Dennis R. Edwards
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Reverend Dennis Robert Edwards, PhD
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy (Biblical Studies); The Catholic University of America,
Washington, DC; May 2003. Dissertation: Reviving Faith: An Eschatological Understanding
of James 5:13–20.
Master of Arts (Biblical Studies); The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC;
January 2003. Thesis: Apocalyptic Eschatology in 1 Thessalonians 4:13– 18 and 1 Corinthians
15:50–56.
Post-graduate studies in Theology; Fordham University, Bronx, NY; 1993–1994.
Master of Divinity (Urban Ministry); Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL;
June 1989.
Bachelor of Science (Chemical Engineering); Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; May 1983.
Publications:
1 Peter. Word Biblical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2028.
1, 2, 3, John. Bible in God’s World Commentary. Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2024.
2 Peter/Jude. Proclamation: Preaching the New Testament. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock,
2024.
“Do Not Withhold Good,” in The Least of These: Human Dignity and Christian
Responsibility. Edited by Angie Ward. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2023.
“Matthew in Peter” in Matthew as Teacher. The Library of New Testament Studies.
Edited by Charles L. Quarles and Charles Nathan Ridlehoover. New York: Bloomsbury,
2023.
Biblical Affirmation that Black Lives Matter: How the Christian Scriptures Speak to Black
Empowerment. Edited by Lisa Bowens and Dennis R. Edwards. Eugene, OR: Wipf and
Stock, 2023.
“Antichrist as Anti-Black: First John’s Affirmation that Black Lives Matter,” in Bitter the
Chastening Rod: Africana Biblical Interpretation after Stony the Road We Trod in the Age of
BLM, SayHerName, and MeToo. Lanham, MD/Minneapolis: Lexington/Fortress, 2022.
Dennis R. Edwards
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“Philemon,” in The State of Pauline Studies. Edited by Scot McKnight and Nijay Gupta.
Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2022.
“Preaching Paul Today,” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. 2
nd
Edition. Edited by Scot
McKnight, Lynn Cohick, and Nijay Gupta. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2022.
“Slavery, Slaves,” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. 2
nd
Edition. Edited by Scot
McKnight, Lynn Cohick, and Nijay Gupta. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2022
“Colossians and Philemon,” in The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Commentary on
The New Testament. Edited by Esau McCaulley, Janette Ok, Osvaldo Padilla, and Amy
Peeler. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2022.
Biblical Humility (tentative title). Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2022.
“Raising Our Voices: A Missional Reading of Acts 16:35–40,” in Haymanot Journal Vol 1
(2021). Edited by Vince L. Bantu and Jacqueline Dyer.
“Rejoicing Always: Lesson on Philippians 4:1–20” and “Friendly Perspective on
Philippians 1” in Illuminate. Newburg, OR: Barclay Press, 2021.
“The Bible in the Civil Rights Movement,” on Bible Odyssey.org (associated with the
Society of Biblical Literature), February 2021.
“Participation in Christ in 1 Peter,” in Cruciform Scripture: Cross, Participation, and
Mission. Edited by Nijay K. Gupta, Andy Johnson, Christopher W. Skinner, and Drew J.
Strait. Grand Rapid: Eerdmans, 2021.
“Worthy of the Gospel: Aliens, Slaves, and Women as Our Teachers” in Gospel
Haymanot: A Constructive Theology and Critical Reflection on African and Diasporic
Christianity. Edited by Vince L. Bantu. Chicago: UMI, 2020.
“Pastoral Reflections” in Perspectives on Paul: Five Views. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2020.
Might from the Margins: The Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice. Harrisonburg:
Herald Press, 2020.
What is the Bible? And How Do We Interpret It? Harrisonburg: Herald Press, 2019.
“Jesus and the Disinherited and 1 Peter,” in Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus.
Vol 17, Issue 3, Pp. 25670.
Dennis R. Edwards
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“Hermeneutics and Exegesis” in The State of New Testament Studies. Edited by Scot
McKnight and Nijay Gupta. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019.
“Three Ways John is Different from the Synoptic Gospels (and three ways it’s similar)”
and “Three Ways Old Testament Theology Points to Jesus,” N. T. Wright Online,
September 2019.
1 Peter. Story of God Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2017.
“Flourishing,” in CCDA Theological Journal (Fall 2014).
“Good Citizenship: A Study of Philippians 1:27 and its Implications for Contemporary
Urban Ministry” in Ex Auditu (Spring 2014).
“‘Not Hearers Only’: Preaching Invitationally,” in Vision: A Journal for Church and
Theology (Spring 2009).
Teaching Experience:
Associate Professor of New Testament, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL,
August 2019–Present.
Associate Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary, Lisle, IL, July 2018–August
2019, courses taught:
Letters to the Churches
The Bible in Context
Biblical Theology of Race and Ethnicity (Doctor of Ministry course)
Bible in Context (Doctor of Ministry course)
Affiliate Faculty (online), Northern Seminary, Lisle, IL, Winter 2017–June 2018, courses
taught:
Gospels
Paul’s Letters and Acts
Co-instructor, The Ecumenical Institute of Theology of St. Mary’s Seminary and
University, Baltimore, MD, Summer 2017, for DMin course:
Enculturating Leadership
Adjunct faculty, Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN, Fall 2014–Spring 2017, courses taught:
New Testament Survey
New Testament Exegetical Explorations
Co-instructor, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, Spring 2013, for course:
Mobilizing for Justice
Dennis R. Edwards
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Adjunct faculty, the Ecumenical Institute of Theology of St. Mary’s Seminary and
University, Baltimore, MD, Fall 2006–Spring 2013, courses taught:
Orientation to Biblical Studies
Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Bible
Introduction to Prophetic Literature
Literature and Theology of the New Testament
The Bible and Peacemaking
Ethics and Social Justice in the Hebrew Bible
Introduction to Biblical Greek
Adjunct faculty, Bethel Seminary of the East Metro DC Campus, Spring 2005–Spring
2012, courses taught:
Biblical Greek
Greek Exegesis
Hermeneutics
Emergence of the Christian Community (NT survey without Gospels)
Gospels
Pauline Prison Epistles
Spiritual Formation
Adjunct faculty, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, extension sites and online courses,
Spring 2004–Spring 2012, courses taught:
Bible Survey and Anabaptist Hermeneutics (on site in Lancaster, PA)
Old Testament: Text in Context (online)
Book of Romans (on site in Souderton, PA and Lancaster, PA)
Administrative Faculty, Nyack College DC Campus, Fall 2001–Summer 2006, courses
taught:
Biblical Greek
Greek Exegesis
Hermeneutics
Introduction to the Old Testament
Introduction to the New Testament
Book of Romans
Poetic Literature
Minor Prophets
Pauline Prison Epistles
College Mathematics
Co-instructor, Trinity International University Washington Extension program, Spring
1998, course taught:
Dennis R. Edwards
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The Gospel of Matthew
Professional Activities:
Academic presenter:
• Scholar-in-Residence for the Uniform Lesson Series of the National Council of
Churches, March 2021–Present.
• “What is 1 Peter?” Midwest Region Society of Biblical Literature, February 2020.
• “1 Peter and the African American Diaspora Experience” in the James, Peter,
Jude section, 2018 Society of Biblical Literature Conference.
• “Citizens Worthy of the Gospel: The alien, slave, and woman as our teachers in 1
Peter” in the Missional Hermeneutic section, 2017 Society of Biblical Literature
Conference.
• The Gospel in Our Culture Forum on Missional Hermeneutics, 2017 Society of
Biblical Literature Conference.
• “Good Citizenship: A Study of Philippians 1:27 and Its Implications for
Contemporary Urban Ministry,” Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of
Scripture, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL. Essay appears in Ex
Auditu Volume 29 (2013).
• Respondent (as part of a panel) to C. Kavin Rowe’s, World Upside Down: Reading
Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age, Missional Hermeneutics section, 2012 Society of
Biblical Literature Annual Conference.
• Respondent to Lynn Cohick at the Symposium on the Theological Interpretation
of Scripture, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, response appears in
Ex Auditu Volume 28 (2012).
• “An Eschatological Understanding of James 5:13–20,” regional meeting of the
Catholic Biblical Association Meeting, April 2003.
Lecturer:
• James D. Strauss Worldview Lectureship at Lincoln Christian University
(Illinois), October 2020.
• Eaton-Jones Annual Lecture, North Park University, Chicago, IL, February 2016.
• “The Bible through Anabaptist Eyes: Christ at the Center,” Franconia Conference
of the Mennonite Church USA, Souderton, PA, April 2015.
• “The 400
th
Anniversary of the King James Bible,” Ecumenical Institute of
Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD, February 2011.
Teacher:
• Adult Sunday School, Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church, May 2022.
• Adult Sunday School, Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church, January–
February 2021.
• Shepherd Leadership Conference, Kigali, Rwanda, April 2016.
• Shepherd Leadership Conference, Kigali, Rwanda, April 2014.
Dennis R. Edwards
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Preacher:
• New Community Evangelical Covenant Church, February 2022.
• New Community Evangelical Covenant Church, October–November 2021.
• The Meeting House, Dillsburg, PA, August 2021.
• North Park Evangelical Covenant Church, November 2020.
• Church Retreat, Wheaton Evangelical Covenant Church, August 2020.
• Institute for Biblical Research 2019 Worship Service.
• Keynote, American Baptist Pastors of Smaller Churches Conference, May 2019.
• Living Stones Church, South Bend, IN, January 2019.
• Institute for Biblical Research 2018 Ethnic Minority Scholars Breakfast.
• New Kind of Preacher Forum at Northern Seminary, Lombard, IL, October 2017.
• University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN, October 2017.
• Alumni Weekend at The Ecumenical Institute of Theology of St. Mary’s
Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD, September 2017.
• Monticello Covenant Church, Monticello, MN, July 2017.
• Covenant Church, International Falls, MN, July 2017.
• Faith Mennonite Church, Minneapolis, MN, July 2017.
• Keynote, Church of the Brethren Annual Meeting Congregational Life Dinner,
June 2017.
• Keynote, Annual Meeting of the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical
Covenant Church, April 2017.
• Africa International University, Nairobi, Kenya, April 2016.
• Crown College, St Bonifacius, Minnesota, March 2016.
• Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, MN, February 2016.
• University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN, January 2015.
• Missio Alliance Conference, Carlisle, PA, October 2014.
• Keynote, Annual Assembly of the Franconia Conference of the Mennonite
Church, November 2011.
Webinar and Podcast Presenter:
• Co-host, ~ING podcast with Menno Media, September 2020—August 2021.
• Leading voice, Missio Alliance, 2015–present.
• Webinar host, “Expanding Our Witness: Equipping Ministry for Anti–Racist
Change,” July 2020.
• Webinar host, “What is Neo-Anabaptism?” May 2019.
• Just Sexuality webinar for the Evangelical Covenant Church, summer 2018.
• “Crucifixion of Jesus” webinar moderator, featuring N. T. Wright and Greg
Boyd, March 2017.
Workshop leader or panelist:
Dennis R. Edwards
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• “Race, Resilience, and Resistance Webinar,” Missio Alliance, January 2021.
• Liberating Evangelicalism—Decentering Whiteness Conference, September 2019.
• Missio Alliance Conference, April 2019.
• Praxis Gathering, September 2018.
• Jude 3 Courageous Conversations Conference, September 2018.
• ReKnew Conference, Woodland Hills Church, St. Paul, MN, September 2017.
• Missio Alliance Confessing Church Consultation, May 2017.
• Stairstep Foundation, “Older and Younger Clergy Working Together,”
November 2015.
Member, Steering Committee:
• Peter, James, Jude section, Society of Biblical Literature, 2019–present.
• Missional Hermeneutics affiliate group, Society of Biblical Literature, 2015–
present.
Member, Board of Directors and Other Associations:
• Anabaptism at 500 Advisory Board, March 2022—Present
• Missio Alliance, January 2022—Present
• Institute for Biblical Research, August 2019—November 2021.
• National Covenant Properties, December 2018—October 2020.
• Transformational Leadership in Africa (TLAfrica), September 2016–June 2018.
• Transform Minnesota, September 2015–June 2018.
• Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN,
July 2015–January 2018.
• Convener of the East Washington Ministers Fellowship, Washington, DC, 2008–
2011.
• Vice President, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Alumni Association,
Deerfield, IL, 1997–2001.
• Preaching Institute, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg, VA, 1999–2000.
• Social Concerns Committee, Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), 1992–
1994.
• Intercultural Advisory Council, Evangelical Free Church of America, 1990–1993.
• Eastern District Association, Evangelical Free Church of America, 1990–1993.
Pastoral Experience:
Senior Pastor of Sanctuary Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN, a multi-cultural
congregation in the heart of North Minneapolis, May 2012–July 2018.
Founding Pastor, Peace Fellowship Church, Washington, DC, a congregation modeling
unity with ethnic diversity within an economically disadvantaged community,
September 2001–April 2012.
Dennis R. Edwards
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Senior Pastor, Washington Community Fellowship, Washington, DC, July 1997–
February 2001.
Pastor of Mission and Small Groups, Washington Community Fellowship, Washington,
DC, January 1995–June 1997.
Founding pastor, New Community Evangelical Free Church, Brooklyn, NY, September
1989–December 1994.
Professional Recognition:
Ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Distinguished Lecturer, Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary and University,
Baltimore, MD, 2008–09.