Area of Study
Biblical Studies: New Testament and Early Christian Literature
Education
Ph.D. New Testament and Early Christian Literature, University of Chicago, 1999
Doctoral Dissertation: “The Authentication of Missionaries and Their Message in the Longer Ending of Mark (Mark 16:9–20).” Advisor: Adela Yarbro Collins
M.A. New Testament and Early Christian Literature, University of Chicago, 1996
M.A. Theological Studies, Wheaton Graduate School (IL), 1992
B.A. Ancient Languages, Biblical and Theological Studies (double major), Wheaton College (IL), 1991, summa cum laude
Teaching Posts
Faculty of Theology, Uppsala University, Sweden
2010–Present: Professor and Chair of New Testament Studies
Department of Theological Studies, Saint Louis University, Missouri
2007–2010: Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature
2001–2007: Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature
McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago
2000–2001: Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
1999–2000: Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament
1998–1999: Part-time Instructor of New Testament and Biblical Greek
Research Languages
Ancient: Hebrew, Greek (Classical and Koine), Latin, Syriac
Modern: English (mother tongue); Swedish (spoken fluently); German (spoken well); Danish, French, Norwegian (reading knowledge)
Grants, Honors, and Awards
Stipend for resumption of research in residence (Wiederaufnahme), Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, 2020, to be conducted at the University of Regensburg, 2021.
Stipendiat, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Visiting scholar at the Protestant Theological Faculty of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, 2007–2009
Alpha Sigma Nu (ΑΣΝ) Book Award in Theology, 2008, for The Diet of John the Baptist (2005). Triennial award for a book in theology or religious studies by a professor at a Jesuit university
Young Scholars Post-doctoral Fellowship, The Catholic Biblical Association of America, 2003
Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, grant to attend the Minnesota Consortium of Theological Schools’ “Computer Camp,” on the use of technology in the classroom, 2003
Society of Biblical Literature, Research and Technology Grant, 2002
North American Patristics Society, Best First Article Prize, 2002, for “The Witness of Eusebius’ ad Marinum and Other Christian Writings to Text-Critical Debates concerning the Original Conclusion to Mark’s Gospel” (2001)
Society of Biblical Literature Regional Scholar Award, given annually to four junior scholars, 2002
Noyes-Cutter Greek Prize, University of Chicago, for best student paper translating and analyzing Hellenistic Greek, 1994 and 1996
Four-year graduate fellowship and stipend, University of Chicago, 1993–1997
International Collaboration
Associate Editor (Mitherausgeber), monograph series Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, Mohr Siebeck, 2011–Present
Editorial board, New Testament Studies, Cambridge University, 2017–2019
Editorial board, Sapientia Logos: A Journal of Biblical Research & Interpretation in Africa, 2019–Present
Convener, with W. Pratscher (Vienna) F. R. Prostmeier (Freiburg), Society of New Testament Studies seminar on “Christliche Literatur des späten ersten Jahrhunderts und des zweiten Jahrhunderts / Christian Literature of the Late First Century and the Second Century,” 2011–2014
Organizing committee, with A. Ekenberg (Uppsala), D. Hellholm (Oslo), F. John (Kiel), Ø. Norderval (Oslo), E. Popkes (Kiel), D. Sänger (Kiel), and T. Vegge (Agder), for symposia in Kiel, Germany (August 2012) and on the island of Lesbos, Greece (September 2013). Over seventy contributions appeared in Sacred Meal, Communal Meal, Table Fellowship, and the Eucharist – Late Antiquity, Early Judaism, and Early Christianity (Mohr Siebeck, 2017, ca. 2200 pages)
Co-organizer, with Stephen P. Ahearne-Kroll and Paul A. Holloway, Women in the Religious and Intellectual Activity of the Ancient Mediterranean World: An Interdisciplinary and International Conference in Honor of Adela Yarbro Collins, The Ohio State University/Methodist Theological School in Ohio, March 15–17, 2009 Co-organizer, with Jörg Frey and Franz Tóth, Apokalypse-Symposium, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, July 11–12, 2008
Additional Service to the Profession
Achtemeier Award Committee, Paul J. Achtemeier Award for New Testament Scholarship, Society of Biblical Literature, 2018–2020
Anonymous reviewer, Journal of Early Christian Studies, 2019
Anonymous reviewer, Journal of Qur’anic Studies (Edinburgh), 2019
External evaluator, grant applications to the Helsinki Center for Advanced Studies, 2019
Anonymous reviewer, Svensk exegetisk årsbok, 2017–Present
Consultant, anonymous reviewer, and editor, St. Mary’s Press/Anselm Academic, 2007–2016
External examiner, dissertation by Karin B. Neutel, “A Cosmopolitan Ideal: Paul’s Declaration ‘neither Jew nor Greek, neither Slave nor Free, nor Male and Female’ in the Context of First-Century Thought.” University of Groningen, 2013
Anonymous reviewer, Faroese Research Council (Færøernes Forskningsråd), Faroe Islands, 2013
External Examiner, doctoral thesis by Merrilyn Anne Mansfield, “John the Baptist and the Fulfillment of Scripture: An Exploration of the Tradition History,” University of Sydney, 2012
Anonymous reviewer, Journal of Religious History, 2011 and 2012
Anonymous reviewer, Supplements to Novum Testamentum monograph series, 2011
President, Chicago Society of Biblical Research, 2010–2011
Vice President, Chicago Society of Biblical Research, 2009–2010
Anonymous reviewer, The Israel Science Foundation, 2010
Chair/Moderator, Second-Century Texts, North American Patristics Society Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2006
New Testament editor, Proceedings: Eastern Great Lakes and Midwest Biblical Societies, 1999–2004
Anonymous reviewer, McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2004
Anonymous reviewer, the Fulbright Commission, 2002
Supervision of Doctoral Theses
(primary advisor unless otherwise noted)
John-Christian Eurell, “Peter as a Contested Authority Figure: Transformations of an Apostle’s Embodiment in Early Christian Imagination” (secondary advisor), Stockholm School of Theology, to be completed in 2021
Petter Spjut, “Parables and Plain Speech: Scripture and Authority in the Pistis Sophia,” Uppsala University, to be completed in 2021
Michael Öberg, “The Opening and Conclusion to Romans: Structure and Interpretation” (secondary advisor), Uppsala University, to be completed in 2021.
Mathias Sånglöf, “Spirit (πνεῦμα) in the Letters of Paul and the Gospel of John” (secondary advisor), Uppsala University, 2020
Daniel Gustafsson, “Aspects of Coherency in Luke’s Composite Christology,” Uppsala University, 2019
Carl Johan Berglund, “Heracleon’s Exegesis of the Gospel of John: A Quotation-Analytical Study of Origen’s Interactions with Second-Century Literary Criticism,” Uppsala University, 2019
Bim Berglund O’Reilly, “Baptism and Death: A Study of Mark and Romans,” Uppsala University, 2017
Paul A. Patterson, “Visions of Christ: The Anthropomorphite Controversy of 399 CE” (secondary advisor), Saint Louis University, 2011
Inta Ivanovska, “The Demonology of Saint Augustine of Hippo” (secondary advisor), Saint Louis University, 2011
Lloyd Pierson, “An Analysis of John Chrysostom’s Theory of Christ’s Redemption in the Letters of Paul” (secondary advisor), Saint Louis University, 2004