Thomas R. Hatina PhD

Associate Professor of Religious Studies

Department: FHSS; Religious Studies; MA Biblical Studies

Email:

Area of Expertise: Early Christian Gospels, Historical Jesus, Mythology and Historiography in Late Antiquity, New Testament Theology and Religion.

Education: BA (Trinity Western); MCS (Regent); PhD (Bristol)

Awards, Grants, and Honours

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Institutional Grant (2004)

  • Project: edited monograph on the narrative function of Jewish scripture in early Christian Gospels (vol 1 is contracted with Continuum Press, forthcoming 2005)

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Institutional Grant (2002)

  • Project: Early Christian Language of Violence in an Apocalyptic Worldview (article on language of judgment in the Gospel of Mark has been accepted by Biblica, forthcoming 2005)

Overseas Research Students Award, Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom (1995-98).

The Margaret J. Mayhew Essay Award, Trinity Western University (1993).

Great Distinction Graduation Honour, Trinity Western University, (1993).

Professional Memberships

  • Member of the Society of Biblical Literature.
  • Associate Member of the Catholic Biblical Association
  • Fellow of the Institute for Biblical Research

Areas of Research Specialization

  • Early Jewish and Christian Literature and Religions
  • Historical Jesus
  • Greek Grammar
  • Hermeneutics (Literary, cultural, and historical criticisms)
  • Developing interest in Religion and Politics (especially religious violence)

Teaching Competence

  • Early Jewish and Christian Thought
  • Biblical Studies
  • Greco-Roman History, Culture and Religions
  • Greek
  • Introductory Courses on World Religions
  • Religion and Culture
  • Sociology/Anthrolplogy of Religion

Publications

Books

(1) In Search of a Context: The Function of Scripture in Mark's Narrative (JSNTSup 232; SSEJC 8; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002). Pp. 430.

(2) Introduction to New Testament Theology: Reading the New Testament as Religion and Theology (Peabody: Hendrickson Press, forthcoming 2005; contract signed).

(3) Biblical Interpretation in Early Christian Gospels: The Gospel of Mark (London: T. & T. Clark, forthcoming 2005; contract signed). Edited volume. First of a proposed five volume series on canonical and non-canonical Early Christian Gospels.

Articles

(**)"Did Jesus Quote Isaiah 29:13 Against Pharisees?" (forthcoming for BBR, 2005)

(4) "'The Voice from Heaven' in Mark's Narrative and the Influence of Early Jewish and Hellenistic Mythology" in Biblical Interpretation in Early Christian Gospels: The Gospel of Mark (ed. Thomas R. Hatina; London: T. & T. Clark, forthcoming 2005).

(5) "Who Will See the 'Kingdom of God Coming with Power' in Mark 9:1-Protagonists or Antagonists" Biblica Volume 86 (2005), 20-34. .

(6) "Reading New Testament Letters" in J. M. Houston, Mentored By Letters, Day By Day: A Lectionary of Letters by Christians throughout the History of the Church (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, forthcoming 2004).

(7) "Popular Apocalypticism and the Kingdom of God," in J. M. Houston, Mentored By Letters, Day By Day: A Lectionary of Letters by Christians throughout the History of the Church (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, forthcoming 2004).

(8) "On the Pain of Exclusion" in J. M. Houston, Mentored By Letters, Day By Day: A Lectionary of Letters by Christians throughout the History of the Church (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, forthcoming 2004).

(9) "That They May Be One: Love in the Gospel of John and Vladimir Soloviev." The Anglican Catholic 15 (2003) 13-23.

(10) "Consolations/Tanhumim(4Q176)." Dictionary of New Testament Background (ed. C. A. Evans and S. E. Porter; Downers Grove: Inter Varsity Press, 2000) 226-227.

(11) "Exile." Dictionary of New Testament Background (ed. C. A. Evans and S. E. Porter; Downers Grove: Inter Varsity Press, 2000) 348-351.

(12) "Intertextuality and Historical Criticism: Is There a Relationship?" Biblical Interpretation 7 (1999) 28-43.

(13) "The Perfect Tense-form in Colossians: Verbal Aspect and the Challenge of Translation." Translating the Bible: Problems and Prospects (ed. R. S. Hess and S. E. Porter; JSNT Supplement Series 173; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999) 224-252.

(14) "Cross." Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (ed. L. Ryken, J. C. Wilhoit and T. Longman III; Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1998) 184.

(15) "The Focus of Mark 13:24-27-The Parousia, or the Destruction of the Temple?" Bulletin for Biblical Research 6 (1996) 43-66.

(16) "Jewish Religious Background for the New Testament: Pharisees and Sadducees as Case Studies." Approaches to New Testament Study (ed. S. E. Porter and D. Tombs; JSNT Supplement Series 120; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995) 46-76.

(17) "The Perfect Tense-form in Recent Debate: Galatians as a Case Study." Filologia Neotestamentaria 8 (1995) 3-22.

(18) "John 20,22 in its Eschatological Context: Promise or Fulfillment?" Biblica 74 (1993) 196-219.

(19) "The Problem of Evil: A Brief Response." Northwest Evangelical Baptist Journal 2 (1992) 1-6.

Book Reviews

(**) S. E. Porter, ed., Reading the Gospels Today (McMaster New Testament Studies; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004 (forthcoming 2005)

(20) N. F. Santos, Slave of All: The Paradox of Authority and Servanthood in the Gospel of Mark (JSNTSup 237; London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2003). Review for Bulletin for Biblical Research (forthcoming 2005).

(21) P. Merenlahti, Poetics for the Gospels? Rethinking Narrative Criticism (Studies of the New Testament and Its World; Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 2002). Reviewed for Bulletin for Biblical Research 14 (2004) 300-302.

(22) M. Silva, Interpreting Galatians: Explorations in Exegetical Method (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001, 2nd edn.). Reviewed for Bulletin for Biblical Research 14 (2004) 307-308.

(23) W. E. Sproston North, The Lazarus Story within the Johannine Tradition (JSNTSup 121; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001). Reviewed for Bulletin for Biblical Research (forthcoming 2004).

(24) J. J. Scott, Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000). Reviewed for Bulletin for Biblical Research 13 (2003) 153-154.

(25) A. N. Wilder, Early Christian Rhetoric: The Language of the Gospel (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1999). Reviewed for Bulletin for Biblical Research 11 (2001) 145- 147.

(26) D. M. Ball, 'I Am' in John's Gospel: Literary Function, Background and Theological Implications (JSNTSup 124; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996). Reviewed for Themelios 22.2 (1997) 62-63.

(27) W. Carter, Households and Discipleship: A Study of Matthew 19-20 (JSNTSup 103; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994). Reviewed for Themelios 21.1 (1995) 22.

(28) E. Lövestam, Jesus and 'this Generation': A New Testament Study (ConBNT 25; Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1995). Reviewed for Journal for the Study of the New Testament 63 (1996) 127.

(29) W. M. Swartley, Israel's Scripture Traditions and the Synoptic Gospels: Story Shaping Story (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994). Reviewed forThemelios 20.3 (1995) 24.

(30) C. Bryan, A Preface to Mark: Notes on the Gospel in its Literary and Cultural Settings (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1993). Reviewed for Journal for the Study of the New Testament 57 (1995) 121-22.

(31) G. Vermes, The Religion of Jesus the Jew (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993). Reviewed for Journal for the Study of the New Testament 55 (1994) 124-25.

(32) J. Marcus, The Way of the Lord: Christological Exegesis of the Old Testament in the Gospel of Mark (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1992). Reviewed for Journal for the Study of the New Testament 54 (1994) 119.

(33) B. D. Chilton, The Temple of Jesus: His Sacrificial Program Within a Cultural History of Sacrifice (University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992). Reviewed for Journal for the Study of the New Testament 53 (1994) 124-25.

(34) J. P. Meier, A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. Volume 1: The Roots of the Problem and the Person (ABRL; New York: Doubleday, 1991). Reviewed for Journal for the Study of the New Testament 53 (1994) 124.

Conference and Other Papers

(1) "The Threat of 'The Kingdom of God Coming with Power': Reading Mark 9:1 from a Literary Perspective." American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature, Pacific Northwest Region, University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, May 2004.

(2) "Intertextuality and Historical Criticism in the Study of Early Christian Literature: Is There a Relationship?" American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature, Pacific Northwest Region, Trinity Western University, May 1997.

(3) "Poststructuralism and Historical Criticism: An Attempt at Validating a Relationship With Reference to 'The Way' Imagery in the Book of Acts." Theology and Religious Studies Research Group, University of Surrey, London, England, February 1996.

(4) "The Function of Isaiah 29:13 in Mark 7:5-8 and the Question of Historicity." Theology and Religious Studies Research Group, University of Surrey, London, England, November 1995.

Guest Lectures

(1) "Early Jewish Burial Customs," International Conference and Museum Display on the Shroud of Turin; Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vancouver, Church of the Good Shepherd, White Rock, B.C., April, 2004.

Public Media Interviews

(1) The Vancouver Sun, Vancouver, B.C., "'There was no Jesus' thesis sure to upset believers," March 27, 2004.

(2) The Kingston Whig-Standard, Kingston, ON, "Theologian argues Christ culled from pagan mythology," March 29, 2004.

(3) The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, ON, "Jesus: Other scholars call claims 'bizarre,'" March 28, 2004.