McMaster Divinity College

 
The God-breathed Scriptures that the apostle Paul told Timothy were ‘able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ and that were ‘useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness’ (2 Tim. 3:15-16) were nothing less than the books of the Old Testament. It is imperative then that we study the Old Testament, for it is indeed Christian Scripture and
relevant for our faith today.

I am committed to a three-dimensional reading of the Old Testament – one that takes seriously the historical and literary dimensions of these ancient writings, but also reflects on the role they can play in our contemporary context.

The church today needs leaders that take seriously their responsibility to ‘speak the truth in love’ so that ‘we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching’ (Eph. 4:14-15). In a post-foundational culture I want to educate a generation of godly truth-seekers and –tellers.

Mark J. Boda

Faculty of Theology
Professor of Old Testament
B.Th. Ambrose University College (CBC)
M.Div. Westminster Theological Seminary 
Ph.D. University of Cambridge 
mjboda@mcmaster.ca

Mark joined the College in 2003 after teaching for nine years at what is now Ambrose University College/ Seminary. He has authored 7 books, edited 14 volumes of collected essays, and written over 80 articles on various topics related to the Old Testament and Christian Theology. Key areas of interest include Old Testament Theology, prayer and penitence in Old Testament and Christian Theology, Babylonian and Persian Period Hebrew Books and History (Jeremiah, Lamentations, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi), the Book of the Twelve (Minor Prophets), Isaiah, and Judges. Mark enjoys mentoring students and teaches with enthusiasm about the Old Testament and its continued relevance to the Christian life today.

Present Research Interests
Present Research Projects
Recent Lectures and Conference Papers
Recent Publications
Recent Consulting

Dissertation/Thesis Supervision Completed

Present Research Interests

  • History and Literature of the Persian Period (esp. Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
  • Prophetic Literature
  • Penitential Prayer and Theology
  • Old Testament Theology
  • Former Prophets: Judges, Kings
  • Psalms and Septuagint
  • For past titles of thesis/dissertation supervision and links to online versions see below

Present Research Projects

Collaborative: Daughter Zion (SBL/Brill), Lament in Biblical Hebrew Poetry (Continuum), Qoheleth (Eisenbrauns), Prophecy in Historiography (Eisenbrauns), Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophetic Books (IVPress).

Personal: Commentaries on Judges (EBC, Zondervan), Zechariah (NICOT, Eerdmans), Ezra-Nehemiah (TOTC, IVPress), LXX Psalms (LXXC, Brill).

Select Recent Lectures and Conference Papers

  • “Performing the Words: Covenant in Chronicles,” Paper: Society of Biblical Literature, Covenant in the Persian Period Consultation (San Francisco, CA, November 2011).
  • “Priests in Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi,” Paper: Society of Biblical Literature, Book of the Twelve Group (San Francisco, CA, November 2011).
  • “Response to Jay Sklar: Atonement in the Pentateuch: How does it happen?" Institute of Biblical Research (Atlanta, GA, November 2010).
  • “‘Varied and Resplendid Riches’: Exploring the Breadth and Depth of Worship in the Psalter,” Paper: Bingham Colloquium—Rediscovering Worship: Past, Present & Future, McMaster Divinity College (Hamilton, ON, June 2010).
  • “Gazing through the Cloud of Incense: Davidic Dynasty and Temple Community in the Chronicler's Perspective,” Paper: Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Ancient Historiography Seminar (Montreal, QC: Concordia University, May 2010).
  • “Scat! Exilic Motifs in the Book of Zechariah,” Paper: Society of Biblical Literature, Exile (Forced Migrations) in Biblical Literature Group (New Orleans, LA, November 2009).
  • “Recycling Heaven's Words: Receiving and Retrieving the Word of God in the Historiography of Judges,” Paper: Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Ancient Historiography Seminar (Ottawa, ON: Carleton University, May 2009).
  • “The Sovereign Mercy of a Covenantal God: Prophecy, Sin and Grace in the Prophets,” Paper: Society of Biblical Literature, Israelite Prophetic Literature Group (Boston, MA, November 2008).
  • “Response to Ephraim Radner: Leviticus (Brazos Theological Commentary)," Review Panel, Biblical Seminar, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto (Toronto, ON, April 2008).
  • “Uttering Precious rather than Worthless Words: Divine Patience and Impatience with Lament in the Prophetic Corpus,” Paper: Society of Biblical Literature, Biblical Hebrew Poetry Section (San Diego, CA, November 2007).
  • Review Panel Member for Steven Schweitzer, Reading Utopia in Chronicles (T&T Clark, 2007), Society of Biblical Literature, Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah Group (San Diego, CA, November 2007).
  • “Walking in the Light of Yahweh: Zion and the Empires in the Book of Isaiah,” Paper: Bingham Colloquium on Empire in the New Testament, McMaster Divinity College (Hamilton, ON, June 2007).
  • “Identity and Empire, Reality and Hope in the Chronicler’s Perspective,” Paper: Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Hebrew Bible Division (Saskatoon, SK: University of Saskatchewan, May 2007).
  • “Cult, Conscience and Character: The Priestly Doctrine of Repentance,” Paper: Theological Research Seminar, McMaster Divinity College (Hamilton, ON, March 2007).
  • “The Daughter’s Joy: Zion as Redactional Leitmotif in a Latter Phase of the Book of the Twelve,” Paper: Society of Biblical Literature, The Book of the Twelve Prophets Section (Washington, DC, November 2006).
  • “Prayer as Rhetoric in the Book of Nehemiah,” Paper: Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Hebrew Bible Division (Toronto, ON: York University, May 2006).
  • “‘Declare His Glory Among the Nations’: The Psalter as Missional Collection,” Paper: Bingham Colloquium on Mission in the New Testament, McMaster Divinity College (Hamilton, ON, May 2006).

Publications

Books

Select Recent Articles

  • “Biblical Theology and the Old Testament.” Pages 122-153 in Hearing the Old Testament.. Edited by Craig Bartholomew and David Beldman. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012.

  • “Prayer as Rhetoric in the Book of Nehemiah.” Pages 279-296 in New Perspectives on Ezra-Nehemiah: History and Historiography, Text, Literature and Interpretation. Edited by Isaac Kalimi. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2012.

  • “Perspectives on Priests in Haggai-Malachi.” Pages 13-33 in Prayer and Poetry in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature: Essays in Honor of Eileen Schuller on the Occasion of Her 65th Birthday. Edited by Cecilia Wassen, Ken Penner and Jeremy S. Penner. Leiden: Brill, 2011.
  • “Word and Spirit, Scribe and Prophet in Old Testament Hermeneutics.” Pages 24-45 in Spirit & Scripture: Examining a Pneumatic Hermeneutic, ed. Kevin L. Spawn, Archie T. Wright. London: T. &  T. Clark, 2011.
  • “Penitential Innovations within the Twelve.” Pages 391-408 in On Stone and Scroll: Essays in Honour of Graham Ivor Davies (BZAW 420). Edited by Brian A. Mastin, Katharine J. Dell and James K. Aitken. Berlin: de Gruyter, 2011.
  • “Old Testament Foundations for Christian Spirituality.” Pages 40-45 in Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, ed. Glenn G. Scorgie. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.
  • “Walking in the Light of Yahweh: Zion and the Empires in the Book of Isaiah.” Pages 54-89 in Empire in the New Testament (MNTS), ed. Stanley E. Porter and Cynthia Long Westfall. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010.
  • “Legitimizing the Temple: The Chronicler’s Temple Building Account.” Pages 303-318 in From the Foundations to the Crenellations: Essays on Temple Building in the Ancient Near East and Hebrew Bible (AOAT 366), ed. Mark J. Boda and Jamie Novotny. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, 2010.
  • “‘Declare His Glory among the Nations’: The Psalter as Missional Collection.” Pages 13-41 in Christian Mission: Old Testament Foundations and New Testament Developments (MNTS), ed. Stanley E. Porter and Cynthia Long Westfall. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010.

  • “Theological Commentary: A Review and Reflective Essay,” McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry 11 (2009-2010): 139-151.

  • “In Conversation with Steven Schweitzer, Reading Utopia in Chronicles (LHBOTS, 442; London: T. & T. Clark International, 2007),” Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 9, Article 11:1-18. (http://purl.org/jhs).
  • “Identity and Empire, Reality and Hope in the Chronicler's Perspective.” Pages 249-272 in Community Identity in Judean Historiography: Biblical and Comparative Perspectives. Edited by Gary Knoppers and Ken Ristau. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2009.
  • “The Priceless Gain of Penitence: From Communal Lament to Penitential Prayer in the ‘Exilic’ Liturgy of Israel." Pages 81-101 in Lamentations in Ancient and Contemporary Contexts, ed. Nancy Lee and Carleen Mandolfo (SBLSS). Atlanta/Leiden: Society of Biblical Literature/Brill, 2008. Online preview. See reviews here.
  • “Hoy, Hoy: The Prophetic Origins of the Babylonian Tradition in Zechariah 2:10-17.” Pages 171-190 in Tradition in Transition. Edited by Mark J. Boda and Michael H. Floyd. London: T. & T. Clark International, 2008.
  • “Redaction in the Book of Nehemiah: A Fresh Proposal.” Pages 25-54 in Unity and Disunity of Ezra-Nehemiah: Redaction, Rhetoric, Reader. Edited by Mark J. Boda and Paul Redditt. Hebrew Bible Monographs. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008.
  • with Joel Barker. “Building an Old Testament Library: Hosea-Malachi.” Catalyst 34 (2008): 5-8.
  • "Lamentations," Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry, and Writings, eds. T. Longman III; P. Enns; D.G. Reid. Downers Grove: IVPress, 2008. Online preview.
  • “Messengers of Hope in Haggai-Malachi,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 32.1 (2007): 113-131.
  • “Haggai, Book of,” in New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible Volume 2, ed. K. D. Sakenfeld. Nashville: Abingdon, 2007.
  • “Figuring the Future: The Prophets and the Messiah.” Pages 35-74 in The Messiah in the Old and New Testaments (McMaster New Testament Studies), ed. Stanley E. Porter. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007. Online preview
  • “Freeing the Burden of Prophecy: Maśśā’ and the Legitimacy of Prophecy in Zech 9-14,” Biblica 86 (2006): 338-357.
  • “Confession as Theological Expression: Ideological Origins of Penitential Prayer” and “Form Criticism in Transition: Penitential Prayer and Lament, Sitz im Leben and Form.” Pages 21-50, 181-192 in Seeking the Favor of God, Vol. I: The Origins of Penitential Prayer in Second Temple Judaism (Early Judaism and Its Literature), ed. Mark J. Boda, Daniel K. Falk and Rodney A. Werline. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2006. Online preview 1, preview 2.
  • “From Dystopia to Myopia: Utopian (re)visions in Haggai and Zechariah 1-8.” Pages 211-249 in Utopia and Dystopia in Prophetic Texts, ed. Ehud Ben Zvi (PFES). Helsinki/Göttingen: Finnish Exegetical Society/Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2006.
  • “Creating Space for a Theological Conversation” and “Renewal in Heart, Word and Deed: Repentance in the Torah.” Pages xiii-xx, 3-24 in Repentance in Christian Theology, ed. Mark J. Boda and Gordon T. Smith. Collegeville: Liturgical –Michael Glazier, 2006. Online preview 1 and preview 2.
  • “Oil, Crowns and Thrones: Prophet, Priest and King in Zechariah 1:7-6:15.” Pages 379-404 in Perspectives on Hebrew Scriptures, ed. Ehud ben Zvi. Piscataway, NJ Gorgias Press, 2006.
  • “Biblical Genre: Prophecy“ and “Quotation, Allusion.” Pages 291-294, 298-300 in Dictionary of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation, ed. Stanley E. Porter. London and New York: Routledge, 2006.
  • “Terrifying the Horns: Persia and Babylon in Zechariah 1:7-6:15.” CBQ 67 (2005): 22-41. See response of Vincent in Biblica.
  • “Ezra,” “Nehemiah,” and “Prayer.” Pages 277-284, 718-724, 806-811 in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, eds. B.T. Arnold; H.G.M. Williamson; D.G. Reid. Downers Grove: IVPress, 2005.
  • with Stanley E. Porter. “Literature to the Third Degree: Prophecy in Zechariah 9-14 and the Passion of Christ.” Pages 215-254 in Traduire le Bible hébraïque. De la Septante à la Nouvelle Bible Segond/Translating the Hebrew Bible. From the Septuagint to the Nouvelle Bible Segond, ed. Manuel Jinbachian and Robert David (Sciences bibliques 15). Montreal: Médiaspaul, 2005.
  • “The Delight of Wisdom,” Themelios 29 (2004): 4-11.
  • “From Fasts to Feasts: The Literary Function of Zechariah 7-8,” CBQ 65 (2003): 390-407.
  • “Reading Between the Lines: Zechariah 11:4-16 in its Literary Contexts.” Pages 282-297 in Bringing Out The Treasure: Inner Biblical Allusion In Zechariah 9-14 (JSOTSup 370), eds. M. J. Boda, M. H. Floyd. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2003. Online preview.
  • “Majoring on the Minors: Recent Research on Haggai and Zechariah,” CBR 2 (2003): 33-68.
  • “Zechariah: Master Mason or Penitential Prophet.” Pages 49-69 in Yahwism after the Exile (STAR), eds. R. Albertz, B. Becking. Assen: Van Gorcum, 2003. Online preview.

Translation

  • “1 and 2 Chronicles” and “1 and 2 Kings (synoptic revisions)” in Common English Bible Translation). Eds. David Petersen and Joel Green. Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 2011.

Recent Consulting

Dissertation Supervision Completed


Dissertation Evaluation Completed

  • Brian Peterson (Ph.D.), “Ezekiel in Context: Ezekiel’s Message Understood in its Historical Setting of Covenant Curses and Ancient Near Eastern Mythological Motifs” (2009, External Examiner; University of St. Michael’s at University of Toronto). Forthcoming as Ezekiel in Context: Ezekiel’s Message Understood in its Historical Setting of Covenant Curses and Ancient Near Eastern Mythological Motifs. Princeton Theological Monograph Series. Eugene, Or.: Pickwick Publications..
  • Byron Curtis (Ph.D.), “The Steep and Stony Road: The Book of Zechariah in Social Location Analysis” (2005, External Examiner; Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia), now published as Up the Steep and Stony Road: The Book of Zechariah in Social Location Trajectory Analysis (SBLAB 25; Atlanta/Leiden: SBL/Brill, 2006).


Thesis Supervision Completed


  
Courses taught by
Mark J. Boda:

• HEB3A03 Intermediate Hebrew 1 
• HEB3B03 Intermediate Hebrew 2
• OT 2C03 - Old Testament Wisdom
•OT 3SA3 - Old Testament Psalms

•OT 3X03/6X06 - Old Testament Prophets

•G125 - Interdisciplinary Seminar: Biblical Theology

•G105 -Old Testament Textual Traditions

• More course info

Information About:
• Inaugural Lecture - November 2003 (pdf)
• Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
• Print Quality Photo
Learning Resources:
• Resources for Mark Boda's courses [Restricted Access]
Links:

MacDiv CourseLinks

Articles available online:

Inaugural lecture at McMaster Divinity College, "The Delight of Wisdom," 14 November 2003.

"Preface," "Creating Space for a Theological Conversation" and "Renewal in Heart, Word and Deed: Respentenace in the Torah," from Repentance in Christian Theology (2006, pp. xiii-xx, 3-24).

Building an Old Testament Library: Hosea-Malachi." Catalyst 34 (2008): 5-8.

In Conversation with Steven Schweitzer, Reading Utopia in Chronicles (LHBOTS, 442; London: T. & T. Clark International, 2007), Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 9 (2009): Article 11.

Theological Commentary: A Review and Reflective Essay." McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry 11 (2010): 139-50.

Recent Reviews online:

Review of Edelman: The Origins of the Second Temple (2005).

Review of Lipschits: The Rise and Fall of Jerusalem (2005).

Review of Hamm: The Coming King and the Rejected Shepherd (2005).

Review of Conrad: Reading the Latter Prophets (2003).