Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

2017 Yale University

Ph.D. (M.A., M.Phil) in Religious Studies (Theology)

Dissertation: The Church’s Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context in the Work of John Howard Yoder, Robert Jenson, and John Webster

Committee: Kathryn Tanner (advisor), David Kelsey, Miroslav Volf, Stephen Fowl

2011 Emory University, Candler School of Theology

M.Div. summa cum laude (Theology and Ethics)

2007 Abilene Christian University

B.A. summa cum laude in Biblical Text

BOOKS

Technology: For the Care of Souls (Lexham Ministry Guides; Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2026).

Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2024).

The Church: A Guide to the People of God (Christian Essentials; Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2024).

The Church’s Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2022).

The Doctrine of Scripture (Cascade Companions; Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021).

EDITED BOOKS

Robert W. Jenson, The Triune Story: Collected Essays on Scripture (New York: Oxford University Press, 2019).

JOURNAL ARTICLES

“Churches of Christ: Once Catholic, Now Evangelical” and “Response to the Responses,” Restoration Quarterly 66:3 (2024): 133–43, 163–69.

“The Fittingness of Holy Orders,” Journal of Christian Studies 2:3 (2023): 71–86.

“Is Scripture a Gift? Reflections on the Divine-Ecclesial Provision of the Canon,” Religions 13:10 (2022): 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13100961.

“Theology in the Dark: Introducing Karen Kilby’s God, Evil, and the Limits of Theology,” Political Theology 22:5 (2021).

 “What Are the Standards of Excellence for Theological Interpretation of Scripture?,” Journal of Theological Interpretation 14:2 (2020): 149–179.

“The Church and the Spirit in Robert Jenson’s Theology of Scripture,” Pro Ecclesia 28:3 (2019): 278–300.

“What is the Doctrine of the Trinity For? Practicality and Projection in Robert Jenson’s Theology,” Modern Theology 33:3 (2017): 414–433.

“John Webster, Theologian Proper,” Anglican Theological Review 99:2 (2017): 333–351.

“The Hermeneutics of Theological Interpretation: Holy Scripture, Biblical Scholarship, and Historical Criticism,” International Journal of Systematic Theology 19:1 (2017): 30–52.

“Reading the Trinity in the Bible: Assumptions, Warrants, Ends,” Pro Ecclesia 25:4 (2016): 459–474.

“An Undefensive Presence: The Mission and Identity of the Church in Kathryn Tanner and John Howard Yoder,” Scottish Journal of Theology 68:3 (2015): 327–344.

“Hooking In, Sitting Loose: A Call for Theology in the Churches of Christ,” Restoration Quarterly 54:4 (2012): 219–228.

“Though the Earth Give Way: Haiti, Suffering, and the Crucified God,” The Other Journal 16:5 (2010).

BOOK CHAPTERS

“Lessons for Figural Reading from Saint Thomas on Isaiah,” Reading Isaiah with Saint Thomas Aquinas, ed. Matthew Levering (Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Academic Press, 2026).

“Teaching Christ,” On Teaching Theology: Essays, ed. Adam A. Neder (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2026).

“Liberating the Least of These,” The Liberating Arts: Why We Need Liberal Arts Education, ed. Jeffrey Bilbro, Jessica Hooten Wilson, and David Henreckson (Walden, NY: Plough, 2023), 163–174.

 “On Knowing,” Cornerstone, ed. Cliff Barbarick (6th–9th eds.; ACU Learning Studio, 2018–23), 113–127.

“Preaching Peace in Violent Times: Faithful Approaches for Pacifist Pastors to Speak the Truth in Love,” Preaching and the Theological Imagination, ed. Zachary Guiliano and Cameron Partridge (New York: Peter Lang, 2015), 231–250.

“A Response to Jon Coutts on Barth and the Coen Brothers,” Karl Barth in Conversation, ed. David Congdon and W. Travis McMaken (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2014), 247–254.

BOOK REVIEWS

Konrad Schmid and Jens Schröter, The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture, in Interpretation 78:1 (2024): 69–71.

R. B. Jamieson and Tyler R. Wittman, Biblical Reasoning: Christological and Trinitarian Rules for Exegesis, in International Journal of Systematic Theology 25:3 (2023): 504–506.

Fred Sanders, Fountain of Salvation: Trinity and Soteriology, in Pro Ecclesia 32:1-2 (2023): 200–204.

Jordan Senner, John Webster: The Shape and Development of His Theology, in Scottish Journal of Theology 76:1 (2023): 92-93.

Edwin Chr. van Driel, Rethinking Paul: Protestant Theology and Pauline Exegesis, in Modern Theology 39:1 (2023): 163–167.

David H. Kelsey, Human Anguish and God’s Power, in Stone-Campbell Journal 25:2 (2022): 265–267.

Oliver D. Crisp, Analyzing Doctrine: Toward a Systematic Theology, in Stone-Campbell Journal 24:1 (2021), 86–87.

Steven J. Duby, God in Himself: Scripture, Metaphysics, and the Task of Christian Theology, in International Journal of Systematic Theology 22:3 (2020): 452–455.

Joseph K. Gordon, Divine Scripture in Human Understanding: A Systematic Theology of the Christian Bible, in Anglican Theological Review 102:2 (2020): 328–330.

Keith D. Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From the Early Church to Modern Practice, in Interpretation 74:2 (2020): 214–215.

Hans Boersma, Scripture as Real Presence: Sacramental Exegesis in the Early Church, in Interpretation 73:1 (2019): 91–92.

Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Biblical Authority After Babel: Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianity, in Interpretation 73:1 (2019): 90–91.

Gary Anderson, Christian Doctrine and the Old Testament: Theology in the Service of Exegesis, in International Journal of Systematic Theology 19:4 (2017): 534-537.

John Howard Yoder, ed. Gayle Gerber Koontz and Andy Alexis-Baker, Theology of Mission: A Believers Church Perspective, in Scottish Journal of Theology 69:3 (2016): 370–371.

Nicholas M. Healy, Hauerwas: A (Very) Critical Introduction, in International Journal of Systematic Theology 18:2 (2016): 236–239.

Scott R. Swain, The God of the Gospel: Robert Jenson’s Trinitarian Theology, in Pro Ecclesia 23:4 (2014): 471–474.

Kevin Giles, The Eternal Generation of the Son: Maintaining Orthodoxy in Trinitarian Theology, in Restoration Quarterly 56:3 (2014): 188–189.

Duane Olson, Issues in Contemporary Christian Thought: A Fortress Introduction, in Restoration Quarterly 55:4 (2013): 255–256.

Lee Camp, Who Is My Enemy?: Questions American Christians Must Face About Islam—and Themselves, in Restoration Quarterly 55:2 (2013): 124–126.

LECTURES, TALKS, PANELS

“The Call of Abraham, the Coming of Christ, and the People of God,” The Springs Church of Christ, Edmund, OK, July 29–30, 2023.

“Friendships, Gifts, and Loving Christ with Your Mind,” University Scholars Chapel Service, Abilene, TX, April 27, 2023.

“Christian Teaching About the Soul,” University Church of Christ, March 8, 2023.

“Four Friendships for the Life of the Mind,” Phi Eta Sigma Induction Ceremony, Abilene, TX, February 17, 2023.

“Knowing Christ,” ACU Commencement Address, Abilene, TX, December 16, 2022.

“The Word of the Lord,” Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, TX, October 19, 2022.

“Preaching for Martyrs in Training,” Summit Lectureship, Abilene, TX, October 14, 2022.

“Reading Scripture with the Church,” University Church of Christ, August 31, 2022.

“Tradition and Liturgy for Churches of Christ,” University Church of Christ, August 24, 2022.

“Response to Reviews of The Doctrine of Scripture,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 8, 2022.

“Hearing the Word of the Lord,” Intersection Webinar: Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, April 12, 2022.

“The Word of the Lord: Reading Scripture in and for Christ’s Body,” CSART Public Lecture, Abilene, TX, February 15, 2022.

“Covenant and Sacrament,” Highland Church of Christ, Abilene, TX, May 1, 2021.

“A Third Way for Churches of Christ,” University Church of Christ, Abilene, TX, March 4, 2020.

“A Third Way for Churches of Christ,” Summit Lectureship, Abilene, TX, September 18, 2019.

“The Lord Reigns: On the Ascension,” Westgate Church of Christ, July 24, 2019.

“Untidy Scripture, Systematic Theology: Some Friendly Questions for Joe Gordon,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Lubbock, TX, June 7, 2019.

 “Saint Monica of Hippo: The Persistent Widow,” Highland Church of Christ, April 10, 2019.

“How to Think, or: How to Resist the Social Media-fication of Relationships,” Summer Seminar, Abilene, TX, August 3, 2018.

“Theology of Scripture: Ecclesiological Reflections,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 6, 2018.

“Theological Reflections on Movies as Prayers,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 6, 2018.

“Unlike Any Other Book: Theological Reflections on the Bible and its Faithful Interpretation,” Baylor University, Waco, TX, February 10, 2018.

“How Should We Read John Howard Yoder in Light of His Abuse of Women?” Ethics Colloquium, Yale University, New Haven, CT, November 18, 2015.

“Undefensive Ecclesiology and Engaging the Wider Tradition”; “10 Commitments of Theological Interpretation,” Heritage Christian University, Florence, AL, April 1, 2015.

“Some Nonnegotiables in Theological Interpretation Done Well, or: On Keeping the Fight Alive with Biblical Scholarship,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 5, 2014.

“Patiently Awaiting the Death and Resurrection of the Universe: Eschatological Memory and Ecological Ethics in 2 Peter 3:1–13,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 7, 2013.

“An Undefensive Presence: The Mission and Identity of the Church in Kathryn Tanner and John Howard Yoder,” annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Chicago, IL, November 19, 2012.

“Hooking In, Sitting Loose: A Call for Theology in the Churches of Christ,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 7, 2012.

“Disciples of a State Criminal: How the Mission of the Church Relates to the U.S. Imprisonment Crisis,” Stone-Campbell Journal Conference, Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln, IL, April 14, 2012.

POPULAR, ONLINE, AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS

“The Reckoning of Wendell Berry,” in The Point (forthcoming).

“The Wrong Theory: On Christopher Watkin’s Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture,” in Comment (forthcoming).

“The Bible in America: On Mark Noll’s America’s Book: The Rise and Decline of a Bible Civilization,” in The Christian Century (forthcoming).

“Response to The Home of God: A Brief Story of Everything by Miroslav Volf and Ryan McAnnally-Linz,” in Syndicate (forthcoming).

“Theology in Division,” in First Things 332 (April 2023): 7-9.

“Once More, Church and Culture,” in Mere Orthodoxy 4 (Winter 2023): 71-79.

“The Church’s Holy Scripture,” The Great Tradition podcast (March 10, 2023).

“The Church’s Book,” A History of Christian Theology podcast (January 4, 2023).

“Response to Alastair Roberts on The Church’s Book,” in Theopolis Conversations (August 11, 2022).

“The Church in the Immanent Frame: On Andrew Root’s Churches and the Crisis of Decline: A Hopeful, Practical Ecclesiology for a Secular Age,” in First Things (July 14, 2022).

 “The Ruins of Christendom: On Stanley Hauerwas’s Fully Alive: The Apocalyptic Humanism of Karl Barth,” in The Los Angeles Review of Books (July 10, 2022).

“The Church’s Book,” Crackers and Grape Juice podcast (July 8, 2022).

“Another Option for Christian Politics,” in Front Porch Republic (July 4, 2022).

“On Faith in a Better World ‘When Losing is Likely,’” Arts of Travel podcast (June 19, 2022).

“Can We Be Human in Meatspace? On Andy Crouch’s The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World,” in The New Atlantis 69 (Summer 2022): 81–92.

“The Doctrine of Scripture,” Mere Fidelity podcast (April 26, 2022).

“The Liberating Arts,” Liberal Learning for Life podcast (April 25, 2022).

“Unlearning Machines: On Audrey Watters’ Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning,” in Comment (March 24, 2022).

“Israel’s Canaanite Conquest Presents a Question with Four Possible Answers: On Charlie Trimm’s The Destruction of the Canaanites: God, Genocide, and Biblical Interpretation,” in Christianity Today (March 22, 2022).

“Marked by Death,” in First Things (March 2, 2022).

“Jewish Jesus, Black Christ,” in The Christian Century 139:3 (February 9, 2022): 20–25.

“Grace upon Grace,” in Comment (January 13, 2022).

“Still Supersessionist? On Timothy Jackson’s Mordecai Would Not Bow Down: Anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, and Christian Supersessionism,” in Commonweal 148:10 (November 2021): 44–46.

“Dragons in the Deep Places: On Ross Douthat’s The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery,” in Mere Orthodoxy (October 26, 2021).

“Power in the Blood: On Eugene F. Rogers Jr.’s Blood Theology: Seeing Red in Body- and God-Talk,” in The Hedgehog Review 23:3 (Fall 2021): 144–148.

“Statistics as Storytelling: On Jason Blakely’s We Built Reality: How Social Science Infiltrated Culture, Politics, and Power,” in The New Atlantis 66 (Fall 2021): 114–122.

 “Market Apocalypse: On Rodney Clapp’s Naming Neoliberalism: Exposing the Spirit of Our Age,” in Mere Orthodoxy (August 25, 2021).

“When Losing Is Likely,” in The Point (June 18, 2021).

“Covidtide Triduum,” in First Things (April 2, 2021).

“To See God in the Darkness: On Tish Harrison Warren’s Prayer in the Night,” in Mere Orthodoxy (March 24, 2021).

“The Circumcision of Abraham’s God,” in First Things (January 1, 2021).

“Advent I: The Face of God,” in Mere Orthodoxy (November 30, 2020).

“Befriending Books: On Reading and Thinking with Alan Jacobs and Zena Hitz,” in Mere Orthodoxy (November 23, 2020).

“The Jesus of History and the Gods of Natural Theology: On N. T. Wright’s History and Eschatology: Jesus and the Promise of Natural Theology,” in The Los Angeles Review of Books (November 19, 2020).

“Why the Church Needs Christian Colleges: An Interview with Alan Noble,” in The Liberating Arts (Oct 19, 2020).

“Be Fearful as Christ Was Fearful,” in Mere Orthodoxy (June 30, 2020).

“Christ Suffered For Our Sins, but He Didn’t Go to Hell for Them: An Interview with Matthew Emerson,” in Christianity Today (April 9, 2020).

“Sacraments, Technology, and Streaming Worship in a Pandemic,” in Mere Orthodoxy (April 2, 2020).

“Are We Idol Worshipers?” in The Christian Century 137:6 (March 11, 2020): 39–40.

“Birth on a Cross,” in The Christian Century 136:18 (August 28, 2019): 10–11.

“A Better Country: On Michael Brendan Dougherty’s My Father Left Me Ireland: An American Son’s Search for Home,” in Plough (August 7, 2019).

“Briefly Noted: Chris E. W. Green’s The End is Music: A Companion to Robert W. Jenson’s Theology,” in First Things 295 (August/September 2019): 60–61.

“Enter Paul: On Paula Fredriksen’s Paul: The Pagans’ Apostle and When Christians Were Jews: The First Generation,” in The Los Angeles Review of Books (June 23, 2019).

“Five Theses on Preaching,” in Mere Orthodoxy (June 7, 2019).

“The Specter of Marcion,” in Commonweal 146:4 (February 22, 2019): 12–13.

“An Anti-Enlightenment Ax to Grind: A Review of Craig A. Carter’s Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition: Recovering the Genius of Premodern Exegesis,” in The Christian Century 136:4 (February 13, 2019): 45–49.

“The Church and the Common Good,” in Comment (January 17, 2019).

“First Things and Last Things in Christian Theology: On Ian McFarland’s From Nothing: A Theology of Creation and Paul Griffiths’ Decreation: The Last Things of All Creatures,” in The Marginalia Review of Books (October 26, 2018).

“God and All Things in God: The Theology of John Webster,” in Mere Orthodoxy (August 20, 2018).

“A Brief Introduction to John Webster,” in Anglican Theological Review 100:3 (2018): 561–562.

“In Captivity to the Zeitgeist: A Review of David P. Gushee and Glen H. Stassen’s Kingdom Ethics: Following Jesus in Contemporary Context,” in Living Church (March 11, 2018): 31–32.

“Holy Ambivalence: On Patrick Deneen’s Why Liberalism Failed and James K. A. Smith’s Awaiting the Kingdom: Reforming Public Theology,” in The Los Angeles Review of Books (March 1, 2018).

“Public Theology in Retreat: On Three New Essay Collections by David Bentley Hart,” in The Los Angeles Review of Books (September 20, 2017).

“Systematic Theology and Biblical Criticism: On Ephraim Radner’s Time and the Word: Figural Reading of the Christian Scriptures,” in The Marginalia Review of Books (June 22, 2017).

“Theologians Were Arguing about the Benedict Option 35 Years Ago,” in Mere Orthodoxy (March 13, 2017)

“Renewing the Heart of Systematic Theology: On Katherine Sonderegger’s Systematic Theology: Volume 1, The Doctrine of God,” in The Marginalia Review of Books (August 2, 2016).

“Discerning the (Holiday) Spirits: On Prophecy in the Negative Mode Only,” in Tokens Blog (December 19, 2013).

“Interview with Miroslav Volf,” in Missio Dei 4:2 (August 2013).

“Turn, Turn, Turn, Turning No More: An Eschatological Reflection on Ecclesiastes 3:1–11,” in The Princeton Theological Review 17:1 (Fall 2011): 69–73.

“Why Theology Matters,” in New Wineskins (July 21, 2010).

“Battlestar Galactica: Frakking Feminist—So Say We All!” in Slant Magazine’s The House Next Door (March 20, 2009).

HONORS, AWARDS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

2023–2024: Cullen Grant, Abilene Christian University

2022–2023: Cullen Grant, Abilene Christian University

2021–2022: Teacher of the Year, Abilene Christian University

2021–2022: Cullen Grant, Abilene Christian University

2021: Experiential Learning Development Grant, Abilene Christian University

2020–2023: Networking Grant for Christian Scholars, CCCU (project participant)

2020–2021: Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty of the Year, College of Biblical Studies (ACU)

2020–2021: Templeton Grant, Gratitude to God Project, Biola University

2020–2021: Cullen Grant, Abilene Christian University

2015–2017: Graduate Fellowship Award, Christian Scholarship Foundation

2015: Louise and Richard Goodwin Prize for Excellence in Theological Writing

2014–2016: Doctoral Fellowship, Louisville Institute

2014–2015: Graduate Research Lecturer, Heritage Christian University

2011: Award for Academic Excellence, Candler School of Theology

2010: Award for Excellence in Biblical Scholarship, Candler School of Theology

2008–2011: Honor Scholarship, Candler School of Theology

2007: University Scholar Award, Abilene Christian University

2004–2007: Presidential Scholarship, Abilene Christian University

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Teaching Experience

Abilene Christian University

Spr 2023: Theology; Christian Ethics; Digital Habits for Ministry (Colloquium)

Jan 2023: Christianity and Culture

Fall 2022: Ecclesiology; Digital Technology and Christian Practice

Spr 2022: Theology; Christian Ethics

Jan 2022: Christianity and Culture

Fall 2021: Ecclesiology; Digital Technology and Christian Practice

Spr 2021: Ethics; Theology; Technology and the Good Life (Honors Colloquium)

Jan 2021: Christianity and Culture

Fall 2020: Ecclesiology; Christianity and Culture

Spr 2020: Ethics; Acts to Revelation

Jan 2020: Christianity and Culture

Fall 2019: Theology; Ecclesiology; Christianity and Culture

Sum 2019: Christianity and Culture (online)

Spr 2019: Theology; Acts to Revelation

Jan 2019: Christianity and Culture

Fall 2018: Survey of the Gospels; Ecclesiology; Christianity and Culture; Freshman Seminar

Sum 2018: Christianity and Culture (online)

Spr 2018: Ethics; Acts to Revelation

Jan 2018: Christianity and Culture

Fall 2017: Survey of the Gospels; Ecclesiology; Freshman Seminar

Sum 2017: Christianity and Culture (online)

Jan 2017: Christianity and Culture

Yale Divinity School

Spr 2016 Christian Social Ethics (Adam Eitel)

Fall 2015 Theology and the New Testament (Dale Martin and Kathryn Tanner)

Spr 2015 Medieval Theology (Denys Turner)

Fall 2014 Patristic Theology (Christopher Beeley)

Editorial Work

2020–2021: Guest Editor for Book Forum on Karen Kilby, Political Theology

2017–2021: Theology Book Review Editor, The Marginalia Review of Books

Professional Service

2022–   Society of Biblical Literature (steering committee, theological interpretation)

2020–   Modern Theology (peer review)

2020–   Restoration Quarterly (peer review)

2019– International Journal of Systematic Theology (peer review)

2019–2022: Christian Scholarship Foundation (review board)

2012–2015: Christian Scholars’ Conference (early scholars committee)

Conference Organization

Presider, “Panel: Amy Peeler, Women and the Gender of God,” Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, TX, November 19, 2023.

Convener, “Panel: Joseph Gordon, Divine Scripture in Human Understanding: A Systematic Theology of the Christian Bible,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 7, 2019.

Convener, “Panel: Keith Stanglin, The Letter and Spirit of Biblical Interpretation: From the Early Church to Modern Practice,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 6, 2019.

Convener, “Negotiating Scripture and Culture,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Abilene, TX, June 4, 2015.

Convener and moderator, “Reading the Old Testament as Scripture: A Conversation Between Ellen Davis and Walter Brueggemann on Biblical Interpretation, Theology, and the Relationship Between Church and Academy,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 6, 2014.

Convener and moderator, “Faith in Public: A Conversation Between John Hare and Charles Mathewes on Religious Commitment, Christian Ethics, and Political Engagement,” Christian Scholars’ Conference, Nashville, TN, June 7, 2013.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Academy of Religion; Society of Biblical Literature