Joel Willitts

 

Dr. Joel Willitts (Ph.D. Cambridge University) is Associate Professor in Biblical and Theological Studies at North Park University as well as College Pastor at Christ Community Church. He has a wide breadth of experience within both the church and academia. He is married to Karla and they have young twins.

Academic and Ministry CV for Rev. Dr. Joel Willitts

 

Education

Cambridge University, Cambridge, England: Ph.D., New Testament, 2007

Cambridge University, Cambridge, England: M.Phil., New Testament, 2002

Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX: Th.M., Old & New Testament, 2000

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA: B.S., Church Ministry, 1993

 

Teaching Experience

2006-Present: Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, North Park University, Chicago, IL

2011: Adjunct Professor, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL

2005: Adjunct Instructor, North Park University, Chicago, IL

2005: Adjunct Instructor, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL

2004-2005: Undergraduate Supervisor, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England

 

Pastoral Leadership

2010-Present: College Pastor, Christ Community Church, St. Charles, IL

2001-2006: Ministry Partner and Teacher, Vanguard Church, Colorado Springs, CO

2002-2005: Occasional Teacher, The Round Church at STAG, Cambridge, England

1996-1999: Middle School/Young Adults Director, Christ Community Church, St. Charles, IL

1994-1996: Youth Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dunedin, FL

1993-1994: Youth Pastor, Arlington Alliance Church, Arlington, TX

1991-1993: Ministry Assistant, Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA

 

Editorships

Editorial board for the Journal of the Study of Paul and His Letters (Eisenbrauns: 2010-present)

Associate editor Regula Fidei Series (Zondervan)

 

Memberships

British Association of Jewish Studies

Catholic Biblical Association

Evangelical Theological Society

Society of Biblical Literature

Institute for Biblical Research

Tyndale Fellowship

 

Areas of Academic and Research Interest

Gospels (primarily Matthew and John)

Jesus

Paul

Jewish and Christian messianism

Hasmonean and Roman archaeology in the Holy Lands

Christian Judaism in the first four centuries

Jewish context of the New Testament

 

Publications

Books

Published

With Michael Bird (eds.), Paul and the Gospels: Christologies, Conflicts, and Convergences (LNTS 411; London: T & T Clark, 2011).

With Daniel M. Gurtner and Richard A. Burridge (ed.), Jesus, Matthew and Early Christianity: Studies in Memory of Professor Graham N. Stanton (LNTS 435; London: T & T Clark, 2011).

The Kregel Pictorial Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls: How They Were Discovered and What They Mean, (The Kregel Pictorial Guide Series. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2010).

The Dead Sea Scrolls (Essential Bible Reference Series; Oxford: Lion Hudson, 2008).

Matthew’s Messianic Shepherd-King: In Search of the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (BZNW 147; Berlin; New York: De Gruyter, 2007).

 

Forthcoming

With David Rudolph (eds.) Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming 2013).

Galatians (Regula Fidei: A Commentary on the Bible; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming, 2015).

With David Rudolph and Justin K. Hardin The Jewish New Testament: Its Jewish Social and Conceptual Context (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, forthcoming 2015).

Jesus, Messiah, Son of David: The Davidic Christology of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, forthcoming 2018).

 

Essays in Edited Works

“Jesus, Kingdom and Land: Engaging N.T. Wright on the Question of the Kingdom and Land.” In Jesus as Israel’s Messiah: Engaging the Work of N. Thomas Wright, ed. Robert L. Webb and Mark Allan Powell (LHJS.  London: T & T Clark, forthcoming 2012).

“Paul and Matthew: A Descriptive Approach from a Post-New Perspective Interpretive Framework”, In Paul and the Gospels: Christologies, Conflicts, and Convergences, eds. Michael F. Bird and Joel Willitts, (LNTS 411. London: T & T Clark, 2011), 62-85.

“Paul and Jewish Christians in the Second Century”, in Paul and the Second Century, eds. Michael F. Bird and Joseph Dodson (LNTS 412; London: T & T Clark, 2011), 140-168.

“The Twelve Disciples in Matthew”, in Jesus, Matthew and Early Christianity: Studies in Memory of Professor Graham N. Stanton, eds. Daniel M. Gurtner, Joel Willitts, and Richard A. Burridge  (LNTS 435, London: T & T Clark, 2011), 166-79.

“Matthew”, in Jesus is Lord, Caesar is Not! Evaluating Empire Studies Today, eds. Joseph B. Modica and Scot McKnight (Downers Grove: IVP, forthcoming 2012).

“The Bride of Messiah and the Israel-ness of the New Heavens and New Earth”, in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations, eds. David Rudolph and Joel Willitts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming 2013).

“Chapter Summaries”, in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations, eds. David Rudolph and Joel Willitts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming 2013).

“Conclusion”, in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations, eds. David Rudolph and Joel Willitts (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming 2013).

 

Journal & Magazine Articles

“Matthew and Psalms of Solomon’s Messianism: A Comparative Study of First-Century Messianology”. BBR 22.1 (2012): 27-50.

“The Friendship of Matthew and Paul: A Response to a Recent Trend in the Interpretation of Matthew’s Gospel.” Theological Studies 65, no. 1 (2009): 1-8.

“Weighing the Words of Paul: How Do We understand Paul’s Instructions Today?” The Covenant Companion 108, no. 3 (2009): 28-30.

“Response to Barclay.” Ex Auditu 24 (2008): 73-77.

“Pop-pop and the Forgiving Face of God.” The Covenant Companion 106, no. 5 (2007): 30-31.

“Matthew’s Messianic Shepherd-King: In Search of the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.” Theological Studies 63, no. 1 (2007): 365-82

“The Remnant of Israel in 4QIsaiah Peshera (4Q161) and the Dead Sea Scrolls.” Journal of Jewish Studies 57, no. 1 (2006): 11-25.

“Stubbornly Clinging to Faith.” The Covenant Companion 105, no. 12 (2006): 20-21.

“Isaiah 54:1 in Galatians 4:24b–27: Reading Genesis in Light of Isaiah.” Zeitschrift für neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche 96, no. 3-4 (2005): 188-210.

“Presuppositions and Procedures in the Study of the Historical Jesus: Or Why I Decided Not To Be a Historical Jesus Scholar.” Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus 3, no. 1 (2005): 61-108.

“Context Matters: Paul’s Use of Leviticus 18:5 in Galatians 3:12.” Tyndale Bulletin 54, no. 2 (2003): 105-122.