Academic Bio
After studying at West Virginia Wesleyan College and Princeton Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. Steven Tuell earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. He taught at Erskine College, S.C. (1989-1992) and Randolph-Macon College, Va. (1992-2005), receiving numerous awards for teaching excellence. Tuell’s particular research interests are biblical prophecy, particularly the book of Ezekiel and the Book of the Twelve, and the the biblical literature of the early Persian Period. He has written numerous articles and book reviews, including multiple entries in Feasting on the Word (a commentary on the Common Lectionary published by Westminster John Knox). He has also contributed to the United Methodist Publishing House Adult Bible Studies curriculum and Bible Reader series. Tuell has written The Law of the Temple in Ezekiel 40-48 in the Harvard Semitic Monographs Series; a commentary on 1 and 2 Chronicles in the Interpretation Series; a commentary on Ezekiel, published by Baker in the Understanding the Old Testament Commentary series; and with John Strong co-edited Constituting the Community, a collection of essays on community in the Hebrew Bible, written in honor of S. Dean McBride Jr. Tuell has just completed a commentary on Nahum through Malachi for Smith-Helwys. His works in progress include a book on creation in Scripture for Westminster John Knox and a textbook on the prophets (with Stephen Cook and John Strong) for Fortress. An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Tuell has served churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Virginia. He is a member in full connection of The Western Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church, and preaches and teaches frequently throughout the area. He and his wife, Wendy, have three adult sons.
Story Profile
If you keep current with all manner of national and international news, from politics to sports to literature to science and more, and if you like to think about how all these aspects of life in our world relate to the Bible and Christian faith and practice, you’re missing out if you’re not following Steve Tuell’s blog, “The Bible Guy.” Every couple of weeks, the Rev. Dr. Tuell engages a wide range of interesting topics as PTS’s James A. Kelso Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament.
For example, one of his post discusses the “whooping” controversy involving Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson in the light of biblical perspectives on disciplining children, as well as violence generally. In Part 2 of his series “Does the Bible Contradict Itself?” he talks about the surprising results of the stellar explosion SN2014J and advocates an approach of eager discovery to reconciling the Bible’s similarly puzzling parts. He even tackles the question, “Does learning weaken faith?”—reflecting a concern not only of preachers past but also of many Christian parents present when sending their children off to college.
Throughout Steve’s posts appear topically relevant photos ranging from works of classical art to Peanuts cartoons, scientific charts to historical portraits, schematic sketches to modern architecture. He weaves in observations on current literature, new films, global conflicts, and even his recent ankle-replacement surgery in an effort to inspire God-honoring thinking and living in modern society.
“I’m not interested in giving prescriptions, proscriptions, or pronouncements,” says Steve about his blog. “What I want and try to do in it is to wrestle honestly and faithfully with both the letter and the spirit of the Bible and its interpretation, so that readers log out with a deeper understanding of what it means to be and to live as Christians than when they logged in.”
To follow Steve’s blog, subscribe to “The Bible Guy.”
Selected Publications
Reading Nahum-Malachi: A Literary and Theological Commentary (Smyth & Helwys, 2016)
Ezekiel (Understanding the Bible; Baker, 2012)
Constituting the Community: Studies on the Polity of Ancient Israel in Honor of S. Dean McBride, Jr. (co-edited with John T. Strong; Eisenbrauns, 2005)
1 and 2 Chronicles, Interpretation (WJK, 2001)
The Law of the Temple in Ezekiel 40-48, Harvard Semitic Monographs 49 (Scholars, 1992)
A Call to Faithfulness: A Study of Daniel, Bible Readers Series (Abingdon, 2003)
Putting Faith to Work: A Study of James, Bible Readers Series (Abingdon, 2001)
Living in God’s Presence: A Study of Psalms, Bible Readers Series (Abingdon, 2001)