Ph.D. in Biblical & Theological Studies
Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament
On Faculty since 2005
Office: BGC 288
Phone: (630)752-5272
Email: Daniel.Block@wheaton.edu
Education
D.Phil., 1982, Semitics: Classical Hebrew, School of Archaeology and Oriental Studies, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England. Dissertation: The Foundations of National Identity: A Study in Ancient Northwest Semitic Perceptions
M.A. 1973 Old Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois
BA. 1969, History/German, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Foreign Studies in German and Geistesgeschichte, 1968-1968, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany
B.Ed. 1968 General Education, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Diploma in Biblical Studies 1965, Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Saskatchewan
About Daniel Block
My interest in the Old Testament was sparked by the ministry of a pastor during my days as a university student. This man had left a seminary professorship in Old Testament in California to pastor our church of about 300 members in northern Saskatchewan. He was God's instrument inspiring me to devote my life to the study of the Scriptures for the glory of God and for the advance of biblical knowledge. For the past thirty years I have had the supreme delight of sharing with students the word of God, seeking to challenge them to fulfill in their own lives the motto of Wheaton College: "For Christ and His Kingdom." It has been a special joy to watch as students, who often take introductory courses in Old Testament only because they are required to do so by the curriculum, suddenly awaken to the fact that the Old Testament is understandable and that its message is both life-giving and relevant to for everyday life, even in the 21st century.
The paradigm for my own research and ministry is set by Ezra, as described in Ezra 7:10: He committed himself to the study the Torah of Yahweh, to put it into practice, and to teach his revealed will in Israel. This means constantly asking serious questions of the Scriptures: What does the text say? Why does the text say it like that? What did the text mean to the original audience? What does the text have to say to me today? In order to answer these questions we need to understand both the worlds out of which the biblical texts arose and the worlds in which we moderns live.
Although I was nurtured in the faith in a Mennonite Brethren context, for the last four decades my wife Ellen and I have had the joy of fellowship and ministry in Evangelical Free, Plymouth Brethren, Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Covenant, and Southern Baptist, and independent congregations. We have learned that everywhere there are people eager to please God and serious about integrating their faith with their daily lives. We are honored to be part of the faculty of Wheaton College, and to expend our energies training young people for this very purpose.
In addition to teaching in formal classroom situations, we have had the delight of preaching and teaching in many churches across the country and around the world. Week-end seminars on "Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship" or "Resurrecting the Old Testament" have been particularly satisfying. Ellen and I are also concerned about the broader world. In recent years I have lectured and preached in Russia, England, Denmark, China, Greece, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kenya, and of course, my home country, Canada. When I need a break from my studies or the pressures of teaching, I visit my children and grandchildren in British Columbia and Germany and do home improvement projects around the house. But nothing is more therapeutic than gardening, creating a miniature paradise in the little corner of the world in which we live. This too is an expression of worship and devotion to God.
Courses Taught
- Introduction to the Old Testament
- Old Testament Theology
- Old Testament Ethics
- Old Testament Book Studies: Genesis, Deuteronomy, Judges and Ruth, Job, the Wisdom Literature, Ezekiel, Amos
- Hebrew Grammar and Exegesis
- A Biblical Theology of Worship
- Expository Preaching from the Old Testament
- Homiletics
Membership in Professional Societies
- Society of Biblical Literature
- Evangelical Theological Society
- Institute for Biblical Research
Research
My areas of interest span most of the Old Testament. After spending fourteen years on Ezekiel and four on Judges and Ruth, for the past five years I have been absorbed by the Gospel according to Moses as set out for us in the book of Deuteronomy. In the meantime I have also been heavily involved in the production of the New Living Translation of the Bible. I am currently working on a manuscript, For the Glory of God: A Biblical Theology of Worship.
Publications
Books and Papers Published and/or Presented
How I Love Your Torah, O LORD! Studies in the Book of Deuteronomy. Eugene, Or: Cascade, 2011.
Keeping God’s Earth: The Global Environment in Biblical Perspective. Ed. Daniel I. Block & Noah J. Toly. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2010.
"Judges." In Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. John H. Walton, ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009). Volume 2, pages 94-241.
Israel: Ancient Kingdom or Late Invention. D. I. Block, ed. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2008.
"Deuteronomy." In Theological Interpretation of the Old Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey. K. J. Vanhoozer, ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008. Pp. 67-82.
"Ruth 1: Book of." In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. Ed. Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns. Downers Grove: InterVarsity. Pp. 672-87.
"What has Delphi to do with Samaria? Ambiguity and Delusion in Israelite Prophecy." In Writing and Ancient Near Eastern Society: Papers in Honour of Alan R. Millard. Ed. P. Bienkowski, C. Mee, and E. Slater. New York/London: T & T Clark, 2005. Pp. 189-216.
The New Living Translation. Revised Edition. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004. Senior Translator with primary responsibility for the Pentateuch.
"Marriage and Family in Ancient Israel." In Marriage and Family in the Biblical World. Ed. K. Campbell. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2003. Pp. 33-102.
"Divine Abandonment: Ezekiel’s Adaptation of an Ancient Near Eastern Motif," in Perspectives on Ezekiel: Theology and Anthropology, SBL Symposium Series 9, Margaret S. Odell and John T. Strong, eds. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 2000. Pp. 15-42.
The Gods of the Nations: Studies in Ancient Near Eastern National Theology. Revised Edition. ETS Monograph. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2000.
Judges, Ruth. New American Commentary 6. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1999.
The Book of Ezekiel, 2 vols. New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1997/1998.
The New Living Translation. Chicago: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996. General Reviewer with primary responsibility for the Pentateuch.
The Gods of the Nations: Studies in Ancient Near Eastern National Theology. ETS Monograph Series 2; Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 1988.
Essays in Scholarly Journals
“All Creatures Great and Small: Recovering a Deuteronomic Theology of Animals.” In The Old Testament in the Life of God’s People: Essays in Honor of Elmer A. Martens. Ed. J. Isaak. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2009. Pp. 283-305.
“Leader, Leadership, OT.” In The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. Ed. K. D. Sakenfeld Nashville: Abingdon, 2008. Vol. 3. Pp. 621-26.
“Who Wrote the Pentateuch and When was it Written?” in The Apologetics Study Bible. Ed. T. Cabal. Nashville: Holman, 2007. Pp. 158-59.
“Preaching Old Testament Apocalyptic to a New Testament Church.” Calvin Theological Journal 41 (2006): 17-52.
“When Nightmares Cease: A Message of Hope from Daniel 7.” Calvin Theological Journal 41 (2006): 108-14.
“Preaching Old Testament Law to New Testament Christians.” In three parts. Ministry 78/5 (2006): 5-11; 78/7 (2006): 12-16; 78/9 (2006): 15-18.
"Preaching Old Testament Law to New Testament Christians.” Hiphil (Scandinavian Evangelical E-Journal) 3 (2006): 1-24.
“What has Delphi to do with Samaria? Ambiguity and Delusion in Israelite Prophecy.” In Writing and Ancient Near Eastern Society: Papers in Honour of Alan R. Millard. Ed. P. Bienkowski, C. Mee, and E. Slater. New York/London: T & T Clark, 2005. Pp. 189-216.
“God.” In Dictionary of the Old Testament Historical Books. Ed. B. T. Arnold and H. G. M. Williamson. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005. Pp. 336-55. The Privilege of Calling: The Mosaic Paradigm for Missions (Deut. 26:16-19)," Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005): 387-405.
“Deuteronomy, Book of.” In Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. Ed K. J. Vanhoozer. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2005. Pp. 165-73.
“The Burden of Leadership: The Mosaic Paradigm of Kingship." Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005): 259-78.
"The Joy of Worship: The Mosaic Invitation to the Presence of God (Deut. 12:1-14)." Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005): 131-49.
"The Grace of Torah: The Mosaic Prescription for Life (Deut. 4:1-8; 6:20-25)." Bibliotheca Sacra 162 (2005): 3-22.
"In Search of Theological Meaning: Ezekiel Scholarship at the Turn of the Millennium" in Ezekiel’s Hierarchical World: Wrestling with a Tiered Reality. Ed. S. L. Cook and C. L. Patton; SBL Symposium Series 31; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2004. Pp. 227-239.
"Other Religions in Old Testament Theology." In Biblical Faith and Other Religions: An Evangelical Assessment. Ed. D. W. Baker. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004. Pp. 43-78.
"The Old Testament on Hell?" In Hell Under Fire. Ed. by C. W. Morgan and R. A. Peterson. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004. Pp. 43-65.
"How Many Is God? An Investigation into the Meaning of Deuteronomy 6:4-5." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 47 (2004): 193-212.
"Recipe for Revival." In The Minister's Manual, ed. J. W. Cox. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003. Pp. 352-54.
"Tell Me the Old Old Story: Preaching from Old Testament Narrative." In Giving the Sense: Understanding and Using Old Testament Historical Texts: Essays in Honor of Eugene Merrill. Eds. David M. Howard and Michael A. Grisanti. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2003. Pp. 409-38.
"My Servant David: Ancient Israel's Vision of the Messiah," in Israel's Messiah in the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Ed. R. S. Hess and M. D. Carroll R. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003. Pp. 17-56.
"Deuteronomy"; "Ezekiel"; "Ezekiel, Book of"; "Judges"; "Law, Ten Commandments, Torah"; "Pentateuch"; "Ruth." In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003. S.V.
"Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms-Daniel." Catalyst 28/3 (March, 2002): 6-8.
"Why Deborah's Different." Bible Review. 17/3 (June, 2002): 34-40,49-52.
"Recovering the Voice of Moses: The Genesis of Deuteronomy." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 44 (2001): 385-408.
"Handel’s Messiah: Biblical and Theological Perspectives." Didaskalia 12 (2001): 1-23.
"Training Scribes and Pastors in the Tradition of Ezra." The Southern Seminary Magazine (The TIE) 67/2 (2000): 3-6.
"Unspeakable Crimes: The Abuse of Women in the Book of Judges." The Southern Baptist Theological Journal 2 (1998): 46-55.
"Empowered by the Spirit of God: The Holy Spirit in the Historiographic Writings of the Old Testament." The Southern Baptist Theological Journal 1 (1997): 42-61.
"Gog and Magog in Ezekiel’s Eschatological Vision." In "The Reader Must Understand": Eschatology in Bible and Theology, eds. K. Brower and M. Elliott. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997. Pp. 85-116.
"Will the Real Gideon Please Stand Up? Narrative Style and Intention in Judges 6-9." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40 (1997): 353-66.
"The Theology of Ezekiel," "Spirit, Spirit of God," "Nations, Nationality." New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997). S.V.
"Bringing Back David: Ezekiel’s Messianic Hope." The Lord’s Anointed: Interpretation of Old Testament Messianic Texts. Eds. P. E. Satterthwaite, R. S. Hess, and G. J. Wenham. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995. Pp. 167-88.
"Reviving God’s Covenant: Reflections on Malachi 2:1-9." Reformation and Revival Journal 3 (1995).
"‘O Death, Where is Thy Sting?’ Reflections on Hosea 13:1-6." The Standard (April, 1995).
"Deborah Among the Judges: The Perspective of the Hebrew Historian," in Faith, Tradition and History: Old Testament Historiography in Its Near Eastern Context. E. Yamauchi, et al, eds. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1994. Pp. 229-54.
"Beyond the Grave: Ezekiel’s Vision of Death and Afterlife. Bulletin for Biblical Research 2 (1993): 13-41.
"Chasing a Phantom: The Search for the Historical Marduk." Archaeology in the Biblical World 2 (1992): 20-43.
"Gog in Prophetic Tradition: A New Look at Ezekiel XXXVIII 17." Vetus Testamentum 42 (1992): 154-72.
"Ezekiel’s Boiling Cauldron: A Form Critical Solution to Ezekiel XXIV 1-14." Vetus Testamentum 41 (1991): 12-37.
"Echo Narrative Technique: The Rhetorical Use of Genesis 19:1-11 in Judges 9:22-26." Westminster Theological Journal 52 (1990): 325-36.
"The Prophet of the Spirit: The Use of rwh in the Book of Ezekiel." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 32 (1988): 27-50.
"The Period of the Judges: Religious Disintegration under Tribal Rule." In Israel’s Apostasy and Restoration: Essays in Honor of Roland K. Harrison. A. Gileadi, ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988. Pp. 39-58.
"Table of Nations." International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Revised edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988. Vol. IV, pp. 707-13.
"Text and Emotion: A Study in the ‘Corruptions’ in the Text of Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision." Catholic Biblical Quarterly 50 (1988): 1-25.
"Gog and the Pouring Out of the Spirit: Reflections on Ezekiel 39:21-29." Vetus Testamentum 37 (1997): 257-70.
"New Year," The Nations, Nationality," "People," "People of Eden," "Sojourner, Alien, Stranger." International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Revised edition. Vol III. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1986. S.V.
"Israel’s House: Reflections on the Use of byt ysr'l in the Old Testament in the Light of Its Ancient Near Eastern Environment." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 28 (1985): 257-75.
"The Role of Language in Ancient Perceptions of National Identity." Journal of Biblical Literature 103 (1984): 321-40.
"‘Israel’ - ‘Sons of Israel’: A Study in Hebrew Eponymic Usage." Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses 13 (1984): 301-26.
"Bny- cmwn: The Sons of Ammon." Andrews University Seminary Studies 22 (1984): 197-212