χαῖρε
Welcome to Kurios About the New Testament. I write about topics that interest me in the realm of New Testament studies, biblical languages, and the socio-political context in which these documents were composed. My expertise is on historical criticism, narrative theory, linguistics, and intertextuality (e.g., how the Old Testament is used in the New), so if these are areas in which you are interested, this is the place for you.
I offer a range of subjects at multiple levels of discourse, so enjoy whatever suits your fancy. From introductory material to more complicated theories, exegetical topics, translations, and art, there should be something for you, if you are passionate about the New Testament and its world. Although most of the information here is more academic—I am far more interested in understanding these texts from the original composers’ perspective—there will be occasion for some theological reflection and memes.
Sit back in your favorite easy chair and relax with your choice beverage, and let’s discuss the New Testament. And, if you feel inclined, would you kindly push that subscribe button bellow.
Bios
For a bit of context on me, I am an independent New Testament (NT) scholar. I have multiple degrees focusing on NT studies and language, predominantly Greek. Take a gander at this “professional” picture of my graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.). That’s how you know I’m qualified.
I have also earned degrees in Religious Studies (B.A., M.A.) and Greek (B.A.) from the University of Georgia—Go Dawgs!
As for religious affiliation, my personal flavor of Christianity is Byzantine Catholic, specifically Ruthenean. There were a bunch of words that probably meant little to you—especially when strung together—other than “Catholic,” but to simplify it—poorly—it’s Orthodox beliefs and practices with a fist pump to the Pope.
That’s a terribly reductive explanation, but here we are. Although that’s my own spirituality, my biblical exegesis is centered around linguistics and historical criticism, seeing as that is my pedigree. But, full disclosure, I think it is helpful to know someone’s background when they are analyzing a text; there is much we tacitly bring to the table.
What I Produce
The type of material I generate will be both short- and long-form. The longer material will be series (e.g., my introduction to Paul publications), exegesis on a particular passage (e.g., The Baptism of Christ in Matt 3:13–17; Judging in Matt 7:1–5), and translations (e.g., 1 Thessalonians). The long-form content will be more heavily researched, which takes more time to produce. In these longer pieces, the argument/topic is streamlined in the main body, but the deep dive into the topic happens in the footnotes. That is where I have a more technical discussion or explanation.
I will have shorter pieces on teaching materials (e.g., The Structure of Mark) and handouts (e.g., Greek handouts for Athanaze). Notes will be a place for me to throw out random thoughts I’ve had with little to no research, and it will be a way to gauge community interest. If a note gets a lot of attention, I may develop it into a larger project.
As far as translations are concerned, I will use the Revised Standard Version (RSV) if I do not supply my own—the Brosephos Standard Version (marked, BroSV). Every translation has its issues, but the RSV is my personal preference.
AI Art
Controversial to some, I am enthralled by AI generated art, as you have probably noticed. It created the icon for Kurios and my avatar on SubStack. This will be a feature throughout because I'm not all that artistically talented, so I hope to incorporate it into my writing so that there is something to see while reading. Nothing can replace authentic compositions like icons and paintings, but this is my unique, contemporary, if not bizarre contribution to Christianity, for better or for worse.
Distribution, Reproduction, & Use
Feel free to distribute/share anything I publish, or modify it in any way you deem fit for your own purposes. My only request is that you give an acknowledgment to Kurios About the New Testament and direct people to my content. I spend a copious amount of time researching, developing, and writing, so this would be a huge help in growing my SubStack.
Right now, I am composing in my free time—what little I have with a toddler and a new born—so please keep that in mind if the mill slows down. This is more of a hobby at the moment, a place where I can digitize my previous and present research and thoughts.
Monetization
I have recently turned on monetization if you wish to support my writing. I still plan on everything I post to be free, but paid subscribers will have access to some convenience features:
Table of Contents—Order on SubStack can be hard to achieve since everything is listed chronologically, and I cannot alter this. Meaning, I am unable to list the articles as I see fit. There is a section now called “Series,” which will contain my multi-part series in one convenient place, e.g., Introduction to Paul, The Meaning of Bread in Mark 6:52, and Introduction to Greek worksheets.
PDFs of Greek Worksheets—There will be a link to a google doc at the bottom of every introductory Greek worksheet, which will allow you to save a pdf and/or print the document for use. As great as SubStack is, this is not a word processor, so it makes formatting a bit tricky. These documents contain the final form of these works. The information is the same, but it is displayed differently.
If you are a subscriber or considering subscribing, let me know if there are any features that you think would improve this aspect of my SubStack.
I appreciate everyone that is willing to throw me a few shekels for my writing. I am attempting to build a resource where anyone can learn about the New Testament and Early Christianity. I never want to charge people for information; it is something that I have never enjoyed about the academy. So, if you are willing to support my endeavors, I thank you. As St. Jerome described his patron Paula,
If all the members of my body were to be converted into tongues, and if each of my limbs were to be gifted with a human voice, I could still do no justice to the virtues of the holy and venerable Paula.
Letter 108
Credentials:
I. Education
M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary | 2015
Thesis: “The Johannine ‘Aqedah: A Study on the Development of Genesis 22 within Judaism and the Nascent Church,” directed by C. Clifton Black
M.A., Religion, University of Georgia | 2012
Thesis: “The One God and the Lord Jesus Christ: An Exegetical Examination of the High Christology Found in Paul, Mark, and John,” directed by Wayne Coppins, Carolyn Medine, William Power
B.A. Greek and Religion, University of Georgia | 2012
Research Thesis: “An Exegetical Examination of 1 Cor 8:6, Rom 14:11, and Phil 2:9–11, with a Focus on the Greek Text, directed by Wayne Coppins
Study Abroad: Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon; Archaeological Field School, Harvard University
II. Publications
“The Johannine Tradition as “Apostolic” Evidence for Early Christian Pacha Observation in the Quartodeciman Churches,” Ecclesia Orans 34 (2017): 561–94.
“The οἶκος of the Lord and the Church at Corinth: Understanding οἰκονόμος and οἰκονομία in Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians,” Biblische Notizen 172 (2017): 87–110.
“‘Is He Going to Kill Himself’: The Willing Self-Sacrifice of Jesus and the Akedah in the Fourth Gospel,” Sacra Scripta 11.2 (2013): 231–61.
III. Languages
Ancient: Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic/Syriac, Ge’ez, Sahidic Coptic
Modern (Reading): German, French, Spanish
