Tom Phillips CV

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Information

Thomas E. Phillips
3431 Larga  Cir.
San Diego, CA 92110
H: (619) 523-0751
O: (619) 849-2290
H: enctom@yahoo.com
O: ThomasPhillips@pointloma.edu  
 

Education

SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

Doctor of Philosophy (1998)

• Field Study in New Testament
• Religious Studies Fellowship (1991-98)

NAZARENE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Master of Divinity (1991) Magna cum Laude

• Honors Program in the History of Christianity

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

Master of Arts (1988)

• Major in Religion

OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

Bachelor in Arts (1987) cum Laude

• Major in Biblical Literature

Areas of Specialization

• New Testament (particularly Luke-Acts)
• Modern Literary Analyses of the Bible
• Social and Economic Issues in Early Christianity

 

Areas of Competence

• Old Testament
• Faith & Film Studies
• Science & Religion

 

Research Languages

• German, Spanish (Modern)
• Greek, Hebrew (Ancient)

Professional Memberships

• Society of Biblical Literature (1991- )
• Catholic Biblical Association (1991- )
• Wesleyan Theological Society (1985- )
• Wesleyans in Theological Dialogue (1995- )
• American Assoc. of University Professors (2000- )
• Society for the Study of Psychology and Wesleyan Theology (2002- )

 

Teaching Experience

POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

• Associate Professor of New Testament & Early Christian Studies (2006- )
• Visiting Associate Professor of Religion (2005-06)

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

• Associate Professor of New Testament (2003-05)
• Assistant Professor of New Testament (2001-03)

EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE

• Assistant Professor of New Testament (1998-2001)

NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE (Dallas ex.)

• Adjunct Professor (1994-95)
  

Professional Recognition

Institute for Research on Unlimited Love (2004)
Highly Competitive, Peer-Reviewed Course Competition
Course: “Love in Earliest & Contemporary Christianity”
Prize: $6,000

Nominated: Outstanding Faculty of the Year (2001-02 & 2004-05)
Colorado Christian University
Student Nominated Award

“Apple Award” (2003-04 & 2004-2005)

• Colorado Christian University
• Student Government Award for Teaching Excellence

Clifton Fowler Library Academic Award (2004)

• Colorado Christian University
• Professional Achievement for Academic Excellence

ENC Professional Achievement Award (1999-2000 & 2000-01)

• Cash Award in recognition of scholarly work
• Awarded to 2-4 professors per year

 

Courses Taught

POINT LOMA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

• CHU 395 Christian Tradition
• BIB 101 Old Testament Literature & Religion
• BIB 102 New Testament Literature & Religion

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

• GRE 201 Introduction to Greek
• GRE 202 Intermediate Greek
• GRE 301 Greek Syntax
• GRE 302 Greek Exegesis
• BIB 114 Early Christian Literature
• BIB 113 History & Literature of Ancient Israel
• BIB 306 Synoptic Gospels
• BIB 310 Acts & Pauline Literature
• BIB 410 Johannine Literature
• BIB 421 Holy Land Studies
• BIB 490 Senior Thesis Research
• BIB 491 Senior Thesis Writing
• BIB 493 Travel Seminar: Jordan, Israel & Palestine
• THE 403 Contemporary Theology: Social Justice
• THE 493 Theological Themes in Contemporary Films
• BIB 493 Love in Earliest & Contemporary Christianity
• BIB 512 Contemporary Readings of Scripture

EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE

• BL 110 Biblical History & Literature
• BL 343 New Testament I (John & Paul)
• BL 344 New Testament II (Synoptics, Acts & Hebrews)
• BL 341 Old Testament I (Hebrew Narratives)
• BL 342 Old Testament II (Hebrew Prophets & Wisdom)
• GK 101 Introduction to Greek
• GK 102 Intermediate Greek
• GK 201 Greek Exegesis
• GK 212 Reading Koine Greek
• PH 295 Philosophical Quest
• TH 420 Issues in Science & Religion
• TH 441 Church History II (Reformation to Present)
• IN 210 International Travel: Israel, Jordan, & Egypt

NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE

• Hebrew Prophets
• Pauline Literature
• Christian Preaching

 

Academic Committee Work

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

• Chair: Dept. Biblical & Theological Studies (2005)
• Faculty Affairs Committee (2003-05) 
• President Pro-Tem Faculty Senate (2003)
• Faculty Search Committee (2001-02) Eastern Nazarene College
• Faculty Search Committee (1999-2000)
• Faculty Placement Committee (1999-2000)
• Distance Education Committee (1998-2001) 
• College Restructuring Committee (2000-01)
• Accreditation Report: Programs & Instruction (2000-01)
• Committee on Committees (2000-2001)
• Housing Committee (1999-2001)

 

Academic Community Service

COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

• Faculty Sponsor: International Justice Mission (2004-05)
• Faculty Sponsor: Biblical Studies Association (2004-05)

EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE

• Faculty Sponsor: Men’s Resident Association (2000-01)

 

Recent Lectures, Addresses & Retreats

“The Apocalypse & The Environment”

• Joint meeting of the Sierra Club & American Scientific Affiliation
• Golden, CO (Feb. 2005)

“Women & Ministry in Early Christianity”

• CCU Chapel (Oct. 2004)

“Encountering God in the Wilderness”

• Interdenominational Men’s Retreat
• Flaming Gorge, UT (July 2003)

“How to Avoid Ministry Burn-out”

• Tri-Lakes Chapel
• Monument, Co (Jan. 2003)

 

Professional Activities

Society of Biblical Literature

• Co-Chair (with F. Scott Spencer) Consultation on Acts
• SBL Consultation on Acts (National Meeting, 2003-011)

Additional Steering Committee Members:

• Loveday Alexander (Sheffield University)
• Pamela Hedrick (Wheeling Jesuit University)
• Mikeal Parsons (Baylor University)
• F. Scott Spencer (Baptist Theological Seminary; co-chair)
• Steve Walton (London School of Theology)

Society of Biblical Literature

• Program Committee (Rocky Mountain Region, 2002-05)

Society of Biblical Literature

• Copy editor (2004-Present)

 

Religious and Theological Abstracts

Abstracter since 1988, currently abstracting:

• Expository Times
• Horizons in Biblical Theology
• Irish Biblical Studies
• Proceedings of the Irish Biblical Association
• Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft

 

Research News & Opportunities in Religion & Science

• Copy editor (2002-03)

Edwin Mellen Press

• Consultant for New Testament Publications

American Association of University Professors

• Executive Committee (CO Convention, 2003-05)
• Academic Policy Committee (CO Convention, 2003-05)
• State Web Designer & Coordinator (www.aaup-co.org)

Wesleyans in Theological Dialogue

• Scholarly Internet Discussion Group
• Moderator since 1995

 

Ministerial Credits

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL (Church of the Nazarene)

Church Service

SAN DIEGO FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

• Sunday School Co-teacher "Crosswalk" (2006- )

DENVER FIRST CHURCH (NAZARENE)

• Sunday School Teacher “Common Ground” (2003-05)
• Large Bible study class for young married couples

WOLLASTON CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE

• Children’s Sunday School Teacher (1999-2001)

DALLAS CENTRAL CHURCH

• Sunday School Teacher (1994-98)
• Sunday School Superintendent (1995-98)
• Caravan Director (1996-98)
• Church Board Member (1995-98)
• Nursery Director & Attendant (1992-95)

 

Civic Memberships

• Amnesty International
• Audubon Society
• Human Rights Watch
• National Wildlife Federation
• Nature Conservancy
• Sierra Club
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• World Wildlife Federation
  

Publications & Books

• Ethics in Acts , editor. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2005.
• Literary Studies in Luke-Acts: Festschrift for Joseph B. Tyson , co-editor (with Richard P. Thompson). Macon: Mercer University Press, 1998.
• Paul, Letters and Acts , Library of Pauline Studies. Peabody: Hendrickson, forthcoming (under contract).
• Reading Issues of Wealth and Poverty in Luke-Acts , Studies in Bible and Early Christianity, vol. 48. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press, 2001.

 

Scholarly Articles

• “Creation, Sin and Its Curse, and the People of God: An Intertextual Reading of Genesis 1-12 and Acts 1-7.” Horizons in Biblical Theology 25.2 (2003): 146-60.
• “Finding the Wesleyan Needle in the Cinematic Haystack: Seeking Sanctification in Contemporary Films.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 41.2 (Fall 2006): forthcoming.
• “The Genre of Acts in Recent Discussion.” Currents in Biblical Research (forthcoming).
• “The Mission of the Church in Acts: Inclusive or Exclusive?” Wesleyan Theological Journal 38.1 (Spring 2003): 125-37.
• “Narrative Characterizations of Peter and Paul in Early Christianity.” ARC: Journal of the Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University 30 (2002): 139-57.
• “Palestinian Life and Politics as Feature Length Cinema.” Holy Land Studies 2.1 (2003): 109-14.
• “Paul as a Role Model in Acts: The ‘We’-Passages in Acts 16 and Beyond.” Ethics in Acts (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2005), 60-89.
• “Reading Recent Readings of Wealth and Poverty in Luke and Acts.” Currents in Biblical Research 1.2 (April 2003): 231-69.
• “Reading Theory and Biblical Interpretation for Postmodern Wesleyans.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 35.2 (Fall 2000): 32-48.
• “Revisiting Philo: Discussions of Wealth and Poverty in Philo’s Ethical Discourse.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 83 (2001): 111-21.
• “Subtlety as a Literary Technique in Luke’s Characterization of Jews and Judaism.” Literary Studies in Luke-Acts (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1998), 313-26.
• “‘The Third Fifth Day?’ John 2:1 in Context.” Expository Times 115.10 (2004): 328-31.

 

Professional Writings

• “The AAUP’s Statement on Contingent Faculty and the Future of Biblical Studies.” SBL Forum (Nov. 2003): http://www.sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleId=196.
• “A Brief History of Benevolence.” Science and Spirit, Sept.-Oct. 2003, 12-13.
• “A Call To Humility: Reflections on the Events of September 11, 2001.” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 2.4 (Dec. 2001): 5; partially reprinted in the Christian Science Sentinel, Dec. 24, 2001, 5.
• “Cosmologists: Scientific Tools Can Lead to Christian Revelations.” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 4.2 (Oct. 2003): 11.
• “Debunking the Idea of Race: New PBS Series Affirms Idea of Common Humanity.” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 3.9 (May 2003): 16, 32.
• Encyclopedia of Protestantism, s.v., “Coke, Thomas.” “Mathews, Shailer.” “Sanctification.” “WWJD.” (ed. Hans Hillerbrand; New York: Routledge Press, 2003).
• “Favorite Psalms…of the New Testament.” Illustrated Bible Life, Dec.-Feb. 2001-02, 17-19.
• “Green in Golden.” Science and Theology News 5.7 (March 2005): 12.
• “Harry Potter: A Myth for Our Times.” Science and Spirit 15.4 (July-August, 2004), 66-69.
• “John Scopes, Black Hero?” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 3.8 (April 2003): 10.
• “Life in Christ.” Good Advice: What Paul Gives to Christians (Kansas City: Beacon Hill, forthcoming, 2005).
• New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, s.v., “Captain.” (ed. Katharine Sakenfeld; Nashville: Abingdon, forthcoming).
• “The Promise of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit’s Guiding in the Gospel of Luke.”Illustrated Bible Life, Dec.-Feb. 2004-05, 17-19
• “Preaching the Bible …and doing it Biblically: The Form and Function of Biblical Texts (Parts I & II).” Preacher’s Magazine (Lent/Easter, 2004): 39-41; (Pentecost 2004): 48-51.
• “‘Project Steve’ has Evolutionists Laughing: Tongue-in-Cheek List Mocks ID and Remembers Gould.” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 3.8 (April 2003): 10.
• “Researchers: The Brain Loses Plasticity as it Matures.” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 3.8 (April 2003): 1, 32.
• “The Sermon on the Plain.” Illustrated Bible Life, Dec.-Feb. 2005-06, forthcoming.
• “Was the Historical Jesus a Bad Stoic?” SBL Forum (Nov. 2004):http://www.sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleId=334.
• “Wesleyan Perspectives on the Creation.” Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 2.11/12 (July/August 2002): 12.
• “What Would You Do With a Million Dollars? Christian Priorities and Nuclear Weapons.” Herald of Holiness, Feb. 1, 1989, 15.

 

Book Reviews

• Review of Acts and the Isaianic New Exodus by David W. Pao, Horizons in Biblical Theology 24.1 (2002): 137-38.
• Review of The Book of Acts as Church History—Apostelgeschichte als Kirchengeschichte by Tobias Nicklas and Michael Tilly, eds., Catholic Biblical Quarterly 67 (Jan. 2005).
• Review of The Brother of Jesus: The Dramatic Story and Significance of the First Archaeological Link to Jesus and His Family by Hershel Shanks and Ben Witherington, III, Research News and Opportunities in Science and Theology 4.3 (Nov. 2003): 17.
• Review of The Canonical Function of Acts: A Comparative Analysis by David E. Smith, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 65 (2003): 300-01.
• Review of Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, by Bron R. Taylor, ed., Science and Theology News (forthcoming).
• Review of An Examined Faith: The Grace of Self-Doubt by James M. Gustafson, Science and Theology News (Sept. 2004): 27.
• Review of Indiana Quakers Meet the Civil War by Jacquelyn S. Nelson, Newsletter of the Indiana Genealogical Society 5 (Feb. 1993): 5.
• Review of La Infancia de Jesus segun Lucas by Jose Miguel Garcia Perez and Mariano Herranz Marco, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 64 (2002): 373-74.
• Review of Introducing the New Testament by John Drane and of Introducing the New Testament by Paul J. Achtemeir, Joel B. Green, and Marianne Meye Thompson, Wesleyan Theological Journal 37.2 (2002): 234-36.
• Review of James, Brother of Jesus by Pierre-Antoine Bernheim, Religious Studies Review 27.1 (Jan. 2001): 75.
• Review of Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity by Paul Barnett, Religious Studies Review 27.1 (Jan. 2001): 75-76.
• Review of The Jesus Movement: A Social History of its First Century by Ekkehard W. Stegemann and Wolfgang Stegemann, Wesleyan Theological Journal 37.1 (2002): 221-23.
• Review of Past as Legacy: Luke-Acts and Ancient Epic by Marianne Palmer Bonz, Wesleyan Theological Journal 37.2 (2002): 250-51.
• Review of Preaching the Gospel of Luke: Proclaiming God’s Royal Rule by Keith F. Nickle, Religious Studies Review 27.2 (April 2001): 169.
• Review of Reading Biblical Narrative by J. P. Fokkelman, Religious Studies Review 27.1 (Jan. 2001): 70.
• Review of The Resurrection of the Son of God by N. T. Wright, Science and Theology News 4.6 (Feb. 2004): 27.
• Review of They Came and They Saw: Western Christian Experiences in the Holy Land by Michael Prior, ed., Wesleyan Theological Journal 37.2 (2002): 244-47.
• Review of They Came and They Saw: Western Christian Experiences in the Holy Land by Michael Prior, ed., Holy Land Studies: A Multidisciplinary Journal 2.2 (2004): 259-61.
• Review of The Voice of Jesus in the Social Rhetoric of James by Wesley Hiram Wachob, Religious Studies Review 27.1 (Jan. 2001): 80.
• Review of The Word of God and the World of the Bible: An Introduction to the Cultural Background of the New Testament by Peter J. Miano, Religious Studies Review 28.3 (2002): 266.
• Review of Das Zeugnis des Tempels by Heiner Ganser-Kerperin, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 63 (2001): 337-38.
• Review of “Windtalkers” directed by John Woo, Journal of Religion and Film 6.2 (Oct. 2002): http://www.unomaha.edu/~wwwjrf/windtalkers.htm.
• Review of “Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie” produced by Big Ideas Productions, Journal of Religion and Film 6.2 (Oct. 2002): http://www.unomaha.edu/~wwwjrf/jonah.htm .
• MOVIE REVIEWS:
• Review of “James’ Journey to Jerusalem” directed by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz, Journal of Religion and Film 8.1 (April, 2004): http://cid.unomaha.edu/~wwwjrf/Vol8No1/Reviews/JamesJourneyJerusalem.htm

 

Professional Presentations

• “The Church in Acts: A New (and Fallen?) Creation” (paper presented at Conference for Wesleyan Perspectives on the Creation, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA, 12 April, 2002).
• “Creation Themes in Acts and Genesis” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, Boulder, CO, 4 April 2003).
• “Is Lady Wisdom Separated from her Children or was Jesus just not Wise?” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, CO, 8 April 2005).
• “Looking for a Wesleyan Needle in a Cinematic Hay Stack: Seeking a Wesleyan Critique of the Church in Contemporary Cinema” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA, 5 March, 2005).
• “Love as Self-Assertion: An Important Corrective to Wesleyan/holiness Theology” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN, 2 March 2001).
• “The Mission of the Church in Acts: Inclusive or Exclusive?” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Hobe Sound Bible College, Hobe Sound, FL, 2 March 2002).
• “Paul as Role Model in Acts” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, TX, 21 Nov. 2004)
• “The Problem with Miracles: Response to Jon Ruthven’s ‘Jesus as Rabbi’” (paper presented at the joint meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies and the Wesleyan Theological Society, Lee University, Cleveland, TN, 13 March 1998).
• “Reading Issues of Wealth and Poverty in Luke’s Gospel” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, 7 August 2000).
• “Rich Man, Poor Man: Paul and Peter in the Canonical and Non-Canonical Acts” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, Dallas, TX, 16 March, 1997).
• “The Temporal Location of the Narrator of Acts” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, CO, 18 Nov. 2001).
• “Was Jesus Unwise?” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Philadelphia, PA, 18 Nov. 2005).
• “What One Must Do In Order To Inherit Eternal Life: Judaism and the Transformation of Worship in Luke’s Gospel” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C., 6 Nov. 1996).
• “What’s a Nice God Doing in World like This: A Trinitarian Theodicy” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, 4 March 2000).
• “Wolfgang Iser: A Man with a Reading Strategy for Post-Modern Wesleyans?” (paper presented at the annual meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society, Southern Nazarene University, Bethany, OK, 6 March 1999).