What is my PhD about?

Some folk have been asking me about my research recently, and I kinda dread the question. It’s a mixture of complicated to explain and difficult to justify. So, I thought I’d take a few minutes to answer some questions for those who are interested.

What’s your research title?

‘An exegetical and socio-historical examination into the identity and missional significance of the people group known as ‘God-fearers’ in the Book of Acts, with some exploration of their potential contemporary equivalence.’

What’s an easier way of saying that?

Who are those God-fearers in the book of Acts, why were they important, and do they still exist in some form today?

Who are ‘God-fearers’?

There’s a range of possible views from pious Jews, to interested Gentiles, to proselytes/Jewish converts, to a formal Gentile group within the synagogues, to, well nobody; just a group that Luke made up to make a literary point. I think that they are probably some form of 1^st-5^th Century Gentiles with an interest in the monotheism, ethics, and rituals of Judaism – at least enough to attend or donate to a synagogue – but they haven’t converted or won’t due to their social position. But there’s much more to be said, and even that was really pretty speculative at best.

Can you break that into parts?

Part 1. Lit review. Looking at just about everything that’s been written on God-fearers, inc. primary evidence from archeological and epigraphical sources.

Part 2. Exegesis. Studying the book of Acts, and particularly the God-fearer/God-worshipper passages in detail. Who they were and how they functioned within the narrative.

Part 3. Missiology. Looking at which (if any) contemporary groups might overlap with this historic group, and whether similar mission practices might produce similar results.

Why this topic?

I first became interested in God-fearers while studying them for an undergrad essay nearly fifteen years ago. Since then I’ve kept up with the research culminating in my MA dissertation in 2018 (for which I earned a distinction). They seemed to have had a massive impact within Paul’s missionary work, yet we know very little definitive about them. I can’t help but feel they hold the key to the massive expansion of the early church and could perhaps help us engage in more effective mission today.

What are you going to have to learn?

Areas of research will include Second Temple Judaism, early Christianity, early Roman history, advanced Greek, broad New Testament studies and criticism, genre theories, cultural (and religious) hybridity theory, some archaeological methods, social network theory (no, not the online one), and of course exegesis and hermeneutics at a high level. I’ll also need to learn German and maybe French because some research isn’t available in English.

Why are you not studying youth work?

Although this will have an impact on my youth work, my first passion has always been knowing God better through broader biblical theology – especially the New Testament. I believe that committing to know God and His Word better is the best training you can have for any ministry. I’ll keep seeking to grow as a youth worker through reading, experience, and training – but not in this particular academic arena.

Why are you not studying at a Bible College?

I’ve done that twice already and wanted a change. I’m also suspicious that I’ll need to work harder to defend my assumptions within a non-confessional network of people who don’t share my baseline convictions. I was also looking for a different challenge, and a bigger set of resources to lean on. Finally, I met a very knowledgeable supervisor that understands my area better than anyone else that I’ve spoken to so far – and he doesn’t work for a Bible College.

How are you doing this while working?

I’m taking the PhD part time, so it’s probably going to be a six-year adventure. I’m studying for a bit every morning on weekdays, attending online seminars a couple of times a week, and I’m meeting semi-regularly online with a supervisor. It fits around my job.

Are you going to leave at the end of it and become a nerdy professor or something?

That’s not my plan. I’m always open to God’s leading, and who knows where I’ll be at 39 or 40 years old! (Which is when I’ll be finished). But there are no plans right now to move on from what I’m doing.

What can I pray for?

Thank you. Pray for me to find Jesus in my studies, and to become a deeper disciple. Pray for my health – that I remember to eat, sleep, and exercise well; and pray for me to be a loving husband and quality youth leader during this time. Pray for the research to bear fruit, make sense, and actually change lives. Thanks. 🙂