Field of Biblical Studies
From studying the original languages to applying biblical literature to the preaching of today, we affirm the centrality of the word of God
Studying the Scriptures at North Park Theological Seminary
At North Park Theological Seminary, studying the Bible means slowing down, wrestling with the text, and listening intently for the Holy Spirit’s voice—for ourselves and for the communities we serve. We help students bridge the gap between the ancient world and today, through careful attention to language, history, culture, and the whole canon of Scripture.
Our classrooms are enriched by a diverse student body, making biblical interpretation a shared, intercultural endeavor. We value biblical study as a Christ-centered, communal practice that equips students to speak faithfully and boldly into the life of the church.
Faculty
Associate Professor of Old Testament & Chair of the Bible Field
J. Nathan Clayton, Ph.D.
Specialties / Areas of Interest
Psalms, Chronicles, Old Testament/Biblical Music, Song and Worship, Tabernacle/Temple, Priests and Levites
Favorite Course
BIBL 6130 The Book of Psalms—An inductive study of the literary form, cultural background, and theological perspective of selected psalms. Attention is also given to the theological shape and meaning of the whole Psalter. The course further explores how psalms might be used in public Christian ministry settings and in private worship.
The Paul W. Brandel Professor of Biblical Studies
Max J. Lee, PhD
Specialties / Areas of Interest
Apostle Paul in the Greco-Roman World, Revelation, the Gospel of Mark, Diaspora Judaism, Cognitive Semantics and Hellenistic Greek Grammar, and Intercultural Readings of the Bible
Favorite Course
BIBL 5178 Revelation—An exegetical study of the book of Revelation, i.e. the Apocalypse of John. Attention is given to history of reception and interpretation in the church, genre, socio-historical setting, cultural-religious contexts, and theology of Revelation, as well as how the biblical interpreter can preach and teach Revelation today.
Assistant Professor of Old Testament
Sophia A. Magallanes-Tsang, PhD
Specialties / Areas of Interest
Hebrew Poetry and Wisdom Literature
Favorite Course
BIBL 6200: Reading Scripture Latinamente—Students approach biblical interpretation from a framework of scriptural accompaniment, a Latino/a/e theology where students walk with Jesus in community around the biblical text.
Affiliate Faculty of New Testament
Lyn Nixon, PhD
Specialties / Areas of Interest
New Testament exegesis and (theological) interpretation, New Testament Greek, the relationship of the Old Testament and the New Testament, linguistics (especially Speech Act Theory), Bible backgrounds
The Symposium for the Theological Interpretation of Scripture
Hosted by the Field of Biblical Studies, the Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture at North Park Theological Seminary brings together select North American and international scholars to discuss a subject relevant to the life of the church.
The focus of the symposium is on the process of interpretation and the task of biblical theology. The papers presented in the symposium are collected and published in the international journal Ex Auditu.
Select Faculty Publications
Monograph
Moral Transformation in Greco‑Roman Philosophy of Mind
Max J. Lee’s Moral Transformation in Greco‑Roman Philosophy of Mind: Mapping the Moral Milieu of the Apostle Paul and His Diaspora Jewish Contemporaries reconstructs Middle Platonist and Stoic models of moral change—emotional regulation, character formation, mentorship, and divine imitation—to create a framework for comparing these systems with Pauline and Diaspora Jewish moral discourse
Monograph
Symbol, Service and Song
J. Nathan Clayton’s Symbol, Service and Song offers a multidimensional study of the Levites in 1 Chronicles 10-29, arguing that their roles as symbolic bearers of God’s presence, worship leaders, and musicians are central to the book’s rhetorical structure, historical portrayal, and theological message for its postexilic audience.
CONTRIBUTION
‘Everything Means Nothing to Me’: Spirit of Wisdom within Qoheleth, Kierkegaard’s Either/Or, and the Elliott Smith Songbook
In this collection The Spirit and Song exploring themes in popular music, Sophia A. Magallanes‑Tsang explores how the Spirit of Wisdom speaks through themes of despair and longing in Ecclesiastes, Kierkegaard’s Either/Or, and Elliott Smith’s music, revealing pneumatological insight in the search for meaning.
Monograph
Evoking Story for Transformation
New Testament Quotation at the Reader-Author Intersection
Lyn Nixon takes a fresh approach to the question of whether New Testament authors quote the Old Testament without regard to the original Old Testament meaning that is, “out of context.” Her “action model” uses Speech Act Theory to examine the way authors and readers together contribute to the communication of meaning.