Research – Upcoming and Recent:
“The Letter of Second Thessalonians”
“‘Better Than I Ever Was’: ‘Not Enslaved’ As a Higher Status in 1 Corinthians 7.15”
accepted and forthcoming in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament
In 1 Cor. 7.15 the believer is not bound when the non-Christ-believer insists on divorce. Often overlooked, Paul neither employs δέω/‘bound’ as in 1 Cor. 7.39 nor claims a spouse’s ‘freedom’/‘permission’ to remarry, a defining feature of contemporary divorce certificates. Also overlooked is the discussion of slavery and freedom that follows. The most suitable backdrop for 7.15’s ‘not enslaved’ (δεδούλωται) is not likely the slave wife of Exod. 21.2–11 or a slavery under the Mosaic Law but rather Greco-Roman sentiments lamenting marriage as an encumbering form of slavery. Verse 15’s δεδούλωται thus prepares for the ensuing discussion of slavery/freedom in vv. 21–23, which entails—for the status conscious Corinthians—status reversals and ranking in Christ. Paul encourages the unencumbered divorced, i.e., not enslaved (δεδούλωται) in v. 15, that they enjoy higher status in the Lord.
THE MYSTERIOUS MARK: A GOSPEL FOR FAILED DISCIPLES
Concordia Publishing House, contracted and forthcoming
A work designed to introduce Luke both to busy pastors and to interested lay readers, especially those engaging the gospel devotionally and hunting for greater insight into the biblical text. After a walk through parts of Rome with Mark himself, the volume consists of an exposition of twenty-six key Lukan passages that takes advantage of the best of biblical scholarship to illumine the text – all accessible in conversational prose for popular audiences.
PAUL AND THE LAW: GENTILES AND JEWS
Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament series, Mohr Siebeck
A collection of twelve previously published essays on these topics, along with an introduction and a new essay on the “Paul within Judaism” movement. Forthcoming.
“The One Spouse Ideal and Remarriage in the Pastorals”
New Testament Studies, available online and forthcoming in print edition
A growing consensus interprets the Pastoral phrasing μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἀνήρ (1 Tim 3.2, 12; Titus 1.6) and ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γυνή (1 Tim 5.8) in reference to church leaders and widows as ‘spousal fidelity’, despite this not being an intuitive approach to the phrases. This article contends that one-spouse traditions were widely enough known in the Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds – especially once objections and misunderstandings are resolved – to render comprehensible a limitation to a single spouse. The univira traditions, for instance, apply to both women and men and include reference to faithfulness. The application of these traditions to widows was not a Christian innovation, lasted into the imperial era and influenced both Jews and early Christian authors. One-spouse traditions were also extant in the eastern part of the Empire. Some sectors of Judaism attest to such traditions. Jesus-sayings also prohibit remarriage. Lastly, the requirement for χήραι to marry in 1 Tim 5.11, 14 does not contradict this qualification for ‘real’ widows (5.9) since they were likely ‘virgin-widows’, admonished to marry for the first time, and the Pastoral emphasis is on identifying those with less resources, requiring more extensive assistance from the churches. The Pastorals’ insistence on a single marriage for officeholders and ‘real’ widows is yet another example of how Christ-believers are to be exemplars of, if not exceeding, the very best in Roman piety and marital values.
DINNER WITH THE DOCTOR: LUKE’S GOSPEL FOR THE HUNGRY
contracted and forthcoming from Concordia Publishing House, summer 2026
A work designed to introduce Luke both to pastors and to interested lay readers, especially those engaging the gospel devotionally and hunting for a greater depth of insight into the biblical text. After a dinner scene with Luke himself, the volume consists of an exposition of twenty-two key Lukan passages that takes advantage of the best of biblical scholarship to illumine the text–all accessible in conversational prose for popular audiences.
REMARRIAGE IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY
Wm. B. Eerdmans, June 2024
This work, the first of its kind, will offer a comprehensive examination of remarriage in the early Christian movement. An introduction will briefly survey the cultural acceptability of divorce and remarriage in the Jewish, Greco-Roman, and modern worlds. Even as historical Jesus researchers have lamented finding images of themselves at the bottom of the well, any study of remarriage must begin cognizant of the modern researcher’s social location.
Taking into account the full range of recent methodological critiques of Jesus research, the first chapter will apply a variety of criteria—traditional and refined—to offer a surer reconstruction of a “historical Jesus,” who taught very strictly against both divorce and remarriage. The Gospels of Mark and Luke convey to their audiences the same rigorous (and counter-cultural) teaching.
The second chapter will examine in detail the divorce and remarriage passages in Matthew’s Gospel, especially their exception clauses (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). Although scholars regularly consider the exceptions modifications of Jesus’ teaching on both divorce and remarriage, they likely modify only Jesus’ prohibition of divorce.
The Apostle Paul tackles divorce and remarriage in 1 Corinthians 7, the topic of the third chapter. He allows both a divorce between a Christ-believer and a non-Christ-believer and, most would contend, remarriage after divorce. Although several verses in the chapter may be construed as permitting remarriage, ultimately 1 Cor. 7 restricts remarriage to those whose spouses have died.
The final chapter traces early Christian teaching on remarriage through the Council of Nicea in the first half of the fourth century. The conclusion will summarize the book, reflect on how the early Christians navigated remarriages already in place, and track the trend in recent scholarship to expand the biblical exceptions for divorce and remarriage.
Presentations – Upcoming and Recent:
April 2026: Rocky Mountain District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
November 2025: Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom Section of the Society of Biblical Literature
In 1 Cor. 7:15 the believer is not bound when the non-Christ-believer insists on divorce. Interpreters typically overlook the discussion of slavery and freedom that follows. Also overlooked: Paul neither employs the same “bound” verb as in 1 Cor. 7:39 nor claims a spouse’s “freedom”/“permission” to remarry, a defining feature of contemporary divorce certificates.
The most suitable backdrop for “not enslaved” is not likely slavery under the Mosaic Law. The slave wife of Exod. 21 is also unlikely (Paul includes release of a believing husband). Cynic/Stoic claims were widely influential that marriage entails a “slavery” preventing one from pursuing philosophy more fully.
Verse 15’s “not enslaved” prepares for the ensuing discussion of slavery/freedom, reflecting status-conscious reversals and envisioning upward social mobility. The positive valuation of freedom in vv. 21-23 indicates that v. 15’s “not enslaved” encourages an ascetic lifestyle in the service of the Lord, unencumbered by marriage.
Public lecture – Concordia University Chicago October 2024
“Remarriage in Early Christianity?“
“…Das discusses his bold study that challenges scholars and enlightens any Christian concerned with what Scripture has to say about this perennially relevant topic.”