Curriculum Vitae
The Rev. Dr. Frank Anthony Spina
Emeritus Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology
Seattle Pacific University and Seattle Pacific Seminary
Education
1977: The University of Michigan, Ph.D. (Near Eastern Studies); 1970: The University of Michigan, M.A. (Near Eastern Studies); 1968: Asbury Theological Seminary, M.Div.; 1965: Greenville College (Il.), B.A., cum laude; 1961: Trinity High School (Washington, PA)
Professional Experience
1973 to 2019: Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology, Seattle Pacific University; 1970-1972: Teaching Fellow in World Religions, The University of Michigan; 1970-1973: Pastor, Roosevelt Avenue Free Methodist Church, Flint, Michigan; 2000-2019: Priest Associate, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Bellevue, Washington; 2020-2021: Priest Associate, St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral, Boise, Idaho
Professional Organizations
Society of Biblical Literature (Recording Secretary/Treasurer, Pacific Northwest Region [AAR/SBL]; 1979-1981; National Council 1979-1981; President-Elect, Pacific Northwest Region [AAR/SBL], 1984-1985; President, 1985-1986; Wesleyan Theological Society
Languages
Modern: French, German
Ancient: Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ugaritic, Akkadian
Publications
Forthcoming:
Multiplying Divisions: The Fractious Nature of Israel, God’s Elect People (Wiph and Stock).
2020
“The Irony of Reading the Book of Joshua as Christian Scripture,” in Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis: Essays in Tribute to Paul Livermore (Douglas R. Cullum and J. Richard Middleton, eds; Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications; Wipf and Stock): 27-43.
2018
“Israel as a Figure for the Church: The Radical Nature of a Canonical Approach to Christian Scripture,” in The Usefulness of Scripture: Essays in Honor of Robert W. Wall (Daniel Castelo, Sara Koenig, David Nienhaus, eds; University Park, PA: Eisenbraun’s): 3-23.
2015
“’The Son of Jesse’: Is the David and Goliath Story a ‘David and Goliath’ Story,” in Frank is My Name, and That is Who I Am: Essays in Honor of Frank H. Thompson (Gary L. Hunter, ed.; Greenville, ILL: Greenville College, 2015): 171-195.
2014
“The Story of Israel In and Out of the Land: Joshua--Esther,” in A Compact Guide to the Whole Bible: Learning to Read Scripture’s Story (Robert W. Wall and David R. Nienhuis, eds.; Grand Rapids, MI, Baker): 51-63.
2012
“Holiness in the Old Testament,” in Holiness as a Liberal Art (Daniel Castelo, ed; Eugene, Or: Wipf and Stock [Pickwick]): 21-29. [with Kelsie Gayle Job]
2009
“1 and 2 Kings,” in The Wesley Study Bible (Joel B. Green and William Willimon, eds.; Nashville: Abingdon Press).
2008
“Moses and Joshua: Servants of the Lord as Purveyors of the Word,” in Go Figure!: Figuration in Biblical Interpretation (Stanley D. Walters, ed.; Princeton Theological Monograph Series; Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications [Wipf & Stock]): 65-92.
2007
“The Bible as Scripture,” Seattle Pacific University Response 30/1 (Seattle: Seattle Pacific University): 19-20.
2005
The Faith of the Outsider: Exclusion and Inclusion in the Biblical Story (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans).
2003
“Canon,” in Handbook of Christian Theology (D. W. Musser & J. L. Price, eds.; Nashville: Abingdon [2nd ed.]): 81-84.
2001
“In But Not Of the World: The Confluence of Wisdom and Torah in the Solomon Story (1 Kings 1-11),” The Asbury Theological Journal 56/1: 17-30 [Robert Lyon Festschrift Volume].
“Genesis 12:1-4a; 25:19-34; Exodus 32:1-14; 1 Samuel 16:1-13; 17:1a, 4-11, 19-23, 32-49; 2 Kings 5:1-14,” in The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday’s Texts (Roger E. Van Harn, ed.; Grand Rapids; Cambridge: Eerdmans): 20-23; 48-51; 105-108; 182-185; 185-188; 249-252.
“Reversal of Fortune (Joshua 2; 7),” Bible Review XVII/4: 24-30, 53-54.
1997
“Eli’s Seat: The Transition from Priest to Prophet in 1 Samuel 1-4,” in The Historical Books: A Sheffield Reader (J. Cheryl Exum, ed.; The Biblical Seminar, 40; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press): 98-106. [Originally published in Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1994; later selected for this anthology].
“Rahab (the Monster),” Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (Vol. 4; Willem A. VanGemeren, ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan): 1121-1123.
“Rahab (the Harlot),” Dictiionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis (Vol. 4; Willem A. VanGemeren, ed.; Grand Rapids; Zondervan): 1123-1126.
“The ‘Face of God’: Esau in Canonical Context,” in The Quest for Context and Meaning: Studies in Biblical Intertextuality in Honor of James A. Sanders (Craig A. Evans and Shemaryahu Talmon, eds.; Biblical Interpretation Series, 28; Leiden, New York, Köln: Brill): 3-25.
1996
Review of The Hebrew Bible, The Old Testament, and Historical Criticism: Jews and Christians in Biblical Studies, by Jon D. Levenson, in The Virginia Seminary Journal (Winter): 87-88.
“The Problematic of Faculty Remuneration in the Christian College,” Christian Scholars Review XXV/3: 273-278.
1995
“Wesleyan Faith Seeking Biblical Understanding,” Wesleyan Theological Journal 30/2: 26-49.
1994
“Eli’s Seat: The Transition from Priest to Prophet in 1 Samuel 1-4,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 62: 67-75.
1992
“The ‘Ground’ for Cain’s Rejection (Gen 4): ‘adamah in the Context of Genesis 1-11,” Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 104/3: 319-332.
“Canon,” in A New Handbook of Christian Theology (Donald W. Musser and Joseph L. Price, eds.; Nashville: Abingdon): 75-78.
I-II Samuel, in Asbury Bible Commentary (Eugene Carpenter and Wayne McCown, eds.; Francis Asbury Press; Grand Rapids: Zondervan): 358-387.
“Let’s Revive Our Loyalty,” Light and Life (February): 28-29.
“Babel,” in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. I (David Noel Freedman, ed.; New York: Doubleday): 561-563.
“Lot,” in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. IV (David Noel Freedman, ed.; New York: Doubleday): 372-374.
1991
“A Prophet’s ‘Pregnant Pause’: Samuel’s Silence in the Ark Narrative (1 Sam. 4:1—7:2),” Horizons in Biblical Theology 13/1: 59-73.
Review of The Formation of the Christian Biblical Canon, by Lee Martin McDonald, in Horizons in Biblical Theology 12/1: 102-103.
“What Makes a Christian University Christian?,” Seattle Pacific University Response 14/4: 10-11.
1990
Review of Between Faith and Criticism: Evangelicals, Scholarship, and the Bible in America, by Mark A. Noll and American Catholic Biblical Scholarship: A History from the Early Republic to Vatican II, by Gerald P. Fogarty, in Christian Scholar’s Review 19/4: 418-420.
1989
“Revelation, Reformation, Re-Creation: Canon and the Theological Foundation of the Christian University,” Christian Scholars Review 18/4: 315-332 [winner of annual prize essay].
1988
“Rahab (the Harlot),” in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans): 33-34.
“Rahab (the Monster),” in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans): 34.
“Sisera,” in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans): 533-534.
“Theocracy,” in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. IV (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans): 825-826.
1987
“Renewing our Rites of Worship,” Seattle Pacific University Response 10/3 (May): 7.
1986
Review of Abortion and the Christian: What Every Believer Should Know, by John Jefferson Davis, in Tyndale Study Fellowship Bulletin (November-December): 33.
1985
Review of An Eye for an Eye: The Place of Old Testament Ethics Today, by Christopher J. H. Wright, in Tyndale Study Fellowship Bulletin (March-April): 24.
1984
Review of An Eye for an Eye: The Place of Old Testament Ethics Today, by Christopher J. H. Wright, in Christian Scholars Review 14/1: 88-90.
1983
Editor, with H. B. Huffmon and A. Green, The Quest for the Kingdom of God: Essays in Honor of George E. Mendenhall (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbraun’s).
“Qoheleth and the Reformation of Wisdom,” in The Quest for the Kingdom of God: Essays in Honor of George E. Mendenhall (H. B. Huffmon, F. A. Spina, and A. Green, eds.; (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbraun’s): 267-279.
“Israelites as Gerim, ‘Sojourners’, in Historical and Sociological Perspective,” in The Word of the Lord Shall Go Forth: Essays in Honor of David Noel Freedman in Celebration of His Sixtieth Birthday, edited by Carol Meyers and Michael O’Connor (Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbraun’s): 321-335.
Review of Introduction to the Critical Text of the Hebrew Bible, by J. Weingreen, in Christian Scholars Review 13/1: 61-62.
1982
“Canonical Criticism: Childs Versus Sanders,” in Hermeneutics: Interpreting God’s Word for Today, edited by W. McCown and J. Massey (Anderson, Indiana: Warner Press): 165-194.
Review of The Tribes of Yahweh: A Sociology of the Religion of Liberated Israel, 1250-1050 B.C.E., by Norman K. Gottwald, in Tyndale Study Fellowship Bulletin 6/2 (November-December): 17-18.
1981
Review of Ruth: A New Translation with a Philological Commentary and a Formalist-Folklorist Interpretation, by Jack M. Sasson, in Christian Scholars Review 10/4: 345-346.
1980
Review of Serpent Symbolism in the Old Testament, by Karen R. Joines and Satan and Mara: Christian and Buddhist Symbols of Evil, by James W. Boyd, in Christian Scholars Review 9/3: 275-277.
1979
“Can the City be a Community?: The Interaction Between Politics and Religion,” Seattle Pacific University Review 1/1: 8-23.
Review of Divine Presence and Guidance in Israelite Traditions: The Typology of Exaltation, by Thomas W. Mann, in The Journal of Biblical Literature 98/3: 424-425.
1977
“The Dan Story Historically Reconsidered,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 4: 60-71.
“Biblical Non-Negotiables,” Seattle Pacific University Response 60/2 (April): 2.
1976
Review of The Sinai Myth: A New Interpretation of the Ten Commandments, by Andrew M. Greeley, in Christian Scholars Review 5/3: 312-313.
1975
Review of The Tenth Generation: The Origins of the Biblical Tradition, by George E. Mendenhall, in Christian Scholars Review 4/4: 349-351.
1974
“A Fish Story,” The Free Methodist Pastor (Autumn).
1971
“A Perspective for Life,” Light and Life 104/9 (May 11): 8.
Papers and Lectures:
(In addition to the following I typically lecture 40 or 50 times a year in churches in the Puget Sound area, the Pacific Northwest, and throughout the United States)
2019
“Jesus’ Personal Bible: The Greatest Archaeological Discovery Ever,” Presented as The 2019 Walls Lecture at Seattle Pacific University, May.
2015
“The Jordan River, Bridge or Barrier?: A Treatment of Joshua 20.” Paper delivered at the Wesleyan Theological Society, Cleveland, TN, March 3.
2012
“Waking Up Startled!,” Address given at 2012 Opening Convocation of Seattle Pacific University.
“Joshua in the Lion’s Den: God’s Elect and the ‘Other’ in the Old Testament’s Most Theologically Inconvenient Book,” paper read at the Wesleyan Theological Society, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN, March.
2011
“A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Exposing the Bible to Rediscover Scripture” Paper read October 2011 at Seattle Pacific University’s Scripture as Formation Conference.
2010
“Canon, Community, (a) Concubine: Biblical Authority or Church Authority?” Paper read at Wesleyan Theological Society, March 4-6, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California.
2008
“Multiplying Divisions: A Figural Reading of the Story of the Levite’s Concubine (Judges 19—21).” Winifred Weter Faculty Award Lecture.
“Moving Backward to Go Forward: Reading the Bible as Scripture,” lecture delivered at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, March 26.
2007
“An Old-Fashioned Approach to Scripture in a New-Fashioned Era.” Paper delivered to clergy conference of the Southern California Conference of the Free Methodist Church; Azusa, California
2006
Participated in a panel discussion based on my book, The Faith of the Outsider: Exclusion and Inclusion in the Biblical Story, at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, May.
2003
“`ebed YHWH: A Technical Term in the Deuteronomistic History?” Paper delivered at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, University of Idaho, May.
2002
“Biblical Scholarship in a Wesleyan Mode.” Lecture delivered to faculty of Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois, September.
1999
“Rahab and Achan as Antipodes: A Hermeneutical Key?” Paper read at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Pacific Lutheran University, May.
“The Faith of the Outsider.” Lectures given at the 4th annual McCown Symposium, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, New York, October. [Lecture 1: “Esau and Tamar as Paradigmatic Outsiders” (Genesis 25-33; 38); Lecture 2: “The Juxtaposition of the Quintessential Canaanite (Rahab; Joshua 2) and the Quintessential Israelite (Achan; Joshua 7).
1996
“The ‘Face of God’: The Esau Story in Torah.” Paper read at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Great Falls, Montana, May.
“Is Claiming to be an Evangelical the Same as Sewing Without a Knot in the Thread?” Lecture given October 4 in the Presidential Inaugural Series, Seattle Pacific University.
1995
“Conservative, Liberal, or Moderate: Should the Church be All or None of the Above?” Lecture given at the Seattle area SEAD (Scholarly Engagement with Anglican Doctrine) Conference, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Medina, Washington.
“Outsider Conversion and Insider Excommunication: Rahab (Joshua 2) and Achan (Joshua 7) as Antipodes.” Paper given at June meeting of Qahal (Society for the Interpretation of Old Testament as Scripture), Whidbey Island, Washington.
“Wesleyan Theology and Curricula at Wesleyan Liberal Arts Colleges.” Lecture given at the April Religion Forum of Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois.
1994
“Christianity Today or The Christian Century: Where is Seattle Pacific Headed?” Lecture given at Seattle Pacific University Faculty-Student Forum.
“More Criticism, More History, More Bible: Wesleyan Faith Seeking Biblical Understanding.” Paper read at Wesleyan Theological Society, Dayton, Ohio, November.
1992
“’Now Eli the Priest was Sitting on the Seat’: The Transition from Priest to Prophet in 1 Samuel 1-7.” Read at the Northwest Region Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Walla Walla, Washington, May.
1991
“Hiding Our Lamp Under a Bushel: The ‘Secret’ Wesleyan Factor at Seattle Pacific University.” Lecture delivered at Seattle Pacific University Faculty Retreat, September.
“Biblical Scholarship in a Wesleyan Mode: Retrospect and Prospect.” Delivered for the Centennial Lecture Series, Seattle Pacific University, January. (Later delivered at the Free Methodist Graduate Student Consultation, Newark, NJ, September).
“All My Sons: The Ne`arim in the Akedah.” Read at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/the American Academy of Religion, Seattle, May.
1990
“A Prophet’s ‘Pregnant Pause’: Samuel’s Silence in the Ark Narrative (1 Sam. 4:1-7:2).” Read at Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/The American Academy of Religion, Portlland, Oregon, May.
1989
“Getting the Christian Story Straight: Theological Reflections on Biblical Narrative.” Presented as the 1989 Lectureship for the Northwest Theological Union/Richmond Beach United Church of Christ Series (3 lectures), October-November.
“The ‘Ground(s)’ of Cain’s Rejection: Genesis 4 in the Context of the Primeval History.” Read at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Vancouver, British Columbia, May.
1988
“The Suffering of God in the Passion of Christ.” Presented as the Wilson R. King Lectureship, Greenville College (Illinois), (2 lectures), November.
1987
“Peace and Justice in Prophetic Perspective.” Presented (3 lectures) at the Summer Institute of Theology, the University of Portland, Portland, Oregon.
Review of Old Testament Theology in a Canonical Context, by Brevard S. Childs. Presented at Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Tacoma, Washington, May.
“Sola Scriptura: Bane or Blessing?” Presented at Walla Walla College, Walla Walla, Washington, February.
1986
“The Psalms of Lament in Historical and Canonical Perspective.” Presidential Address delivered to Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Portland, Oregon, May.
1985
“Revelation, Reformation, Re-Creation: Canon and the Theological Foundations of Christian Higher Education.” Presented to Faculty Retreat of Seattle Pacific University, September.
“Israel, Judaism, and Christianity: From Cultus to Canon.” Presented as the Lectureship of the Interfaith Council, Portland, Oregon, May.
Sola Scriptura: Bane or Blessing?” Presented at Warner Pacific College, Portland, Oregon, May.
1983
“’Annihilation’ (hrm), ‘Dispossession’ (yrs), and ‘Expulsion’ (grs): Modes of Conquest in the Biblical Traditions.” Read at the National Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Dallas, TX, December.
“The Jacob Story: Divine Proposal, Human Disposal.” Four lectures delivered to the Minister’s Conference of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ, Honolulu, August.
“Conquest as Expulsion (grs).” Read at the regional meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Seattle, May.
1981
“Gottwald’s Magnum Opus (The Tribes of Yahweh): A Review.” Read at Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Vancouver, British Columbia, May.
1980
“Royal Imprecatory Psalms: Incantations Against ‘Social Rage’?” Read at Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Spokane, WA, May.
1979
“Are the Enemies of the Royal Psalms of Lament Political Dissidents?” Read at National Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, New York, November.
“God is Alive and Well on the Planet Earth.” Presented to Free Methodist Medical Fellowship, Dillon, Colorado, October.
“The Patriarchs: Legend, Epic, or History?” Presented to the Archaeology Symposium at the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, February.
1978
“Qoheleth and the Reformation of Wisdom.” Read at National Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, New Orleans, LA, November.
“The Imprecatory Psalms: A New Interpretation.” Presented to Faculty Forum, Seattle Pacific University, October.
“Qoheleth: An Anti-Tradition Tract.” Read at Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Portland, May.
1977
“The First Fifth of Human History.” Presented to the Docents of the Seattle Art Museum, October.
“Political Terminology in the Dan Story.” Read at the Northwest Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion, Victoria, B. C., May.
“Can a City be a Community?” Keynote address for the Seattle Project Task Force, forum sponsored by the Washington Commission for the Humanities (various times).
1976
“Biblical Ideology and Foreign Policy.” Presented in response to Robert Bellah (“Can Our Foreign Policy be Moral?”) to the Forum of the Seattle Peace Action Coalition, sponsored by the Washington Commission for the Humanities, January.
1974
`Apiru, Hebrews, and Israelites.” Presented to the Near East Colloquium of the University of Washington, October.
“The Free Will of God.” Presented to the Faith-Learning Seminar, Seattle Pacific University, April.