William Baker Ph.D.

Professor of Ministry and Biblical Studies

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EDUCATION:

• Ph.D. in New Testament, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, 1987
• M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL, 1978
• M.A. in New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL, 1976
• B.A in Ministry and Music, Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln, IL, 1974

CAREER HISTORY:

• Professor of New Testament, Cincinnati Bible Seminary, Cincinnati, OH, 2002-2011
• Professor of New Testament and Greek, Saint Louis Christian College, Florissant, MO, 1988-2001
• Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek, Mid-South Christian College, Memphis, TN, 1985-1988

COURSES:

• Ephesians
• Residency: Leadership and Finances

KEY AWARDS/AFFILIATIONS:

• President, Stone-Campbell International, 2004-
• Evangelical Theological Society, Midwest Region President, 2010-2011, 1999-2000
• Society of Biblical Literature
• Institute for Biblical Research
• Restoration Award, Lincoln Christian College, 1998. For outstanding service in Restoration Advancement

ACADEMIC INTERESTS:

• Epistle of James
• 1 and 2 Corinthians
• Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement Theology

PUBLICATIONS:

Stone-Campbell Journal, General Editor, 1998-present. Founded and continue to serve as General Editor of Stone-Campbell Journal, a semi-annual journal which seeks to provide "a scholarly platform for biblical interpretation, history, theology, philosophy, apologetics, and cultural criticism for those who value the perspective of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement and who endeavor to advance its distinctive principles today." Includes 5-6 articles per issue and 30-35 book reviews. Published semi-annually since 1998 by College Press, Joplin, MO. Since 2004, published by Stone-Campbell International.

Books

• 1 Corinthians. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2009
• Evangelicalism & the Stone-Campbell Movement, Vol 2: Engaging Basic Christian Doctrine, editor. Abilene, TX: ACU Press, 2006
• Preaching James. St. Louis, MO: Chalice, 2004
• Evangelicalism & the-Campbell Movement, editor. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002
• 2 Corinthians. College Press NIV Commentary Series New Testament.  Joplin, MO: College Press, 1999
• Sticks and Stones: The Biblical Ethics of Talk. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996
• Personal Speech-Ethics in the Epistle of James. WUNT. Tubingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1994
• “James” and “Epistles of John” in James­-Jude, Standard Bible Studies. Cincinnati: Standard, 1990

Journal Articles

• “‘Formally Binding?’ Scriptural Authority and Private Opinion in Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address and in the Apostle Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians,”  Stone-Campbell Journal 14.1  (2011) 53-66
• “Searching for the Holy Spirit in the Epistle of James: Is ‘Wisdom’ Equivalent?” Tyndale Bulletin 58.2 (2008 ) 293-315
• “‘Who’s Your Daddy?’ Gendered Birth Images in the Soteriology of the Epistle of James (1:14-15, 18, 21)” Evangelical Quarterly 79.3 (2007) 195-207
• “Coming Full Circle: Biblical Scholarship in Christian Churches,” Stone-Campbell Journal 10.2 (2007) 165-192
• “The Chalcedon Definition: Pauline Christologyy, and the Postmodern Challenge of  ‘From Below’ Christology,” Stone-Campbell Journal 9.1 (2006) 77-98
• “Christology in the Epistle of James,” Evangelical Quarterly 74.1 (2002) 47-57
• “Did the Glory of Moses' Face Fade? A Re-Examination of katargeo in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 10.1 (2000) 1-16
• “‘Above All Else’: Contexts of the Call for Verbal Integrity in the Epistle of James,” Journal for the Study of New Testament 54 (1994) 57-71

Articles in Edited Volumes

• “Hat or Hair in 1 Corinthians 11 or Does it Matter?  What are Christian Women to Do?” in Women in the Biblical World: A Survey of Old and New Testament Perspectives. Ed. Beth McCabe. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2011
• “The Community of Believers in the Epistle of James,” in The New Testament Church. Ed. John Harrison and James Dvorak; Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2011
• “James’ in Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey. Ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008

Dictionary Articles

• “Tongue”and “Say, Speak”  in the New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009
• “James, Book of” in Dictionary for the Theological Interpretation of the Bible; ed. Kevin Vanhoozer, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005
• “Saint Louis Christian College” and “Stone-Campbell Journal” in Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004
• “Endurance” and “Temptation” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments,  Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997

Magazine Articles

• Christian Standard. “The Emerging Church and the Stone-Campbell Movement: Some Striking Similarities” (Part One (September 23, 2008; Part Two, September 30, 2008); “Five Books About How We Got the Bible (January 20, 2008); “Five Books About Open Theism” (November 19, 2006); “At His Table” meditations(October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2006);“Christians in Crisis" (January 2, 2005); “Was Murch Right?” (March 16, 2003); “ Should You Learn at Bible College” (August 23, 1998); “Thoughts from My Japanese Diary" (April 4, 1994); “Let's Work Together: Gender and Ministry” (October 31, 1993); “Loneliness: The Cry of Dereliction" (April 4, 1993); "When God Came to Church: Psalm 50” (April 13, 1992); “The Real Peace of Christmas: Ephesians 2:11-19” (December 15, 1991); “The Cross” (March 24, 1991); “Hindrances to Church Unity: Lessons from 1 Corinthians” (March 13,1988); “The Last Supper” (March 6, 1988); “How to be a Christian Leader: Directives from 1 Peter 5:1-4” (February 1, 1987); “Jesus and Scripture: A Mutual Admiration” (February 21, 1982)
• Lookout. "Zipping Our Lips (To the Glory of God), “(June 23, 1997)

Adult Bible Class Curriculum

• Standard Publishing: “James” (Summer, 2008) “1 Peter”  (Winter, 1997-98); "New Testament Personalities" (Winter, 1996-97); "First-Century Agriculture" (Spring, 1996).

Book Reviews

• Reviews in Trinity Journal, Stone-Campbell Journal, Themelios, Evangelical Quarterly, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, and Christian Standard

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:

Lectureships--Featured Speaker

• Piedmont Lectures, Dallas Christian College,  Oct 11-12, 2011.  “Unique Theology in the Epistle of  James”
• Fellowship of Professors West, Manhattan Christian College, Oct 3-4, 2008. “Theology in the Epistle of James.”
• Austin Forum on Christian Unity, Unity Avenue Church of Christ, Austin, TX, July 11-12, 2008. “The Nature of the Church,” and “The Nature and Function of Scripture” (from the perspective of the Christian Churches—independent) with Bruce Shields, Gary Holloway, Allan McNicol, Robet Welsh, and Newell Williams.
• Boatman Lecture. Saint Louis Christian College, September 25-26, 2003. “Evangelicalism and the Stone-Campbell Movement: From Campbell to Appel”
• Fellowship of Professors, Johnson Bible College, Sept 20-21, 2002. “Are We Evangelical?”
• Meeting on Unity, University Christian Church, Conway, AR, January 22-23, 1987.  “Unity in 1 Corinthians.” (with Leroy Garrett).

Academic Conference Lectures

• Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting
  2010, “Hat or Hair in 1 Corinthians 11 or Does it Matter: What Are Christian Women to Do?”;
  2009, “Global Christianity and the Gospel According to James”; 2008, “The Epistle of James”;
  2007, “Shifting Sand: Observing Recent Interpretive Changes in 1 Corinthians”;
  2005, “Gendered Birth Images in the Soteriology of the Epistle of James”;
  2004, “Wisdom in the Epistle of James and the Holy Spirit: Are They the Same?”;
  2003,“The Priority of God in the Epistle of James”;
  2000, “Theology in the Epistle of James”;
  1998; Did the Glory of Moses' Face Fade? A Re-Examination of katergeo in 2 Corinthians 3:7-13”;
  1997, “Evangelicalism Through the Eyes of Alexander Campbell”;
  1996, “‘Sticks and Stones’: The Power of Words to Hurt and to Heal”;
  1988, “Grace Upon Grace: Solutions for James 4:5”;
  1987, “The Tongue as the Key Indicator of Spirituality.”
• Society of Biblical Literature Meeting (National)
  2000, “Chalcedon and Paul: Investigating their Christological Compatibility” (Restoration Theological Research Fellowship);
  1989, "James 5:12: the Call for Verbal Integrity.”
• Evangelical Theological Society (Midwest Region)
  2011, Presidential Address, “The Canonical Value of 1, 2 Peter, Jude, and James:  Hearing James.”
  2000, Presidential Address, “Theology in the Epistle of James.”
  1987-1999, 2001-2010, Numerous Papers, mostly on James, and some on 1 Corinthians.
• Society of Biblical Literature (Midwest Regional)
  2005, “The Priority of God in the Epistle of James” 
• Society of Biblical Literature (Central States Region)
  1991, “James 1:19: A Potent Proverb.”
• Institute for Biblical Research (Regional Meeting)
  1987, Belhaven College, Jackson, MS “Speech and Truth in the Epistle of James.”
• Bi-Centennial Centennial of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address, Johnson Bible College
  Septermber 17-19, 2009.  “‘Not Formally Binding’:  The Place of ‘Reasonable Argument’ in Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address and in the Apostle Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.”
• Christian Scholar’s Conference.
  June 27-28, 2008 (Lipscomb University).“Shifting Sand: Observing Recent Interpretive Changes in 1 Corinthians.” Various papers focused on evangelicalism or Epistle of James;
  June 21-23, 2007 (Rochester College);
  July 15-17, 2004 (Rochester College);
  July 18-20, 2002 (Lubbock Christian University);
  July 20-22, 2001 (Oklahoma Christian University);
  July 15-17, 1999 (Harding University).

Church Conference Lectures

• Pepperdine Lectureship Classes.
  May 13-16, 2011. “The Lord Jesus on the Night He Was Betrayed: Paul and the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11.
  May 5-8, 2009.  “Global Christianity According to the Gospel of James.”
  April 29- May 2, 2008. “The Emerging Church: A New Restoration Movement? Exploring Parallels and Contrasts.”
  May 1-4, 2007. “So. What’s the Difference? Churches of Christ, Christian Churches, and Evangelicals on Basic Doctrine: God, Christ, Today” (Led three-day anel that included Robert Kurka, Duane Warden).”
  May 2-5, 2004. “Are the Churches of Christ and Christian Churches Evangelical?” (Panel with Robert Hull and Glenn Pemberton).”
• Summit, Abilene Christian University Lectureship Class,
  September 19-22, 2010.  “Agree to Disagree and Agree to Agree: Thomas Campbell’s Prescription for Unity and Today.”
• North American Christian Convention.
  1991-2011.  Moderator of Restoration or Theological  tracks (2010, 2005, 2002, 2000,  1999, 1998),  Presider over annual Stone-Campbell Journal Lecture (2001-2011).  “Promoting Christian Unity as Scholars” (Panel Participant, 2011); “Are We Evangelical?”  (Presenter, 1999);   “Celebrating Jesus, His Humanity: Facing Conflict in Mark” (Bible Study Leader, 1994); “The Wisdom Environment of the Old Testament” (Presenter, Archaeology and History Session, 1991)

HOBBIES/INTERESTS:

Road cycling, live theatre, cinema, reading, traveling.

RECOMMENDED LINKS:

• Stone-Campbell Journal: www.stone-campbelljournal.com