B.J. Oropeza, Ph.D., is Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Azusa Pacific University and Seminary. He earned his doctorate in New Testament Theology from Durham University (England) under the supervision of James D.G. Dunn and Loren T. Stuckenbruck, two of the field’s most influential scholars. A recognized authority on Pauline literature, intertextuality, and apostasy in the New Testament, Oropeza has held visiting scholar positions at Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Tübingen, and was elected to membership in the prestigious Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS) in 2018.
Oropeza is a prolific author whose works have been translated into Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, German, Croatian, Greek, and Arabic. His publications include Perspectives on Paul: Five Views (Baker Academic), the Scripture, Texts, and Tracings series (Fortress Academic), a three-volume study on Apostasy in the New Testament Communities (Cascade), and commentaries on 1 and 2 Corinthians. He has also contributed entries to the Oxford Encyclopedia of Bible and Theology and the Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation—and, on the lighter side, The Gospel According to Superheroes (Peter Lang).
Beyond his scholarship, Oropeza has made lasting contributions to the field’s infrastructure: he founded the Intertextuality in the New Testament section at the Society of Biblical Literature and serves on the editorial board of the Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity series. He has contributed to major Bible translation projects, including the NRSVue, the Common English Bible, and the Lexham English Septuagint. His current research focuses on Romans, new and post-new perspectives on Paul, and intertextual biblical interpretation. He writes regularly at his Patheos blog, In Christ.
When asked about contributing to Patheos, BJ offered this: “Knowing that what I write is actually read by many viewers. Any teacher or preacher knows the feeling of spending time and effort preparing a lesson or sermon. It is rewarding whenever a number of students or parish members show up to hear you speak and benefit from what you have to say. With Patheos, I always have the confidence that quite a number of readers will “show up” and benefit from what I write. This is important to me because I strive to write in a way that advances God’s kingdom, whether by drawing people closer to the Lord or by equipping them with knowledge, truth, and insight.”
Oropeza has this advice for future Patheos contributors: “Write what you are passionate about. As a biblical scholar, I write about Scripture or what scholars have to say about Scripture because that is my passion. Also, try to create intriguing titles for your posts—that has a way of boosting readership.”
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