Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology Princeton Theological ...

C. CLIFTON BLACK, M.A., M.Div., Ph.D.
Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology
Princeton Theological Seminary
P. O. Box 821
64 Mercer Street
Princeton, NJ 08542-0803
Office Telephone: (609) 497-7762
Office Fax: (609) 497-7728
Email:
clifton.black@ptsem.edu
Curriculum Vitae | Publications
QUALIFICATIONS
Curriculum Vitae
B. A. in Religion, Wake Forest University (1977, summa cum laude)
Thesis: “The Didaskalos of the Early Christian Church”
M. A. in Religion and Theology, University of Bristol (1980)
Thesis: “’Be Imitators of Me’: The Language of Imitation in Paul”
M. Div., Emory University (1981, summa cum laude)
Ph.D., Duke University (1986, with Honors)
Thesis: “An Evaluation of the Investigative Method and Exegetical Results of Redaction
Criticism of the Gospel of Mark: The Role of the Disciples as a Test–Case in Current
Research”
SELECTED ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS
G. C. Carswell Scholarship, Wake Forest University (1973–77)
Phi Beta Kappa, Wake Forest University (1976)
Omicron Delta Kappa, Wake Forest University (1976)
American Bible Society Award for Excellence in Biblical Scholarship, Wake Forest University
(1976)
Mortar Board, Wake Forest University (1977)
Eta Sigma Phi (Classics), Wake Forest University (1977)
J. A. Easeley Medal in Religion (inaugural recipient), Wake Forest University (1977)
The Dean's Award, Emory University (1977–81)
Rotary Foundation Graduate Fellowship, University of Bristol (1978–79)
International Society of Theta Phi, Candler School of Theology, Emory University (1981)
The Award for Academic Excellence, Emory University (1981)
G. H. Kearns Fellowship, Duke University (1981–84)

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The Cokesbury Award of The United Methodist Church, Duke University (1981–82)
W. D. Davies Instructorship in Religion, Duke University (1984–85)
The Dempster Fellowship of The United Methodist Church, Duke University (1984–86)
A. J. Karp Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Rochester (1987)
Mellon Faculty Fellow, University of Rochester (1988)
The Westminster Theological Lecturer, St. John's College (1990)
The Graves Distinguished Lectureship, First United Methodist Church, Hope, Arkansas (1997)
The Drumwright Lectureship, Baylor University (2006)
Residential Membership, The Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton (2007–08)
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Princeton Theological Seminary (1999– )
Otto A. Piper Professor of Biblical Theology
Chairman, Department of Biblical Studies (2003–07)
Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University (1989–99)
Professor of New Testament (1997–99)
Associate Professor of New Testament (1993–97)
Assistant Professor of New Testament (1989–93)
University of Rochester, Assistant Professor of Religion (1986–89)
Duke University, Instructor in Religion (1984–85)
VISITING APPOINTMENT
Colgate Rochester Divinity School/Bexley Hall/Crozer Theological Seminary, Visiting Professor
of New Testament (1987–89)
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
American Academy of Religion (1986-91)
Society of Biblical Literature (1984- )
Catholic Biblical Association of America (1984- )
Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (1994– )
American Theological Society (2007– )
EDITORIAL POSITIONS
Associate Editor, AAR/SBL Ventures in Religion (1989–99)
Editorial Board, Journal of Biblical Literature (1993–98)
Founding Editor, The New Testament Library, Westminster John Knox Press (1995– )
Book Review Editor, Theology Today (2001–05)
Associate Editor, Catholic Biblical Quarterly (2004–08)
Editorial Board, PAIDEIA Commentaries, Baker Academic Press (2004– )
Editorial Board, Horizons in Biblical Theology (2004– )

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MANUSCRIPT REVIEWS
Abingdon, Baker Academic, Baylor University Press, Greenwood, Macmillan, Oxford University
Press, Scholars Press, University of South Carolina, Westminster John Knox
EXTERNAL EXAMINERSHIPS (PH.D.)
Australian Catholic University, Duke University, Southern Methodist University
ECCLESIASTICAL AFFILIATION
Ordained, The United Methodist Church: Deacon, 1980–88; Elder, 1988–
Member of The Western North Carolina Annual Conference
BOOKS
Publications
• Jesus Christ: Holy Week and Crucifixion (with Thomas A. Langford). Nashville: Graded Press,
1985. Pp. 64.
• Paul: His Message about Faith and Grace. Nashville: Graded Press, 1987. Pp. 62.
• The Disciples According to Mark: Markan Redaction in Current Debate. Journal for the Study of
the New Testament Supplement Series 27. Sheffield: JSOT/Sheffield Academic
Press, 1989. Pp. 392. Revised edition: Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, forthcoming.
• Journey Through the Bible: The Gospel of Mark. Nashville: Cokesbury, 1994. Pp. 112.
• Mark: Images of an Apostolic Interpreter. Studies on Personalities of the New Testament.
Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1994. Reprinted, Minneapolis and
Edinburgh: Fortress Press/T & T Clark, 2001. Pp. xx + 327.
• Exploring the Gospel of John in Honor of D. Moody Smith (edited with R. Alan Culpepper).
Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Pp. xxxiv + 409.
• 1, 2, and 3 John: Introduction, Commentary, and Reflections. In The New Interpreter's Bible: A
Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Edited by Leander E. Keck. Nashville: Abingdon Press,
1998. Pp. 363–469 in Volume 12.
• The Rhetoric of the Gospel: Theological Artistry in the Gospels and Acts. St. Louis: Chalice Press,
2001. Pp. xviii + 224.
• Anatomy of the New Testament: A Guide to Its Structure and Meaning (with Robert A. Spivey and
D. Moody Smith). 6 th revised edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice
Hall, © 2007 (published in 2006). Pp. xxvi + 502.
• The Eighth Day of Creation: An Anthology of Christian Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
forthcoming 2008.
• Communicating Good News: Conversations in New Testament Rhetoric with George Kennedy (edited
with Duane F. Watson). Studies in Religion and Rhetoric. Waco: Baylor University
Press, forthcoming 2008.

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ESSAYS
• “Depth of Characterization and Degrees of Faith in Matthew.” Pp. 604-623 in David J.
Lull, ed., Society of Biblical Literature 1989 Seminar Papers. Society of Biblical Literature
Seminar Papers Series. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1989.
• “An Oration at Olivet: Some Rhetorical Dimensions of Mark 13.” Pp. 66-92 in Duane F.
Watson, ed., Persuasive Artistry: Studies in New Testament Rhetoric in Honor of George A.
Kennedy. Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 50.
Sheffield: JSOT/Sheffield Academic Press, 1991.
• “Ministry.” Pp. 162-164 in James W. Cox, ed., Handbook of Themes for Preaching. Louisville:
Westminster/John Knox Press, 1991.
• “The Gospel of Mark,” Introduction and Annotations. Pp. 1915-52 in Wayne A. Meeks,
et al., eds., The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version. San Francisco:
HarperCollins Publishers, 1993. Reprinted as p. 1722-58, with revisions by A. Y.
Collins, in Harold W. Attridge, ed. The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard
Version, Fully Revised and Updated Edition. San Francisco: HarperCollins Publishers,
2006.
• “Rhetorical Criticism.” Pp. 256-77 in Joel B. Green, ed., Hearing the New Testament: Strategies
for Interpretation. Grand Rapids, Mich., and Carlisle: William B. Eerdmans/Paternoster
Press, 1995. Under revision for republication in 2008.
• “’The Words That You Gave to Me I Have Given to Them’: The Grandeur of Johannine
Rhetoric.” Pp. 220-39 in R. Alan Culpepper and C. Clifton Black, eds., Exploring the
Gospel of John in Honor of D. Moody Smith. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press,
1996.
• “Christ Crucified in Paul and in Mark: Reflections on an Intracanonical Conversation.” Pp.
184-206 in Eugene H. Lovering, Jr., and Jerry L. Sumney, eds., Theology and Ethics in
Paul and His Interpreters: Essays in Honor of Victor Paul Furnish. Nashville: Abingdon
Press, 1996.
• “The Quest of Mark the Redactor: Why Has It Been Pursued, and What Has It Taught Us?”
Pp. 200-20 in Stanley E. Porter and Craig A. Evans, eds., New Testament Interpretation and
Methods: A Sheffield Reader. The Biblical Seminar 45. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic
Press, 1997.
• “John Mark in the Acts of the Apostles.” Pp. 101-20 in Richard Thompson and Thomas
Phillips, eds., Literary Studies in Luke–Acts: Essays in Honor of Joseph B. Tyson. Macon:
Mercer University Press, 1998.
• “Helping a Church Confront Crisis: Studies in 1 and 2 Corinthians” (with Patrick J.
Willson). Pp. 249–367 in Nan Duerling, ed., The New International Lesson Annual
September–August, 1999–2000. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.
• “Lightfoot, Robert Henry (1883-1953).” Pp. 77-78 in John H. Hayes, ed., Dictionary of
Biblical Interpretation. Volume 2. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.
• “Ave Maria, Gratia Plena: An Exemplar of Grace in the New Testament.” Pp. 33-40 in
Robert K. Johnston, L. Gregory Jones, and Jonathan R. Wilson , eds., Grace Upon
Grace: Essays in Honor of Thomas A. Langford. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.
• “Inquiring after God When Meditating on Scripture.” Pp. 207-31 in Ellen T. Charry, ed.,
Inquiring after God: Classical and Contemporary Readings. Blackwell Readings in Modern
Theology. London: Blackwell, 2000.
• “Augustinian Preaching and the Nurture of Christians.” Pp. 603-14 in Roger E. Van Harn,
ed., The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday’s Texts. The Third Readings:
The Gospels. Grand Rapids and London: Eerdmans/Continuum, 2001.

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• “The Education of Human Wanting: Formation by Pater Noster.” Pp. 248-63 in William P.
Brown, ed., Character and Scripture: Moral Formation, Community, and Biblical Interpretation.
Grand Rapids and Cambridge: Eerdmans, 2002.
• “The Face Is Familiar; I Just Can’t Place It.” Pp. 33-49 in Beverly Roberts Gaventa and
Patrick D. Miller, eds. The End of Mark and the Ends of God: Essays in Memory of Donald
Harrisville Juel. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005.
• “The Persistence of the Wounds.” Pp. 47-58 in Sally A. Brown and Patrick D. Miller, eds.
Lament: Recovering Practices of Lament in Pulpit, Pew, and Public Square. Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 2005.
• “The First, Second, and Third Letters of John.” Pp. 321-31 in The New Interpreter’s Bible New
Testament Survey. Nashville: Abingdon, 2006.
• “God’s Promise for Humanity in the New Testament.” Pp. 179-95 in R. Kendall Soulen
and Linda Woodhead, eds., God and Human Dignity. Grand Rapids and Cambridge,
U.K.: Eerdmans, 2006.
• “Does Suffering Possess Educational Value in Mark’s Gospel?” Pp. 3-17 in Robert L.
Brawley, ed., Character Ethics and the New Testament: Moral Dimensions of Scripture.
Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.
• “Piper, Otto Alfred Wilhelm (1891–1982).” Invited entry for D. K. McKim, ed., Dictionary
of Major Biblical Interpreters. 2 nd ed. Grand Rapids: InterVarsity Press, in press.
• “Redaction Criticism.” Invited entry for C. A. Evans, ed., Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus.
London: Routledge, in press.
• “Mark, John.” Invited entry for K. D. Sakenfeld, ed., The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the
Bible. Volume 3. Nashville: Abingdon, in press.
• “Exegetical Analysis: Mark 10:2-16 (Proper 22); Mark 10:17-31 (Proper 23); Mark 10:35-45
(Proper 24),” in D. L. Bartlett and B. B. Taylor, eds., WJK Lectionary Commentary Series.
Volume 4. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, in press.
• “Exegetical Analysis: John 13:1-17, 31b-35 (Maundy Thursday), John 18:1–19:2 (Good
Friday), John 19:38-42 (Holy Saturday),” in D. L. Bartlett and B. B. Taylor, eds., WJK
Lectionary Commentary Series. Volume 6. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, in press.
• “Transfigured Exegesis,” in W. S. Johnson and P. Ochs, eds., Scriptural Reasoning. London:
Ashgate, in press.
• “Kennedy and the Gospels: An Ambiguous Legacy, A Promising Bequest,” in C. C. Black
and D. F. Watson, eds., Communicating Good News: Conversations in New Testament
Rhetoric with George Kennedy. Waco: Baylor University Press, in press.
ARTICLES
• “Pauline Perspectives on Death in Romans 5-8,” Journal of Biblical Literature 103 (1984): 413-
33.
• “Unity and Diversity in Luther's Biblical Exegesis: Psalm 51 as a Test-Case,” Scottish Journal
of Theology 38 (1985): 325-45.
• “The Johannine Epistles and the Question of Early Catholicism,” Novum Testamentum 28
(1986): 131-58.
• “St. Thomas's Commentary on the Johannine Prologue: Some Reflections on Its Character
and Implications,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 48 (1986): 681-98.
• “The Rhetorical Form of the Hellenistic Jewish and Early Christian Sermon: A Response to
Lawrence Wills,” Harvard Theological Review 81 (1988): 1-18.
• “The Quest of Mark the Redactor: Why Has It Been Pursued, and What Has It Taught Us?”
Journal for the Study of the New Testament 33 (1988): 19-39.

• “Rhetorical Criticism and the New Testament,” Proceedings of the Eastern Great Lakes and
Midwest Biblical Societies 8 (1988): 77-92.
• “Scenes of Love and Compassion: Studies in the Gospel of Luke,” Mature Years: A Christian
Magazine for Older Adults 21 (1988-89): 59-111.
• “Keeping Up with Recent Studies: Rhetorical Criticism and Biblical Interpretation,” The
Expository Times 100 (1989): 252-58.
• “Rhetorical Questions: The New Testament, Classical Rhetoric, and Current
Interpretations,” Dialog 29 (1990): 62-70.
• “Christian Ministry in Johannine Perspective,” Interpretation 44 (1990): 29-41.
• “Ministry in Mystery: One Evangelist's Vision,” The Christian Ministry 22 (1991): 15-18.
• “The Presentation of John Mark in the Acts of the Apostles,” Perspectives in Religious Studies 20
(1993): 235-54.
• “Was Mark a Roman Gospel?” The Expository Times 104 (1993): 36-40.
• “Our Shepherd's Voice: Biblical Resources for the Easter Season,” Quarterly Review 14
(1994): 89-110.
• “The Evangelist Mark: Some Reflections Out of Season,” Theology 99 (1997): 35-42.
• “Serving the Food of Full-Grown Adults: Augustine's Interpretation of Scripture and the
Nurture of Christians,” Interpretation 52 (1998): 341-53.
• “Short Shrift Made Once More,” Theology Today 57 (2000): 386-94.
• “Four Stations en Route to a Parabolic Homiletic,” Interpretation 54 (2000): 386-97.
• “A View from the Parapet.” The Princeton Theological Review 8 (2000): 42-43.
• “Does Suffering Possess Educational Value in Mark’s Gospel?” Perspectives in Religious Studies
28 (2001): 85-98.
• “Critic’s Corner: Kindred Books on Jesus,” Theology Today 57 (2001): 533-39.
• “Return of the Double-Minded.” The Princeton Seminary Bulletin 22 (2001): 85-87.
• “Journeying through Scripture with the Lectionary’s Map,” Interpretation 56 (2002): 59-72.
• “Listening for the Spirit’s Voice: Advent 2, Year B,” Circuit Rider 26 (September–October,
2002): 6-7.
• “Exegesis as Prayer,” The Princeton Seminary Bulletin n. s. 23 (2002): 131-45.
• “Preaching from the Gospels and Acts,” in Joel B. Green, ed., Catalyst: Contemporary
Evangelical Perspectives for Presbyterian and United Methodist Seminarians 29 (February
2003): 1, 3-4.
• “Editorial: A Laugh in the Dark,” Theology Today 60 (2003): 149-53.
• “Preaching from the Gospels and Acts,” Circuit Rider 27 (September–October 2003): 23-25.
• “The Man in Black: Johnny Cash (1932–2003),” The Christian Century 120/20 (4 October
2003): 8-9.
• “The Blessings and Curses of Preaching: A Sermon for Sermoners,” inSpire: Princeton
Theological Seminary (Winter 2004): 17-18.
• “Critic’s Corner: A Tale of Two Pities,” Theology Today 61 (2004): 217-21.
• “Critic’s Corner: Revisiting the King James Bible,” Theology Today 61 (2004): 347-54.
• “Editorial: Three,” Theology Today 62 (2005): 147-53.
• “Where Do You Want to Eat?” The Princeton Seminary Bulletin n. s. 26 (2005): 299–303.
• “Remembering Otto Piper,” The Princeton Seminary Bulletin n. s. 26 (2005): 310-27.
• “The Man in Black,” inSpire: Princeton Theological Seminary (Winter/Spring 2006): 22-23.
• “A Servant of Surprise: Juel Interpreted,” Word and World 26 (2006): 47-60.
• “In Memoriam: Paul S. Minear,” Horizons in Biblical Theology 29 (2007): 57-60.
6

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REVIEWS AND NOTES
Over one hundred in Anglican Theological Review, Biblical Theology Bulletin, Bryn Mawr Classical Review,
Catholic Biblical Quarterly, Christian Century, Critical Review of Books in Religion, Interpretation, Journal
of the American Academy of Religion, Journal of Biblical Literature, Journal of Religion, Journal of
Theological Studies, Perkins Journal, Perspectives in Religious Studies, Pro Ecclesia, Religious Studies
Review, Theology Today.
10 October 2007
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