Keep the rolodex out, Oklahoma Christian University is diving deep into its contacts to provide students and faculty with another notable guest speaker—Dr. Scot McKnight.
McKnight, a New Testament scholar slated to address students and faculty tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Baugh Auditorium, emphasizes his studies on early Christianity and the historical Jesus.McKnight has authored roughly 50 books, including the 2004 Christianity Today Book Award-winner “The Jesus Creed.”
Currently a New Testament professor at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL, McKnight has also served as a professor of religious studies at North Park University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
McKnight is also the host of a blog, Jesus Creed, which shares the name with his best-selling book. Now hosted by Pantheos, his online journal is one of the most frequently viewed pages regarding the evangelical movement and emerging church.
McKnight has lectured across the globe, making stops in Canada, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, England and Ireland.
In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, McKnight stressed the importance of historical research within the study of the Gospels, displaying his expertise.
“Historical studies, and in this case I don’t mean the Historical Jesus enterprise, which is to find Jesus behind the theology, attempts to locate Jesus and the Gospels in their historical context,” McKnight said. “Jewish studies have helped us understand Jesus and have given us fresh insights into what Jesus was saying and doing.”
This biblical competence and the reveal of his lecture’s title, “Faith in Christ in Times Like These,” has many students and faculty highly anticipating his sermon.
Junior Bob Britton said McKnight is another name in a continuing list of noteworthy guest speakers provided by Oklahoma Christian faculty.
“I think it is a privilege to be able to get to hear Dr. McKnight speak,” Britton said. “I think it is incredibly impressive that Oklahoma Christian has worked diligently to provide us with such a renowned speaker. Look at last year, we had members of the Oklahoma Christian 18, we had Andrew Young and we had Brian Stevenson.”
Sophomore Ty Dudley expressed enthusiasm as a result of the eagerness of his professors.
“Personally, I am excited about the opportunity to listen to the guest speaker,” Dudley said. “I am in a few Bible classes this semester, and all of my professors have mentioned their excitement. If you think about that, having experts in biblical text excited about another biblical scholar speaking, it must mean he knows his stuff.”
Dudley went on to state he has attended past lectures and plans to be in attendance for this one as well.
“I don’t think this is something you should miss,” Dudley said. “I went to just about every lecture last year and can honestly say I learned things and thought about things I would not have considered if I hadn’t been in the auditorium. I think everyone should go, who knows, it might make you question something you thought was set in stone.”
In addition to speaking in Baugh Auditorium tomorrow night, McKnight will speak Tuesday, Sept. 24, and Wednesday, Sept. 25, during scheduled chapel hours.
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