Biblical and Theological Studies Department
Visiting Professor of New Testament
On Faculty since 2011
Office: BGC 288
Phone: (630)752-5708
Email: Brent.Sandy@wheaton.edu
Education
Ph.D. in Classical Studies, Duke University
M.Div., Grace Theological Seminary
About Brent Sandy
The Bible is the richest, deepest, most engaging book ever written. Amazingly, I have the privilege to study and teach this literary masterpiece, stellar performance, magnum opus--the inspired Word of God in the best human forms and words available.
Prophecy and apocalyptic are the fortissimo of the Bible. Incredibly, I have the privilege to focus my research on this high-voltage genre of Scripture. It boldly challenges us to rethink what we see in this life in the blazing light of how God sees everything.
Significantly, and maybe surprisingly, the cultures in which God chose to reveal his Word influenced how the Bible was written. The Bible, though God’s kind, has the marks of humankind—categories, expressions, imagery, motifs, vocabulary—drawn from the cultures of the ancient Hebrews and Greeks. This means that the further removed we are from the ancient world the more we are at a disadvantage. Something is always lost in translating thoughts and words, and cultural differences are even more difficult to “translate.” Only when we carefully enter into the ancient world can we correctly interpret and apply the whole counsel of God, which comes to us through the ancient world. I am particularly passionate about hermeneutics and hearing Scripture well.
Much of my life-work has involved blending. While my Ph.D. was in Classical Studies (with specialization in papyrology), I have primarily taught Biblical Studies. Though I initially focused on New Testament studies, when I set out to understand the Apocalypse, I realized I needed to cross over to the Old Testament and study prophecy. Along the way I became senior pastor of a church for seven years. In my opinion, these various aspects of my life have blended together propitiously; I see them as complementary, not disjunctive.
In addition to the blessings of studying and teaching the Bible, my life has been enriched by a wonderful wife (of 40 years) and by two wonderful sons, who married internationally, live in Europe, and have given us five grandchildren.
Courses Taught
- BITH 213 New Testament Literature and Interpretation
- BITH 543 New Testament Criticism
- BITH 551 Greco-Roman Backgrounds
- BITH 646 Greek Exegesis: 1 Peter
- BITH 646 Greek Exegesis: Revelation
Membership in Professional Societies
- Institute for Biblical Research
- International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies
- Evangelical Theological Society
- Society of Biblical Literature
- American Philological Association
- American Society of Papyrologists
- Association Internationale de Papyrologues
Publications
Interpreting the Psalms for Preaching and Teaching; co-edited with Herb Bateman (Chalice, 2010)
Prophecy and Apocalyptic: An Annotated Bibliography, with Daniel M. O’Hare (IBR Bibliographies; Baker Academic, 2007)
Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic (InterVarsity, 2002); Spanish translation: Profecia Biblica y Literatura Apocaliptica (El Paso: Editorial Mundo Hispano, 2005)
Cracking Old Testament Codes: A Guide to Interpreting the Literary Genres of the Old Testament, co-edited with Ron Giese (Broadman and Holman, 1995); Spanish translation: Compendio para entender el Antiguo Testamento (B&H Espanol, 2007)
The Production and Use of Vegetable Oils in Ptolemaic Egypt, Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists, Supplements 6 (Scholars Press, 1989); for reviews see: Chronique d'Egypte 65.129 (1990) 178-80; Bibliotheca Orientalis 49.1-2 (Jan-Mar 1992) 131-36
“Approaching the Psalms: Key Insights,” with Tiberius Rata, Interpreting the Psalms for Preaching and Teaching; co-edited with Herb Bateman (Chalice, 2010)
“The Psalms in the Hands of Teachers and Preachers,” with Kenneth Bickel, Interpreting the Psalms for Preaching and Teaching; co-edited with Herb Bateman (Chalice, 2010)
"Apocalyptic," with Martin G. Abegg, pp. 177-96 in Cracking Old Testament Codes: A Guide to Interpreting the Literary Genres of the Old Testament, co-edited with Ron Giese (Broadman and Holman, 1995).
"Form and Function in the Letters of the NT," 49-68 in New Testament Essays in Honor of Homer A. Kent, Jr.; edited by Gary Meadors (Winona Lake: BMH Books, 1991)
“Mountain Imagery,” Dictionary of the Old Testament Prophets (InterVarsity, forthcoming)
“Literary Features,” Baker Handbook to the Bible (Baker Academic, forthcoming)
“Study Notes on Zechariah,” HCSB Study Bible (Holman Bible Publishers, 2010).
“Egypt: Ptolemaic and Roman” in Encyclopedia of the Ancient World (Salem, 2001)
"Hellenistic Egypt," and "Ptolemies," Dictionary of New Testament Backgrounds (InterVarsity, 2000)
"Prophecy, New Testament," and "Apocalypse," Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (InterVarsity, 1998)
"Did Daniel See Mussolini?" Christianity Today 37.2 (February 8, 1993) 34-36 (quoted in U.S. News and World Report [Dec 19, 1994] 70-71)
"John the Baptist's `Lamb of God' Affirmation in Its Canonical and Apocalyptic Milieu," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 34:4 (Dec 1991) 447-59
"A Social and Economic History of Ptolemaic Oils," Proceedings of the XVIII International Congress of Papyrology, Athens, 1988.
"Egyptian Terms for Castor," Chronique d'Egypte 62:123-24 (1987) 49-52
"Oil Specification in the Papyri: What is elaion?" Atti del XVII Congresso Internazionale di Papirologia, Naples, 1984
"Update on New Testament Archaeology," Ministry (September 1983)
"The Forty-Two Months," Grace Theological Seminary Spire (Summer 1983)
"Transformed into His Image: A Christian Papyrus," Grace Theological Journal 2:2 (Fall 1981).
Conference Papers and Invited Lectures (2000 to present)
“Israel’s Future: The Language of Blessing in the Prophets,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Nashville, 2000
“Interpreting Old Testament Prophetic Language in Matthew: Images and Metaphors,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Colorado Springs, 2001
“Implications of the Language of Prophecy and Apocalyptic,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Toronto, 2002 and Minneapolis, 2003
Respondent to two sessions of papers, Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Atlanta, 2003: Literature of the Bible Study Group: “Jesus in the Gospels: Literary Perspectives”; Dispensationalism Study Group: “Second Temple Hermeneutics and Dispensationalism”
“Unfulfilled Prophecy and Inerrancy,” Midwest Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Lincoln (IL), 2004
“The Inerrancy of Illocution,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, San Antonio, 2004
“Inerrancy, Illocution, and Interpretation,” Midwest Regional Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Kansas City, 2005
“What Did Israel’s Prophets and Audiences Understand about the Distant Future?” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Valley Forge, 2005
“Speech Act Theory and Biblical Hermeneutics,” Midwest Scholars Conference, Indianapolis, 2006
“The Book of Questions or Answers: Probing Paradox in the Bible,” Midwest Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Grand Rapids, 2006
“Misinterpreting the Psalms: The Slipperiness of Poetry,” Midwest Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Winona Lake, 2007
“Plowshares and Pruning Hooks and the Hermeneutics of Dispensationalism,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, San Diego, 2007
“An Eschatology for the Emerging Church,” Midwest Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Chicago, 2008
“The Early Church and the Emerging Church: A Missional Eschatology,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Providence, 2008
“One in Spirit: The Theology and Practice of Evangelical Unity,” Midwest Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Ashland, 2009
“In Search of the Holy Grail: How Much Difference Would It Make if We Found the Original Handwritten Copies of New Testament Books?” Midwest Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, St. Paul, 2010
“The Hermeneutics of Spiritual Formation,” Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, Atlanta, 2010.
“In Search of the Holy Grail: How Much Difference Would It Make if We Found the Original Handwritten Copies of New Testament Books?” Milwaukee Public Museum, “Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible Exhibit” (April 29, 2010)
“Manuscript, Mosaic, and Modernity: Rethinking How Scripture Uses Words,” Wheaton College, October 6, 2010.