Luke Timothy Johnson
Encyclopedia
Luke Timothy Johnson is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor
of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology
and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University
. Professor Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity (particularly moral discourse), Luke-Acts, the Pastoral Letters, and the Letter of James.
He often lectures at universities and seminaries worldwide. He is a noted critic of the Jesus Seminar
, often taking stances against Burton Mack, Robert Funk and John Dominic Crossan
in discussions of the "historical Jesus." He objects to the Seminar's unconventional historical methodology and attempts to carve out a critically conservative position on this hotly debated topic.
In other areas, he disagrees with Vatican teaching. For example, he has publicly declared his support for women's ordination and he has expressed concern for the Roman Catholic Church's overemphasis and singling out of homosexual partnerships amidst the myriad of other sexual sins condemned in the Bible.
Johnson is the recipient of the 2011 Grawemeyer Award
in Religion and has produced lectures on early Christianity
and ancient Greek philosophy for The Teaching Company
.
, Johnson was educated in public and parochial schools. A Benedictine
monk and priest at St. Joseph Abbey, St. Benedict, Louisiana, from 1963 to 1972, he received a B.A. in Philosophy from Notre Dame Seminary
in 1966, a M.Div. in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology
in 1970, an M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University
, and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University
in 1976. He has also taught at St. Meinrad, Saint Joseph Seminary College
, Yale Divinity School
, and Indiana University
. He belongs to several professional associations and holds a number of editorial positions.
Johnson married Joy Randazzo in 1974 and is stepfather to six children and father of one.
Dr. Johnson is also the author of a large number of scholarly articles, encyclopedia, anthology and popular articles, book reviews, and other academic papers and lectures.
Robert W. Woodruff Professor
The Robert W. Woodruff Professorships are endowed professorships at Emory University, named for philanthropist Robert W. Woodruff. The chairs are Emory University's "most distinguished academic appointments [...] reserved for world-class scholars who are not only proven leaders of their own fields...
of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology, Emory University, is one of 13 seminaries of the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1914, the school was named after Warren Akin Candler, a former President and Chancellor of Emory University and a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South...
and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
. Professor Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity (particularly moral discourse), Luke-Acts, the Pastoral Letters, and the Letter of James.
He often lectures at universities and seminaries worldwide. He is a noted critic of the Jesus Seminar
Jesus Seminar
The Jesus Seminar is a group of about 150 critical scholars and laymen founded in 1985 by Robert Funk under the auspices of the Westar Institute....
, often taking stances against Burton Mack, Robert Funk and John Dominic Crossan
John Dominic Crossan
John Dominic Crossan is an Irish-American religious scholar and former Catholic priest known for co-founding the Jesus Seminar. Crossan is a major figure in the fields of biblical archaeology, anthropology and New Testament textual and higher criticism. He is also a lecturer who has appeared in...
in discussions of the "historical Jesus." He objects to the Seminar's unconventional historical methodology and attempts to carve out a critically conservative position on this hotly debated topic.
In other areas, he disagrees with Vatican teaching. For example, he has publicly declared his support for women's ordination and he has expressed concern for the Roman Catholic Church's overemphasis and singling out of homosexual partnerships amidst the myriad of other sexual sins condemned in the Bible.
Johnson is the recipient of the 2011 Grawemeyer Award
Grawemeyer Award
The Grawemeyer Awards are five awards given annually by the University of Louisville in the state of Kentucky, United States. The prizes are presented to individuals in the fields of education, ideas improving world order, music composition, religion, and psychology...
in Religion and has produced lectures on early Christianity
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
and ancient Greek philosophy for The Teaching Company
The Teaching Company
The Teaching Company is a Chantilly, Virginia company that produces recordings of lectures by university professors and high-school teachers. It sells the courses in CD, DVD, MPEG-4, and MP3 formats.- Background :...
.
Life and career
A native of Park Falls, WisconsinPark Falls, Wisconsin
Park Falls is a city in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,793 at the 2000 census. Located in the woods of north central Wisconsin, primarily the Chequamegon National Forest, Park Falls is a small community divided by the North Fork of the Flambeau River, a popular...
, Johnson was educated in public and parochial schools. A Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk and priest at St. Joseph Abbey, St. Benedict, Louisiana, from 1963 to 1972, he received a B.A. in Philosophy from Notre Dame Seminary
Notre Dame Seminary
Notre Dame Seminary is a resident, accredited graduate theological school in New Orleans, Louisiana, founded in 1923 for the education of men to be priests of the Roman Catholic Church. The building, located at 2901 South Carrollton Avenue, was constructed between 1922-1923, and was designed by...
in 1966, a M.Div. in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology
Saint Meinrad School of Theology
The Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is located in Saint Meinrad in southern Indiana and is affiliated with the St. Meinrad Archabbey, which itself is affiliated with Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland...
in 1970, an M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1976. He has also taught at St. Meinrad, Saint Joseph Seminary College
Saint Joseph Seminary College
Saint Joseph Seminary College, also known as St. Ben or St. Ben's, is a private four-year seminary college founded in 1891. It is operated by the Benedictine Monks of Saint Joseph Abbey and the dioceses of the ecclesiastical provinces of New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. The piney woods campus is...
, Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School
Yale Divinity School is a professional school at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. preparing students for ordained or lay ministry, or for the academy...
, and Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. He belongs to several professional associations and holds a number of editorial positions.
Johnson married Joy Randazzo in 1974 and is stepfather to six children and father of one.
Publications
- The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters, Doubleday, 2004. ISBN 978-0385-50247-4
- Brother of Jesus, Friend of God: Studies in the Letter of James (2004). ISBN 0802809863 ISBN 978-0802809865
- The First and Second Letters to Timothy: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Bible) (2001). ISBN 0385484224 ISBN 978-0385484220
- Living Jesus: Learning the Heart of the Gospel (1999). ISBN 0060642831 ISBN 978-0060642839
- Religious Experience: A Missing Dimension in New Testament Studies (1998). ISBN 0800631293 ISBN 978-0800631291
- Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary (1997). ISBN 1573122769 ISBN 978-1573122764
- Letters to Paul's Delegates: A Commentary on 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus (1996). ISBN 1563381443 ISBN 978-1563381447
- Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church (1996). ISBN 0687012384 ISBN 978-0687012381
- The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels (1996). ISBN 0060641665, ISBN 978-0060641665
- The Letter of James (Commentary) (1995). ISBN 0385413602 ISBN 978-0385413602
- Proclamation 5: Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year (1993). ISBN 0800641841 ISBN 978-0800641849
- The Acts of the Apostles (Commentary) (1992). ISBN 0814659683 ISBN 978-0814659687
- The Gospel of Luke (Commentary) (1991). ISBN 0814659667 ISBN 978-0814659663
- Faith's Freedom: A Classic Spirituality for Contemporary Christians (1990). ISBN 0800624289 ISBN 978-0800624286
- 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus (1987). ISBN 0804232423 ISBN 978-0804232425
- The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (1986, rev. ed. 2002). ISBN 0334029112, ISBN 978-0334029113; paperback (2003) ISBN 080063439X ISBN 978-0800634391
- Decision Making in the Church: A Biblical Model (1983). ISBN 0800616944 ISBN 978-0800616946
- Luke-Acts: A Story of Prophet and People (1982). ISBN 0819905240 ISBN 978-0819905246
- Some Hard Blessings: Meditations on the Beatitudes in Matthew (1981). ISBN 0895050587 ISBN 978-0895050588
- Sharing Possessions: Mandate and Symbol of Faith (1981). ISBN 0800615344 ISBN 978-0800615345
- Invitation to the Letters of Paul III: Ephesians, Colossians, Pastorals (Commentary) (1980).
- The Literary Function of Possessions in Luke-Acts (1977).
- Teaching Religion to Undergraduates (1973).
Dr. Johnson is also the author of a large number of scholarly articles, encyclopedia, anthology and popular articles, book reviews, and other academic papers and lectures.