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Union

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Adjunct Faculty: Biblical Studies

Dr James McKeown

FHEA BD (Hons) PhD

From 1988 until 2009 I was the Vice Principal of Belfast Bible College. I also taught Old Testament studies with a particular passion for Hebrew. This interest gave me opportunities to visit Israel on numerous occasions where I found the language, culture, and archaeology particularly interesting.

I left the Bible College to spend more time on personal research and on preaching and teaching in Church settings.  As well as preaching on Sundays, I have enjoyed many opportunities to hold Hebrew Workshops for Beginners and to teach various audiences on subjects such as Passover and the Tabernacle. 

 In 2011, I joined the Adjunct Faculty of Union Theology College where I have been lecturing on Old Testament and Hebrew. This relationship is ongoing, and it is a privilege to work with students and staff, preparing people for the work that God has called them to do. 

Although Old Testament is my main area of interest, I enjoy teaching evangelical theology to students of John Brown University, Arkansas. Each year students come to Belfast on their Irish Studies Programme, and it is always refreshing to share our diverse experiences of church–life and culture.

Alongside several articles, I have written 2 main publications which are commentaries on Genesis and Ruth. These were part of the Eerdmans Two Horizons series and include both a commentary and a theological reflection.  

I am married to Audrey who works for British Council as a Higher Education Funding Assessor. Audrey’s hobbies include gardening and genealogical research and together we enjoy hiking and cycling.

Publications

 Two articles for Irish Biblical Studies, on the ‘Theme of Land in Genesis’ (1997)

Three articles for the IVP New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, on the books of ‘Jonah’, ‘Joel’, and ‘Haggai’ (1998)

One Chapter entitled ‘A Theological Approach’ in Make the Old Testament Live: From Curriculum to Classroom, ed. R. Hess and G. J. Wenham, (Eerdmans, 1998)

Two articles for the IVP Dictionary of the Pentateuch  on ‘Blessing and cursing in the Pentateuch’ and ‘The Theme of Land in the Pentateuch’, TD Alexander and DW Baker

An Article on ‘Nathan’ in  IVP Dictionary of Old Testament Historical Books  ed. BT Arnold and HGM Williamson (2005)

The Two Horizons Commentary on the Book of Genesis, Eerdmans, 2008.

An article on ‘Forgiveness’ published in the IVP Dictionary of Old Testament Prophets(2012) 

 The Two Horizons Commentary on the Book of Ruth (2015)

Work in progress includes a commentary on the Book of Ruth for The Oxford Bible Commentary to be published 2022.