function of Romans 12:1–15:13." Central States Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, St. Louis. |
| 2007 "Paul and Writing." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Diego. |
| 2007 "Paul and Writing." Central States Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, St. Louis. |
| 2006 "A Rhetorical-Critical Analysis of "The Problem of Rhetoric and Theology according to the Apostle Paul." International Society of Biblical Literature Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland. |
| 2006 "Truly Rhetorical Reasons for Romans." Central States Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, St. Louis. |
| 2005 "Rhetoric and Theory Ideas for the Paul and Scripture Seminar." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia. |
| 2004 "The New Age Sophist." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Antonio. |
| 2004 "The 'Christian' Sophist." Central States Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, St. Louis. |
| 2003 "Truly Rhetorical Reasons for Romans 7." International Society of Biblical Literature Meeting, Cambridge, England. |
| 2003 "Functional Non-equivalents in Translations of Paul." Central States Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, St. Louis. |
| 2002 "Mark's True Response." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Toronto |
| 2002 "On His Majesty's Secret Service: The Undercover Ethos of Paul." Public Lecture at Central Missouri State University. (Abbreviated and revised form of earlier paper below.) |
| 2002 "How New is New Creation Rhetoric? A Response to J. Louis Martyn's Concept of Paul's Apocalyptic Discourse." Springfield Bible Professors Meeting, Evangel University |
| 2002 "On His Majesty's Secret Service: The Undercover Ethos of Paul, God's Double Agent." Heidelberg Conference on Rhetoric, Ethic and Moral Persuasion in Biblical Discourse, Heidelberg (See above for a shorter and better version.) |
| 2002 "How New is New Creation Rhetoric? A Response to J. Louis Martyn's Concept of Paul's Apocalyptic Discourse." Central States Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, Kansas City. |
| 2001 "How New is New Creation Rhetoric? A Response to J. Louis Martyn's Concept of Paul's Apocalyptic Discourse." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Denver |
| 2001 "The True Rhetoric of Romans." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Denver. |
| 2000 "Apocalyptic Logocentrism: Dead Letters and Desire for Presence in Paul." Central States Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Regional Meeting, Kansas City. |
| 2000 "The Apocalypse of Ambiguity in 2 Corinthians 3:4 - 4:6." Southwest Region Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, Irving. |
| 1999 "All things to all people all at once: Paul's ambiguous rhetorical strategy in 1 Corinthians 8:1 - 11:1." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Annual Meeting, Boston. |
| 1999 "Containing Cunning in 1 Corinthians 1-4." Central States Regional American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. |
| 1999 Panel Review of The New Testament: A Timeless Book for all Peoples, by Marla J. Selvidge. Central States Regional American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meeting, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. |
| 1998 "Intratextual Effects of the Restoration of Paul's Inheritance in Rom 11:1." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Southeast Regional Meeting, Knoxville. |
| 1998 "Combining Traditional and Trendy Teaching Techniques in the High-tech Jesus Course." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Southeast Regional Meeting, Knoxville. |
| 1997 "True Rhetoric: Ambiguity, Cunning, and Deception in Paul's Discourse." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Annual Meeting, San Francisco. |
| 1996 "The Unknown Paul: Philosophers and Sophists in Acts 17." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, New Orleans. |
| 1996 "The Unknown Paul: Philosophers and Sophists in Acts 17." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Southeast Regional Meeting, Columbia. |
| 1995 Response to "Tents, Buildings, and Sowing Bodies: Paul's Mixed Metaphors on Resurrection of the Dead," by James Tabor. UNC Annual Symposium, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. |
| 1993 "The Significance of an Insignificant Variant: Intertextuality Meets Text Criticism in Rom. 11:1." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Annual Meeting, Washington. |
| 1993 "Philo, Josephus, and Faulkner's Go Down, Moses." North Carolina Religious Studies Association Annual Meeting, Charlotte. |
| 1993 "Not Either/Or But Both/And in Paul's Areopagus Speech." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Southeast Regional Meeting, Charleston. |
| 1992 "Another Prayer of Hannah in 1 Sam. 1:6." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting Southeast Regional Meeting, Atlanta. |
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
| 2005 A Show-and-Tell Presentation of a Pedagogically Useful Video Clip in the Workshop Session, "Jesus at the Movies—What Works in the Classroom and What Doesn't." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia. |
| 2005- Paul and Scripture Seminar, Society of Biblical Literature |
| 2004 Interviewed by Springfield News Leader concerning the Da Vinci Code |
| 2003 Presentation of Position Paper Assignments Employing Rhetoric to Encourage Critical Thinking. Department of Religious Studies, Missouri State. |
| 2003 Missouri State Showcase on Teaching (participant). |
| 2002 Women in the Early Church. Lecture at Central Missouri State University. |
| 2002 Antiquities Colloquium. "A Sampling of the Distorted Echoes of the Odyssey in Oh Brother". |
| 2002 Religious Studies Workshop (participant). Department of Religious Studies, Missouri State. |
| 2002 Missouri State Showcase on Teaching Presentation: How to do Things with Clips. |
| 2001- 2002 Researcher for New Testament Language Project. |
| 2001 Panelist for a review of Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, Springfield Bible Professors Meeting, Evangel University |
| 2001 Panelist for Women's History Month discussion of Mary Daly, Missouri State. |
| 2000 Missouri State Technology Expo Presentation: Linking Towards Pedagogical Ecstasy. |
| 2000 Extensive non-published critical review of The New Testament: A Timeless Book for All Peoples, by Marla Selvidge, for Prentice Hall. |
| 2000 Religious Studies Workshop (participant). Department of Religious Studies, Missouri State. |
| 1999 Master Advisor Workshop (participant). |
| 1999 Religious Studies Workshop (participant). Department of Religious Studies, Missouri State. |
| 1998 Technology Feedback Session (participant). College of Humanities and Public Affairs, Missouri State. |
| 1994 Research Assistant, The New Testament In Historical Perspective, by Bart D. Ehrman. Proofreading and extensive critical review. |
| 1992-93 Research Assistant, The Endowment for Biblical Research Lexicon Project. Drafting of lexicon articles for computer software and participant in discussions regarding program format. |
AWARDS AND GRANTS
| 2007 |
| 2003 University Award in Teaching (From Missouri State) |
| 2002 College Award for Excellence in Research (From Missouri State) |
| 2000 Funding for Results Grant (From Missouri State) |
| 1997 Teaching Assistant Technology Supplement Award (From UNC-CH) |
| 1996 Society of Biblical Literature Regional Scholar Award (Selected Mentor: Vernon K. Robbins, Emory University) |
| 1993 Kenneth Willis Clark Student Essay Award, Society of Biblical Literature, Southeast Regional Meeting, Charleston, SC |
| 1992 Kenneth Willis Clark Student Essay Award, Society of Biblical Literature, Southeast Regional Meeting, Atlanta, GA |
SERVICE
To the Department
| 2007- Graduate Director |
| 2006 Professional Standards Committee (Aug-Sept) |
| 2004-2005 Christian Origins and 2d Temple Judaism Search Committee Chair |
| 2004 Tenure-track Faculty Search Guidelines Ad Hoc Committee Chair |
| 2004 History of Christianity Search Committee Chair |
| 2003- Assessment Committee |
| 2003-2005 Professional Standards Committee |
| 2002- CGEIP Assessment of REL 102 Department Committee Chair |
| 2001-2002 Library Committee |
| 2001-2002 Religion, Self, and Society One Year Replacement Search Committee |
| 2001-2002 Fellowships in Religious Studies Teaching Committee |
| 2000-2001 Library Committee Chair and Department Representative |
| 1999- Technology Committee Chair |
To the College
| 2005-2006 CHPA Grants Committee |
| 2001-2002 Student Computer Usage Fee Committee |
| 2000-2005 Scholastic Action Committee |
| 1999-2002 College of Humanities and Public Affairs College Council |
To the University
| 2006-2008 Provost's Faculty Leadership Forum |
| 2006-2007 Provost's Committee on Promotion and Tenure |
| 2006- Graduate Advisory Council |
| 2005 Selected for Academic Affairs Leadership Associates Program |
| 2004 University Awards Committee |
| 2002-2006 Faculty Senate |
To the Discipline
| 2006- Member of Paul and Scripture Seminar Steering Committee, Society of Biblical Literature |
| 2000- Chair of New Testament Section, Central States Region of the Society of Biblical Literature |
To the Community
| 2008 Presentation on Acts 9–12, Immaculate Conception Scripture Study, Springfield, MO |
| 2008 Presentation on Matthew 3–5, Immaculate Conception Scripture Study, Springfield, MO |
| 2008 Lenten Study on Romans, South Street Christian Church, Springfield, MO |
| 2007 Presentation on 2 Corinthians 3–5, Immaculate Conception Scripture Study, Springfield, MO |
| 2006 Presentation on the Corinthian Correspondence, Immaculate Conception Scripture Study, Springfield, MO |
| 2006 Presentation on Da Vinci Code Presentation, First Christian Church, El Dorado Springs, MO |
| 2006 Lenten Study on the Historical Jesus, South Street Christian Church, Springfield, MO |
| 2004- Member of the American Guild of Organists |
| 2004 The Passion of Mel Gibson vs. the Passions of the Gospels, Presentation to Drury University Institute for Mature Learners. |
| 2004 Debunking the Da Vinci Code, Presentation to Drury University Institute for Mature Learners. |
| 2004 Lenten Study on the Gospels, South Street Christian Church, Springfield, MO. |
| 2003 Da Vinci Code Presentation, Central Christian Church, Springfield, MO. |
| 2003 Lenten Study on the Parables, South Street Christian Church, Springfield, MO |
| 2001 "Good News: The Kingdom of God has come near." Presentation for Understanding Mark and His Gospel: 25th Anniversary of Ordination to Priesthood for Mark G. Boyer. |
| 1998 Presentation on Early Christian Apocalypticism and its Present Relevance. Regional Catholic Youth Rally, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Springfield, MO. |
| 1998- Musician (Pipe Organ, Keyboards, et al.) at South Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) |
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
| Society of Biblical Literature |
| American Academy of Religion |
