The emphasis of the Emory New Testament Program is on exegesis and theological interpretation. Instruction is given in the traditional critical methods that have been formative for contemporary New Testament scholarship; but these are supplemented by newer approaches, including literary, rhetorical, text-linguistic, and social analysis of texts.

As a way of fostering interdisciplinary work, students are required to take substantial work in at least one field of study outside the New Testament. Examples of outside fields include patristics, theology, ethics, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, ancient history, literary criticism, linguistics, or some area of another religious tradition such as Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism.

The New Testament faculty is constantly alert to the implications of many other special types of research. The program is supported by a strong Hebrew Bible faculty, as well as by other programs of the Graduate School. In addition, students may pursue studies elsewhere in the Graduate School, including the interdisciplinary Graduate Institute of Liberal Arts and the Departments of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and English. At the same time, students in New Testament seminars benefit from the participation of students from other programs.

Students and faculty of the New Testament department meet each month for social interchange and for discussion of research papers and recent advances in the field not covered in seminars. These meetings are attended by New Testament faculty from other academic institutions in the Atlanta area as well.

The two years of formal coursework provide opportunity for concentrated study in the field of New Testament interpretation: history and literature of the New Testament (introduction), exegesis, theology, and the world of the New Testament (backgrounds). In keeping with the Graduate Division of Religion's overall emphasis on interdisciplinary work, students take course-work in Hebrew Bible and their designated outside areas, in addition to the Mapping the Landscape of Religion and Theology seminar. These courses assist students not only in pre-paring for their preliminary examinations but also in finding and defining areas of dissertation research.

Before work on the dissertation can begin, competency in the field of New Testament interpretation must be demonstrated in six areas: the world of the New Testament (backgrounds), Hebrew Bible, history and literature (introduction), exegesis, theology, and a designated outside area. Competence in the first two areas may be demonstrated either through coursework or by a special written examination. Competence in the latter four areas must be demonstrated by a series of preliminary examinations administered after the completion of course work.

In addition to the general language requirements of the Graduate Division of Religion, New Testament students must demonstrate competence in Biblical Greek and Hebrew. Competence in Greek is demonstrated through a written exam, which must be completed successfully before the end of the first year of coursework. Competence in Hebrew is demonstrated through the Hebrew Bible exegesis exam.

New Testament Faculty

Michael J. Brown (Ph.D., The University of Chicago Divinity School, 1998) Assistant Professor. The development of Christianity in North Africa; early Christian ritual and liturgical practices; Greco-Roman backgrounds to the New Testament; the Gospel of Matthew.

Carl R. Holladay (Ph.D., University of Cambridge, 1975) Professor. Hellenistic Judaism; Luke-Acts; New Testament Introduction; Christology.

Luke T. Johnson (Ph.D., Yale University, 1976) Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins. Christian origin and development; Luke-Acts and Paul; James; and Greco-Roman religion and moral philosophy.

Gail R. O'Day (Ph.D., Emory University, 1983) Almar H. Shatford Professor of Biblical Preaching. The Gospel of John; Revelation and apocalyptic literature; history of biblical interpretation; Bible and preaching.

Vernon K. Robbins (Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1969) Professor. Socio-rhetorical interpretation; Canonical and Extracanonical Gospels, Acts, and Apocalypses; Modern and Postmodern biblical interpretation; Comparative sacred texts (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

Walter T. Wilson (Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1990) Assistant Professor. Acts; Hellenistic Jewish wisdom literature; Pauline letters and theology.