Biography
Bio: Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but raised in upstate New York, western Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Married N. Elaine Scott in 1993. They have two children, Rachel (1997) and Samuel (2003).
Received B.A. in Classical Greek and Latin from Brigham Young University, August 1990; M.A. Ancient History, University of Pennsylvania, May 1992; and Ph.D. Ancient History, University of Pennsylvania, Dec 1997. Joined the faculty at BYU full-time in 1994 as an Instructor of Classics, becoming an Assistant Professor of Classics and Ancient History in 1997. Transferred to the College of Religious Education, becoming an Assistant Professor of Ancient Scripture in 2003 and an Associate Professor in 2008. He was appointed as the coordinator of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies program in August 2012 after spending a year teaching at the BYU Jerusalem Center and was then promoted to full professor in 2015.
In Classics he specialized in Roman imperial history and did work on imperial women, particularly Livia Drusilla, the emperor Augustus' wife. His publications in religious studies and related fields include two BYU Studies articles on Josephus; "Christ Before the Romans" in From the Last Supper Through the Resurrection: The Savior’s Final Hours (Deseret Book, 2003); "Galilee and the Call of the Twelve Apostles" in From Bethlehem to the Sermon on the Mount (Deseret Book, 2005); "Teaching through Exegesis: Helping Students Ask Questions of the Text" (Religious Educator, 6.1, 2005); and “The Bread of Life Sermon,” in From the Transfiguration through the Triumphal Entry (Deseret Book, 2006), and additional articles on John and the New Testament. Together with colleagues Richard Holzafpel and Thomas Wayment, he has co-authored Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (Deseret Book, 2006).
More recent work includes “The Lamb of God: Unique Aspects of the Passion Narrative in John,” in Behold the Lamb of God (Religious Studies Center, 2008); “Livia Before Octavian,” Ancient Society 39 (2009); “And the Word Was Made Flesh: An LDS Exegesis of the Blood and Water Imagery in John,” Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 1 (2009); “Your Faith Should Not Stand in the Wisdom of Men. Greek Philosophy, Corinthian Behavior, and the Teachings of Paul,” in The New Testament Brought to Light: Latter-day Saint Insights into Acts through Revelation (Religious Studies Center, 2009); “The Six Antitheses: Attaining the Purpose of the Law,” in The Sermon on the Mount in Latter-day Scripture (Deseret Book, 2010); and three chapters in The Life and Teachings of the New Testament Apostles: From the Day of Pentecost to the Apocalypse (Deseret Book, 2010).
In early 2011 he published a book-length study of the Passion Narratives with Deseret Book entitled God So Loved the World: The Final Days of the Savior’s Life, which was followed by a Christmas companion volume on the Infancy Narratives entitled Good Tidings of Great Joy: An Advent Celebration of the Savior’s Birth released later that year. A third volume on the miracles stories in the gospels entitled The Miracles of Jesus with Deseret Book was released in August 2014. His new book, Worship: Adding Depth to Your Devotion, was released in August 2016. His newest book Becoming the Beloved Disciple: Coming unto Christ through the Gospel of John, a study of the characters in the Fourth Gospel as types of different types of contemporary walks of faith, was released December 10, 2018.
He is currently co-editing and contributing to Perspectives on Mormon Theology: Atonement for Greg Kofford Books as well as working on the BYU New Testament Commentary volume on the Gospel according to John.
On August 7, 2018, he delivered a landmark BYU devotional address entitled, “Hard Sayings and Safe Spaces: Making Room for Struggle as Well as Faith.” He has also been a frequent speaker with BYU Education Week, Women’s Conference, and Deseret Book’s Time Out for Women.
He served in the Thailand Bangkok Mission (1985-86). Second counselor in the bishopric of the Philadelphia Third Ward (1991-94) and Provo Park Ward (1995-1996). Bishop of the North Park First Ward in Provo (1996-2002). Has served as an ordinance worker in the Provo Temple since 2002, and is currently a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Courses Taught: New Testament, Old Testament, Book of Mormon, Biblical Greek topics, Greek and Roman history, and Judaism and Early Christianity in the Classical Near East.
Areas of Expertise: New Testament Studies, particularly Johannine Writings, Pauline Epistles, and Luke-Acts, and the Ministry and Atonement of Christ in the New Testament Gospels; Koine and New Testament Greek; Greek and Roman history and Classical literature; Early Christianity and the Roman World; Women in Classical Antiquity.
Areas of Research: Johannine Literature; historical Jesus and his depiction in the gospel narratives; Luke-Acts; Pauline Epistles; Early Christianity.
Languages: Classical Greek and Latin (translation); Thai (fairly fluent); German (conversational and reading); French and Italian (basic reading); basic Hebrew.
Research Interests
New Testament Studies, particularly Johannine Writings, Pauline Epistles, and Luke-Acts, and the Ministry and Atonement of Christ in the New Testament Gospels; Koine and New Testament Greek; Greek and Roman history and Classical literature; Early Christianity and the Roman World; Women in Classical Antiquity.Teaching Interests
New Testament, Old Testament, Book of Mormon, Biblical Greek topics, Greek and Roman history, and Judaism and Early Christianity in the Classical Near East.Education
- Ph.D., Ancient History , University of Pennsylvania (1997)
- MA, Ancient History , University of Pennsylvania (1992)
- BA, Greek and Latin , Brigham Young University (1990)
Honors and Awards
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship (2010 - 2013)
- Honors Professor of the Year, BYU Honors Department (2011 - 2012)
- Susan and Harvey Black Outstanding Publication Award in Ancient Scripture, March 2010. (2010 - 2010)
Administrative Assignments
- BYU Jerusaalem Center: Associate Director (2021 - 2025)
- Kennedy Center for International Studies: International Area Studies Coordinator (2012 - 2020)
Memberships
- Society of Biblical Literature (2001 - Present)
- Association of Ancient Historians (1998 - Present)
- Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS) (1991 - Present)
Professional Citizenship
- Committee/Council Chair, Editorial Board and Steering Committee for the BYU New Testament Commentary Series (2015 - Present)
- Committee/Council Member, Editorial Board and Steering Committee for the BYU New Testament Commentary Series (2012 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Church Music Committee (2024 - 2024)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2023 - 2023)
- Media Interview, From the Desk: Learning by Study and Faith (2023 - 2023)
- Guest Speaker, Learn Our Religion/Interpreter Foundation Lecture Series (2023 - 2023)
- Guest Speaker, BYU School of Music (2023 - 2023)
- Media Participation, Faith Matters Podcast (2023 - 2023)
- Media Interview, Y Religion (2023 - 2023)
- Other, By Study and Faith, Virtual Fireside (2023 - 2023)
- Media Participation, Follow Him podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway (2023 - 2023)
- Media Participation, The Scriptures Are Real Podcast, with Kerry Muhlestein (2023 - 2023)
- Media Participation, Follow Him podcast with Hank Smith and John Bytheway (2022 - 2022)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Church Hymn Book Committee (2022 - 2022)
- Media Participation, Come Follow Me Insights with Taylor and Tyler. Scripture Central. (2022 - 2022)
- Media Interview, Mormon Land special edition. Salt Lake Tribune (2022 - 2022)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Church Translation Committee (2021 - 2022)
- Guest Speaker, All In, an LDS Living Podcast (2021 - 2021)
- Media Participation, BYU Broadcasting, Come Follow Up (2020 - 2021)
- Committee/Council Chair, Utah Jewish Studies Working Group (2015 - 2020)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2019 - 2019)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2019 - 2019)
- Officer (specify in Other), Church Curriculum Committee (2019 - 2019)
- Guest Speaker, Temple Har Shalom (2019 - 2019)
- Guest Speaker, Utah Valley Single Adults Conference (2019 - 2019)
- Board Member, Jewish & Latter-day Saint Academic Dialogue (2019 - 2019)
- Guest Speaker, North Star Inernational (2019 - 2019)
- Officer (specify in Other), The Cultural Hall (2019 - 2019)
- Other, LDS Perspectives Podcast (2019 - 2019)
- Other, Listen, Learn, & Love Podcast (2018 - 2018)
- Other, The Mormon News Report Podcast (2018 - 2018)
- Other, Mormon Matters (2018 - 2018)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2018 - 2018)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Women's Conference (2018 - 2018)
- Guest Speaker, Gunnison Correctional Facility (2018 - 2018)
- Guest Speaker, Time Out for Women, Deseret Book (2017 - 2017)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2017 - 2017)
- Other, LDS Perspectives Podcast (2016 - 2016)
- Guest Speaker, Chicago Chapter of the BYU Alumni Association (2016 - 2016)
- Guest Speaker, Time Out for Women, Deseret Book (2016 - 2016)
- Media Participation, Mormon Channel (2014 - 2016)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2016 - 2016)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2016 - 2016)
- Guest Speaker, Time Out for Women, Deseret Book (2015 - 2015)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2015 - 2015)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Women's Conference (2015 - 2015)
- Other, Mormon Matters (2015 - 2015)
- Other, Mormon Matters (2015 - 2015)
- Other, Pioneer Memorial Museum (2014 - 2014)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2014 - 2014)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Private book manuscript review for a colleague (2013 - 2014)
- Other, Mormon Matters (2013 - 2013)
- Conference-Related Role, Society of Biblical Literature (2013 - 2013)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2013 - 2013)
- Guest Speaker, Aspen Grove Family Camp (2013 - 2013)
- Editorial Review Board Member, Salt Press (2010 - 2013)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Women's Conference (2013 - 2013)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, BYU Religious Studies Center (2012 - 2012)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2012 - 2012)
- Media Participation, Mormon Channel (2010 - 2012)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2011 - 2011)
- Guest Speaker, Multi-stake fireside in Oceanside, California (2011 - 2011)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, BYU Religious Studies Center (2011 - 2011)
- Guest Speaker, Multi-stake fireside (2009 - 2009)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2009 - 2009)
- Guest Speaker, Aspen Grove Family Camp (2009 - 2009)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2008 - 2008)
- Guest Speaker, Aspen Grove Family Camp (2007 - 2007)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2007 - 2007)
- Guest Speaker, BYU Education Week (2006 - 2006)
- Guest Speaker, Aspen Grove Family Camp (2006 - 2006)
- Guest Speaker, Aspen Grove Family Camp (2005 - 2005)