Michael P. Knowles

Professor and George F. Hurlburt Chair in Preaching
B.A. (Hon.) University of Victoria, British Columbia; M.Div. Wycliffe College, Toronto;
Th.D. University of Toronto
knowlesm@mcmaster.ca

An ordained minister in the Anglican Church of Canada, Michael teaches courses in both ministry and biblical studies in a way that seeks to integrate sound biblical exegesis, Christian spirituality, and practical application for the life and ministry of the faith community.

Research Interests
Current Research Projects
Recent Lectures and Conference Papers
Recent Publications

Research Interests

• Homiletics
• New Testament models for preaching
• The Gospel of Matthew
  
• Pauline spirituality
  
• Biblical depictions of the divine character

Current Research Projects

• "Serpents, Scribes, and Pharisees": on paronomasia, metathesis, and Semitic antecedents for Matthew's use of "serpent" imagery in anti-scribal polemic.
  
  
• Tell Me Your Name: God and the Legacy of Sinai: a study of the influence of Exodus 34:6-7 in Hebrew Scripture, Intertestamental and New Testament literature, the early church fathers, rabbinic exegesis, and Islamic thought.
  
  
• "The Interpretation of Mark and Matthew in Historical Perspective: The Transfiguration as a Test Case"; for Eve-Marie Becker and Anders Runesson, eds., Mark and Matthew, Texts and Contexts II: Hermeneutics, Reception History, Theology (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, [forthcoming]).
  
  

Recent Lectures and Conference Papers

• “Theological Implications of Diverse Uses of the Gospel Texts in History: A Critical Perspective”; “Mark and Matthew. Texts and Contexts II” conference, McMaster University (November 18, 2009).
• “‘Physician, Heal Thyself!’ The Challenge of Preaching Forgiveness”; Wycliffe College Refresh Continuing Education Conference, Wycliffe College, Toronto (May 15, 2009).
• “Paul, the Cross, and the Foolishness of Faith”; Lenten Lecture Series, St. James Anglican Cathedral, Toronto (April 1, 2009).
• “Preaching Paul? Lessons from Ancient Corinth”; Nicholson Lectures in Homiletics, Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax (April 28–30, 2009).
• “Unbearably Crushed: Toward a Cruciform Homiletic in Paul”; “Perspectives on Preaching from Paul”: Homiletics and Biblical Studies section, Society of Biblical Studies Annual Meeting, Boston (November 22, 2008).
• “The Preacher as Self-Consuming Artifact: Paul, Corinth, and a Homiletic of Eccentricity”; Toronto School of Theology Homiletics Seminar (September 30, 2008).
• “The Least, the Lost, and the Last: Christ’s Church in the Gospels”; H. H. Bingham Colloquium in New Testament: “The Church in the New Testament,” McMaster Divinity College (June 7, 2008).
• "Paul, the Cross, and the Crucified Preacher" and "Treasure in Clay Jars: Preaching as Trouble and Grace"; "Preaching, Pain, and Pastoral Identity" Spring Preaching Conference, Center for Excellence in Preaching, Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids (April 25, 2007).

Recent Publications

Monographs

• We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Preaching. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2008.
  
  
• The Folly of Preaching: Models and Methods. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

Articles and Studies

• “Mark, Matthew, and Mission: Faith, Failure, and the Fidelity of Jesus.” In Christian Mission: Old Testament Foundations and New Testament Developments, ed. Stanley E. Porter and Cynthia Long Westfall. McMaster New Testament Study Series 1. Hamilton, Ontario: McMaster Divinity College; Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock/Pickwick, 2010. Pp. 64–92.
  
  
• “R. Roberts.” In Biographical History of Women Biblical Interpreters, ed. Marion Taylor. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, [in press].
  
  
• “The Least, the Lost, and the Last: Christ’s Church in the Gospels.” In The Church, Then and Now, ed. Stanley E. Porter (McMaster New Testament Studies 14; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, [in press]).
  
  

• “Preaching Like Paul? Lessons from Ancient Corinth.” McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry 11.1 (2009–2010), 3–27.
  
  
• “The Preacher as Self-Consuming Artifact: Paul, Corinth, and a Homiletic of Eccentricity,” Proceedings of the TST Homiletics Seminar 3.1 (Winter, 2009).
  
  
• “Shepherd.” In New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, volume 5, S – Z, ed. Katharine Doob Sakenfeld et al. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009. Pp. 228–29.
  
  
• “Vocation.” In New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, volume 5, S – Z, ed. Katharine Doob Sakenfeld et al. Nashville: Abingdon, 2009. Pp. 792–93.
  
  
• "Jeremiah." In Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus, ed. Craig A. Evans. New York and London: Routledge, 2008. Pp. 316–18.
  
  
• "Miracles." In New Interpreter’s Handbook of Preaching, ed. Paul Scott Wilson, et al. Nashville: Abingdon, 2008. Pp. 91–92.
  
  
• “Plotting Jesus: Characterization, Identity, and the Voice of God in Matthew’s Gospel.” In Biblical Interpretation in Early Christian Gospels Volume 2: The Gospel of Matthew, ed. Thomas R. Hatina. JSNTSup/Library of New Testament Studies 310. New York: Continuum, 2008. Pp. 119–32.
  
  
• "Scripture, History, Messiah: Scriptural Fulfilment and the Fullness of Time in Matthew’s Gospel." In Hearing the Old Testament the New Testament, ed. Stanley E. Porter. McMaster New Testament Studies 9. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006. Pp. 59-82.
  
  

Sermons

• “Of Sparrows, Sheep, and Market Valuation” (Luke 15:1–10), Homily Service 43.4 (September, 2010), 22–25.
  

• “The Tenth Leper” (Luke 17:11–19), The Expository Times 121.12 (August, 2010), 612–13.
  

• “Abel, Cain, and the Judgement of Jesus” (Luke 12:13–21), Homily Service 43.3 (April, 2010), 96–99.
  

• “From One Degree of Glory to Another” (Luke 9:28–36), The Expository Times 121.4 (January, 2010), 189–91.
  

• “Names, Names, and More Names” (Nehemiah 8:1–10), Homily Service 43.1 (November, 2009), 147–49.
  

• "I Will Proclaim the Name (Exodus 34:6–9)." In The Folly of Preaching: Preachers and Proclamation from the Gladstone Festival, ed. Michael P. Knowles. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007. Pp. 198–206.