Part II From Inscribed Word to Prophetic Voice Part 1 established that the Old Testament presents revelation as divine speech given in determinate words and preserved in written form. The argument now turns from inscription to proclamation. The question is no longer only how the word of God is written
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Series Introduction This six-part series represents the culmination of four decades of sustained study of the biblical text, with particular attention to the Greek Scriptures—both the Septuagint and the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. It is written from the conviction that careful, long-term engagement with the text itself remains indispensable
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Survey of the New Testament PDFSurvey of the New Testament PDF.pdf2 MBdownload-circle
by Larry D. Mathis, PhD, DMin, MSc, MDiv, MAR, MA
A Theological Exposition of Ephesians 2:11–22 Historical Estrangement and Covenantal Disinheritance To appreciate the gravity of the believer’s present inclusion among the people of God, the Apostle Paul begins with an imperative of remembrance. This is a rhetorical device intended to awaken theological memory and covenantal humility.
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Churches of Christ have long been known for their commitment to Scripture. That commitment has shaped preaching, worship, and the shared life of congregations for generations. It reflects a deeply held conviction: that the church is not guided by human preference or tradition alone, but by the word of God.
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
In the previous articles, we have considered how Scripture is engaged within two overlapping contexts in Churches of Christ, and how those who teach and lead often move between them in the ordinary work of ministry. These patterns are not abstract. They shape how decisions are made, how authority is
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
In the previous article, we considered how Churches of Christ have come to engage Scripture within two overlapping contexts—one primarily academic, the other primarily congregational. That distinction helps clarify how the same commitment to Scripture can be expressed through different patterns of study and application within the life of
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Churches of Christ have long understood themselves to be a people shaped by Scripture. From their beginnings in the American Restoration Movement, they have sought not merely to honor the Bible, but to take it seriously as the governing authority for faith and practice. That commitment has produced a deep
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Part II From Inscribed Word to Prophetic Voice Part 1 established that the Old Testament presents revelation as divine speech given in determinate words and preserved in written form. The argument now turns from inscription to proclamation. The question is no longer only how the word of God is written
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Institutions rarely fail where they appear weakest. More often, fracture emerges when authority has outgrown the form meant to carry it. This essay explores how institutional maturity requires structure capable of surviving succession and scrutiny.
In the heart of Florence once stood “the temple where the baptistery is now located.”[1] Positioned as a Florentine centerpiece, the temple served as a sacred relic to Mars, son of the king of the gods in Roman mythology, Jupiter.[2] Mars, the god of war, was the lover
Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is founded on a simple yet demanding premise: decisions should be grounded in the best available research evidence, informed by professional expertise, and shaped by contextual factors such as organisational priorities or patient values. In healthcare and other leadership contexts, this balance is not achieved by chance
To live the life of the mind is to navigate the deep currents of thought and the restless tides of the world with the scholar’s precision and the poet’s eye. Here, the arc of a life bends toward the True, the Good, and the Beautiful, and the work
The keynote address for incoming doctoral students at Freed-Hardeman University, titled On Being Scholarly, was delivered by Dr. Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, on May 13, 2018, in Henderson, TN. You are a scholar; these are your fellows. Individually, you are scholars. A scholar is one given to serious academic inquiry.
Reflective Commentary (2025) The following essay was written in 2014 for one of my earliest doctoral courses at Faulkner University. Dr. Robert Woods led the course titled “Introduction to Human Letters." An Evaluative Inquiry into the Life of the Modern Liberal Individual Leisure and festivity together form the foundation
Part II From Inscribed Word to Prophetic Voice Part 1 established that the Old Testament presents revelation as divine speech given in determinate words and preserved in written form. The argument now turns from inscription to proclamation. The question is no longer only how the word of God is written
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Series Introduction This six-part series represents the culmination of four decades of sustained study of the biblical text, with particular attention to the Greek Scriptures—both the Septuagint and the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. It is written from the conviction that careful, long-term engagement with the text itself remains indispensable
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Survey of the New Testament PDFSurvey of the New Testament PDF.pdf2 MBdownload-circle
by Larry D. Mathis, PhD, DMin, MSc, MDiv, MAR, MA
A Theological Exposition of Ephesians 2:11–22 Historical Estrangement and Covenantal Disinheritance To appreciate the gravity of the believer’s present inclusion among the people of God, the Apostle Paul begins with an imperative of remembrance. This is a rhetorical device intended to awaken theological memory and covenantal humility.
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Churches of Christ have long been known for their commitment to Scripture. That commitment has shaped preaching, worship, and the shared life of congregations for generations. It reflects a deeply held conviction: that the church is not guided by human preference or tradition alone, but by the word of God.
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
In the previous articles, we have considered how Scripture is engaged within two overlapping contexts in Churches of Christ, and how those who teach and lead often move between them in the ordinary work of ministry. These patterns are not abstract. They shape how decisions are made, how authority is
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
In the previous article, we considered how Churches of Christ have come to engage Scripture within two overlapping contexts—one primarily academic, the other primarily congregational. That distinction helps clarify how the same commitment to Scripture can be expressed through different patterns of study and application within the life of
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA
Churches of Christ have long understood themselves to be a people shaped by Scripture. From their beginnings in the American Restoration Movement, they have sought not merely to honor the Bible, but to take it seriously as the governing authority for faith and practice. That commitment has produced a deep
by Shawn D. Mathis, PhD, MSc (Oxon), MA