Education
- M.Theol., University of St Andrews
- M.Litt., University of St Andrews
- Ph.D., University of St Andrews
What are the main focuses of your research?
The primary focus of my research is on the doctrine of God. I’m interested in the affective dimension of the doctrine and its links to issues in philosophy and scriptural interpretation, particularly the foundations of classical views of God.
Courses Taught
I teach courses in Christian theology including a survey of Christian Doctrine and courses on Christology and the doctrine of God. I enjoy these classes because they are opportunities to explore the breadth and depth of classical, creedal theology – how it emerges, why it makes sense, and how it should shape Christian faith.
I also teach in the HUMA core and these classes present a chance to explore the broader appeal and the concrete importance of Christian faith for students from all backgrounds.
What is the most important piece of advice you give your students to help them succeed?
The most important piece of advice for theological study is to study Christianly – many of the most significant problems for theology in recent centuries have stemmed from divorcing primary commitments of the faith from the actual practice of theology. It is vital to hold together our view of what responsible intellectual work in theology looks like, on the one hand, and the foundational reality claims of scripture, on the other.
Selected Publications
- “Defending ‘Avertive’ Religion: Calvin on the Visio Dei and Moral Theology.” Reformed Theologial Review 82, no. 1 (2023): 25-47 doi.org/10.53521/a344
- “‘Hold to a Sure Path’: John Calvin on Theology and Reading Scripture.” The Global Anglican 136, no. 3 (2022): 254-269.
- “Colin Gunton and John Calvin on the Via Negativa and Theological Projection.” Journal of Reformed Theology 16, no. 1-2 (2022): 108-26. doi.org/10.1163/15697312-bja10027
- “Steven J. Duby’s God in Himself.” Pro Ecclesia 30, no. 3 (2021): 261-64. doi.org/10.1177/10638512211028356
- “‘God, we know, is subject to no passions’: the Impassibility of God in Calvin’s Commentaries as a Test-case for the Divine Attributes.” In Calvinus Frater in Domino: Papers of the Twelfth International Congress on Calvin Research, ed. Arnold Huijgen and Karin Maag, 295-308. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2020. doi.org/10.13109/9783666540752.295