Biblical Theology

In 2020 the Biblical Theology section will host a session on the relationship between biblical theology and the biblical canon. The section will offer four invited papers that will reflect on the ways that the concept of canon shapes the methodological and theological perspectives of biblical theology.

*This session was delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19

• Stephen Presley, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Presiding (5 min)
• Matthew Y. Emerson, Oklahoma Baptist University
  Biblical Theology, Canonical Shape, and Chalcedonian Christology (20 min)
• Ched Spellman, Cedarville University
  The Biblical Canon as Biblical Theology: Exploring the Relationship Between Composition, Canonical Context, and the Task of Biblical Theology (20 min)
• Darian R. Lockett, Biola University
  Interpreting the Recontextualized Text: The Canonical Shape of Biblical Theology (20 min)
• Mark S. Gignilliat, Samford University
  Biblical Theology: Is It Still a Bridge Discipline? (20 min)
• Brandon D. Smith, Cedarville University, Presiding
• Discussion (35 min)

The Biblical Theology group will continue a multi-year project begun in 2017, focusing on examples of biblical theological method and classification. Using the taxonomy of types of Biblical Theology offered in Understanding Biblical Theology (Zondervan, 2012), papers will outline, explore, and offer a worked example of their particular type of Biblical Theology. These papers may plot their methodological perspectives within one of the types of Biblical Theology offered in the taxonomy or they may reflect critically upon the taxonomy carving out new space upon the continuum for their particular view/approach to Biblical Theology. The goal of these sessions is to produce papers which reflect upon and refine the particular types of Biblical Theology in addition to providing clearly worked examples of each approach.

• Darian Lockett, Biola University, Welcome (5 min)
• John Walton, Wheaton College (Illinois)
  Sabbath: An Old Testament Biblical Theology (30 min)
• Erin Heim, Wycliffe Hall (Oxford)
  Resurrection and the #MeToo Movement: A Constructive Reading of the Resurrected Body in 1 Corinthians 15:35–49 (30 min)
• Mark Seifrid, Concordia Seminary
  Revisiting Emmaus (Lk 24:13–27): ‘Biblical Theology’ from a Lukan Perspective (BT6!) (30 min)
• Discussion (25 min)

The Biblical Theology group will continue a multi–year project begun in 2017, focusing on examples of biblical theological method and classification. Using the taxonomy of types of Biblical Theology offered in Understanding Biblical Theology (Zondervan, 2012), papers will outline, explore, and offer a worked example of their particular type of Biblical Theology. These papers may plot their methodological perspectives within one of the types of Biblical Theology offered in the taxonomy or they may reflect critically upon the taxonomy carving out new space upon the continuum for their particular view/approach to Biblical Theology. The goal of these sessions is to produce papers which reflect upon and refine the particular types of Biblical Theology in addition to providing clearly worked examples of each approach.

• Darian Lockett, Biola University, Presiding

• Stephen O. Presley, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  Context: Methodology and Taxonomy (15 min)

• Brian S. Rosner, Ridley College
  The Priority of Being Known by God in Galatians 4:8-9 and the History of Redemption (25 min)

• Stephen E. Fowl, Loyola University Maryland
  The Community of the Curious: Curiosity as Disposition Leading to Idolatry (25 min)

• R. W. L. Moberly, University of Durham
  On Engaging with the Subject Matter of the Text: A Reading of Mark 13:32-37 (25 min)

• Break (5 min)

• Panel and General Discussion

• Discussion (25 min)

Starting with our fall 2017 meeting the Biblical Theology research group will pursue a multi-year project focusing on examples of biblical theological method and classification. Using the taxonomy of types of Biblical Theology offered in Understanding Biblical Theology (Zondervan, 2012), the co-chairs of the research group will invite five to six papers over the next two years which will outline, explore, and offer a worked example of their particular type of Biblical Theology. These papers may plot their methodological perspectives within one of the types of Biblical Theology offered in the taxonomy or they may reflect critically upon the taxonomy carving out new space upon the continuum for their particular view/approach to Biblical Theology. The goal of these sessions is to produce papers which reflect upon and refine the particular types of Biblical Theology in addition to providing clearly worked examples of each approach. There is potential to publish these essays either as an expanded version of Understanding Biblical Theology (possibly published by Zondervan) or as a stand-alone companion volume to that text (publisher yet unknown).

• Stephen Presley, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Presiding

• Stephen Presley, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Introduction (5 min)

• Darian Lockett, Biola University
  Types of Biblical Theology: A Programmatic Introduction and Update (20 min)

• Scott Hafemann, University of St. Andrews
  2 Peter 3 and the Model(s) of Biblical Theology at the 'End' of the Canon (25 min)

• Break (5 min)

• Stephen B. Chapman, Duke University
  The How as Well as the What: Canonical Formatting and Biblical Theology (25 min)

• Panel Discussion
  Discussion (35 min)

Studies that demonstrate careful and close reading of the text informed by the “whole-Bible” context of the various forms of Biblical Theology are welcome.

• Darian Lockett, Biola University, Presiding

• Elmer Martens, Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary
  Toward a Whole-Bible Theology: The Power and Promise of the Loss-Restoration paradigm in Jeremiah 32 (20 min)

• Break (5 min)

• Esau McCauley, Northeastern Seminary
  Exile, Restoration, and the Inheritance of the Son: Jesus as Servant and Messiah in Galatians 1:4 (20 min)

• Matthew Harmon, Grace Theological Seminary
  When Return from Exile is more than a Return: Paul's Use of the Isaianic Exile and Return Motif in Galatians (20 min)

• Discussion (35 min)

• Break (5 min)

• Stephen Presley, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Presiding

• Business Meeting (15 min)