Tony Cummins, DPhil

Professor of Religious Studies
“The Bible is both an ancient and a sacred text. Historically it has significantly shaped the church, academy, and various aspects of contemporary culture. And it continues to play a significant if contested role in an increasingly complex globalized world.”

My teaching and research interests typically focus on the New Testament, especially Jesus and the Gospels, Paul’s letters, and the theological interpretation of Scripture. And, in various ways, I try to locate this mindfully and broadly within the interrelationship between the Bible, Christian theology, and public life.

The Religious Studies department, situated within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Trinity Western University, has been a hospitable place for me to pursue these interests since 2003. This has included a period as Director of the MA in Biblical Studies (2006-12, 2015-16). Alongside my time at TWU I have enjoyed teaching occasional courses at Westminster Theological Centre, UK, and elsewhere. Previously I taught full-time at Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina, Saskatchewan (1996-2003). While undertaking my doctoral studies, I taught a number of courses at Wycliffe Hall (1991-95) and Cheltenham College of Higher Education in the UK (1991-92). In a much earlier life I assisted two successive Members of Parliament in Ottawa (1982-84 and 1984-88).

  • DPhil, Theology (University of Oxford)
  • MA, Religious Studies (McGill University)
  • MA, English (University of Ottawa)
  • BA (Hons.), English and Religion & Culture (Wilfrid Laurier University)

Expertise

New Testament - Jesus and the Gospels, Paul, and the theological interpretation of Scripture.

Awards & Honors

  • Small Grant, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, TWU Internal Award (2009-2010)
  • Initiative Grant to Network Christian Scholars participant, Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (2008-2011)
  • Lilly Theological Research Grant, Association of Theological Schools (2002-20030
  • Initiative Grant to Network Christian Scholars participant, Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (1999-2002)
  • Post-doctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada, University of Oxford (1995-1996)
  • Hensley Henson Award, University of Oxford (1992-1993)
  • Doctoral Fellowships, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, University of Oxford (1989-1992)
  • Overseas Research Scholarship, University of Oxford (1989-1991)
  • Birks Scholarship, McGill University (1985)
  • Graduate Research Scholarship, University of Ottawa (1980-1981)
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship, University of Ottawa (1980-1981)
  • Gold Medal Award (Religion & Culture), Wilfrid Laurier University (1980)
  • Dean's Graduating Honours List, Wilfrid Laurier University (1980)
  • Wilfrid Laurier University Scholar (1976-1980)
  • Ontario Scholar (1976)

Recent Publications

  • Acts of Interpretation: Scripture, Theology, and Culture. Co-edited with Jens Zimmermann. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018.
  • “Scripture, Theology, and Culture: Considerations and Contributions,” 1–23 in Acts of Interpretation: Scripture, Theology, and Culture, ed. S.A. Cummins and Jens Zimmermann. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2018.
  • “Newness of life: gospel, Church, and the common good in Romans 12-13,” 466–92. In One God, One People, One Future: Essays in Honor of N. T. Wright, ed John Anthony Dunne and Eric Lewellen. London: SPCK; Minneapolis: Fortress, 2018.
  • “Paul, Exile, and the Economy of God,” 217-36 in Exile: A Conversation with N. T. Wright, ed. James M. Scott. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2017.
  • “Torah, Jesus, and the Kingdom of God in the Gospel of Mark,” 59-74 in Torah Ethics and Early Christian Identity, eds. David M. Miller and Susan J. Wendel. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016.
  • “John the Baptist,” 436-444 in the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, 2nd Edition, gen. ed. Joel B. Green; assoc. eds. Jeannine K. Brown and Nicholas Perrin. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2013.
  • “Church and Canon within the Economy of God: An Engagement with Craig D. Allert’s A High View of Scripture?” Fideles 3 (2008): 12-17.
  • “Divine Life and Corporate Christology: God, Messiah Jesus, and the Covenant Community in Paul,” 190-209 in The Messiah in the Old and New Testaments, ed. Stanley F. Porter. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007
  • “Integrated Scripture, Embedded Empire: the Ironic Interplay of ‘King’ Herod, John and Jesus in Mark 6.1-44,” 31-48 in Biblical Interpretation in Early Christian Gospels, Volume 1. The Gospel of Mark, ed. Thomas R. Hatina, Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 2006.
  • “John, Book of,” 394-401 in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible, gen. ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer; assoc. eds. Craig G. Bartholomew, Daniel J. Treier, and N.T. Wright, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005; with corrections in 2nd printing (2006), and further in Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey, 60-73, gen. ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer; assoc. eds. Daniel J. Treier and N.T. Wright, Baker Academic, 2008.
  • “Oral Tradition in the New Testament,” 549-551 in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible, gen. ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer; assoc. eds. Craig G. Bartholomew, Daniel J. Treier, and N.T. Wright, Baker Academic, 2005.
  • “Jesus and the Story of Israel: A Comparative Analysis of Judith and the Marcan Jesus,” in Currents in Biblical and Theological Dialogue, Proceedings, Volume 2, 2003, ed. John K. Stafford. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba, 2005.
  • “The Theological Interpretation of Scripture: Recent Contributions by Stephen E. Fowl, Christopher R. Seitz and Francis Watson,” Currents in Biblical Research 2.2 (April 2004): 178-196.
  • “Human/ist Affirmations: An Interdisciplinary Conversation, with particular reference to ‘Humane’ Readings of Scripture,” co-authored with N. Klassen, Canadian Evangelical Review 25 (Spring 2003): 5-18.
  • “Ill or Ill-treated? Conflict and Persecution as the Context of Paul’s Original Ministry in Galatia (Gal 4.12-20),” co-authored with A. J. Goddard, Journal for the Study of the New Testament 52 (December 1993): 93-126.

Undergraduate

  • RELS 112/102 New Testament: God, Humanity, World
  • RELS 224 New Testament Theology
  • RELS 250 New Testament Book Study
  • RELS 300 Principles of Biblical Interpretation
  • RELS 331, 332 Readings in the Greek New Testament
  • RELS 340 Current Issues in Biblical Theology
  • RELS 351 Life and Teaching of Jesus
  • RELS 352 Life and Letters of Paul
  • RELS 425 Pauline Theology
  • RELS 454 The Writings and Theology of John

Graduate

  • RELS 621 Advanced New Testament Exegesis
  • RELS 622 Advanced New Testament Seminar
  • RELS 632 Historical Jesus
  • RELS 634 Mark
  • RELS 644 John
  • RELS 690 Research Design