Don (Dongshin) Chang, PhD

Don (Dongshin) Chang, PhD, is a biblical scholar and pastor whose vocation has been shaped by a lifelong commitment to the Word of God and to the formation of the church for faithful service in God’s kingdom. He received his PhD in Religions and Theology from the University of Manchester under the supervision of Professor George J. Brooke. His research focuses on the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, and the interpretation of biblical traditions in early Jewish and Christian literature.

Dr. Chang’s academic work is deeply connected to his pastoral vocation. Having grown up in a pastor’s family in Korea and serving in pastoral ministry for more than sixteen years, he has long sought to integrate rigorous biblical scholarship with the life and mission of the church. His ministry has emphasized preaching, discipleship, and community outreach, reflecting his conviction that faithful interpretation of Scripture should nurture both the spiritual formation of believers and the mission of the church in the world.

He is the author of Phinehas, the Sons of Zadok, and Melchizedek: Priestly Covenant in Late Second Temple Texts (T&T Clark, 2016), and he currently serves as a Fellow of the John William Wevers Institute for Septuagint Studies and a Research Associate of the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute at Trinity Western University. His ongoing scholarship seeks to equip students, church leaders, and the broader Christian community to engage Scripture with intellectual rigour, pastoral wisdom, and humble commitment to the Kingdom of God.

• PhD in Religions and Theology at the University of Manchester, (Manchester, U.K.), 2014
• MA in Biblical Studies (with Distinction) at Trinity Western University, Langley, B.C., 2005
• MDiv in Theology (Summa Cum Laude) at Sungkyul Christian University (An Yang, Korea) and Canadian Theological Seminary (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada), 2001
• BA in Education at Chung–Ang University (Seoul, Korea), 1998

Expertise

Dr. Chang’s scholarship focuses on the interpretation of biblical texts within the historical and theological contexts of Second Temple Judaism. His research particularly explores the development of covenant theology and priestly traditions in the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and related Jewish literature. By examining texts from the sectarian writings at Qumran, intertestamental traditions, and the New Testament writings, his work seeks to illuminate how early Jewish communities understood covenant identity, priesthood, and divine authority.

Another major area of expertise is the Septuagint and its reception in early Jewish and Christian interpretation. Dr. Chang’s research frequently engages the Greek text of the Old Testament and its influence on the development of theological themes in the New Testament. His current research on 1 Maccabees investigates how Second Temple historical narratives contribute to the theological imagination of covenant, zeal, and priestly legitimacy.

Additionally, through his work in theological education, particularly in programs serving cross-cultural and international students, he seeks to equip pastors and Christian leaders to read Scripture with both scholarly care and pastoral sensitivity, strengthening the church’s capacity for faithful teaching and mission.