Randy Nelson

Director of the Dual Degree Program
Professor of New Testament Studies

Dr. Nelson enjoys his teaching ministry at Northwestern College. He has twice been nominated by students for “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.” He also enjoys serving the Northwestern community. He has chaired two faculty committees, as well as two task forces. In 2007, Dr. Nelson received the Teacher of the Year Award for Service. Finally, he enjoys teaching and preaching in local churches. His desire is to make available the best of scholarship to lay Christians.

Specialty Areas

Gospel Studies
Jesus Research
Hermeneutics

Academic Credentials 

Ph.D., New Testament Studies, Rice University, 1999
M.Div., Biblical Studies, Bethel Seminary, 1989
B.A., History, Northwestern College, 1985

Professional Accomplishments  

PUBLICATIONS: 

"Exegeting Forgiveness," American Theological inquiry 5.2 (July 2012), 33-58.

“What is a Worldview?” in Christian Contours: How a Biblical Worldview Shapes the Mind and Heart, ed. by Douglas S. Huffman (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2012).

“The Challenge of Canonical Criticism to Background Studies,” Journal of Biblical Studies 6.1 (June 2006), 10-34.

PRESENTATIONS:

“The Healing Power of Forgiveness” at the Association for Christians in Student Development (ACSD) Regional Student Leadership Conference,Oct. 29, 2011.

“Christ-centered Higher Education,” presentation for Northwestern College Student Leaders Retreat at Camp Korois, Aug. 12, 2010.

“Unconditional Forgiveness,” presented at New Hope Center, Dec. 13, 2010.

“From Messianic Movement to Christian Church,” presented at Woodbury Baptist Church, January 2011.

“Forgiveness: Vertical and Horizontal,” a 4-session presentation at GracePoint Church, February 2011.

“Toward a Theology of Horizontal Forgiveness,” presented at Northwestern College Scholarship Symposium, May 7, 2010.

“The Case for Unconditional Forgiveness,” presented at Regional Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, St. Paul, Minnesota, March 19, 2010.

“To What End? The Contribution of Jesus Research to Christian Faith,” presented at National Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island, November 21, 2008.

“Deification of Jesus according to The Davinci Code,” presented at Northwestern College Scholarship Symposium, May 5, 2006.

“The Historical Jesus,” presented at Northwestern College Scholarship Symposium, May 6, 2005.

“The Challenge of Canonical Criticism to Background Studies,” presented at National Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, November 16, 2005.

“The Challenge of Narrative Criticism to Background Studies,” presented at Regional Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, April 18, 2005.

"Reconsidering the 'Scholarly Death' of the Apocalyptic Jesus," presented at National Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, November 17, 1999.

"The Jesus Seminar Resurrects the Old (Secularizing) Quest," presented at National Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, Orlando, Florida, November 19-21, 1998.

"The Jesus Seminar's Quest for the Historical Jesus," presented at Regional Evangelical Theological Society Meeting, Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 16-17, 1996.