Faculty Profiles

John Dickson is the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College, Illinois. Following a career as a singer-songwriter, John devoted himself to theological and historical studies, graduating with First Class Honours from Moore Theological College and a PhD in Ancient History from Macquarie University, where John taught both New Testament and World Religions. He subsequently taught Jesus and the Gospels at the University of Sydney, as well as Christian Mission at Ridley Theological College, Melbourne. Since 2015 he has held the research position of Visiting Academic in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford.

An ordained Anglican clergyman, John pastored a local church in Sydney for a decade. A long-time public advocate for the Christian Faith, John founded Australia’s Centre for Public Christianity in 2007 and is the author of more than 20 books. He has produced and presented three television documentaries (with a fourth on the way) and he is the host of Undeceptions, Australia’s no.1 religion podcast with over 2 million downloads. John now lives in Wheaton with his wife, Buff, and their youngest daughter, Josie. He has two adult children in Sydney.

Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
Bachelor of Theology (First Class Honours)

Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia)
Ph.D. in Ancient History (examining the expansion of Christianity in the Jewish and Graeco-Roman worlds)

• The Best and Worst of Christian History (undergraduate and masters)
• Ministry in Culture (undergraduate)
• Exploring the New Testament (masters)
• Public Christianity for a Post-Christian World (doctoral)
• Evangelism (undergraduate)

Academic Research and Publication (Peer Reviewed)

“Creeds as Educational Epitomes: a History from Epicurus to Nicaea” Forthcoming
I am currently examining the ancient use of mnemonic devices in formal education, philosophical schools, synagogues, and the early church. Part of the research is being conducted within the Classics Faculty of Oxford University where I have enjoyed Visiting Academic status since 2015 under the sponsorship of Nicholas Purcell FBA, the Camden Professor of Ancient History.

“Gentiles in Paul”, in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, updated 2nd edition 2022 publication
(IVP Academic)
An entry on Paul’s mission to the nations against the Jewish and Graeco-Roman backgrounds.

“Witness in Paul”, in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, updated 2nd edition 2022 publication
(IVP Academic)
An entry on Paul’s expectations of congregational involvement in mission against the Jewish and Graeco-Roman backgrounds.

“Teaching as traditioning: an historical observation”, in The Gender, Conversation,  2018  
(Moorling College Press)
A chapter about “teaching” (didaskein) in earliest Christianity

“Gentiles in the New Testament,” in Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception 2016
(edited by Dale C. Allison, vol.10. Berlin: De Gruyter):
An historical entry on the New Testament idea of  "gentiles/nations" for the thirty-volume EBR.

“Mission-Commitmentin Second Temple Judaism and the New Testament” 2011
(in Introduction to Messianic Judaism. Zondervan Academic)
A chapter for an international collection of papers exploring the historical roots of Messianic Judaism.

Investigating Jesus: An Historian’s Quest (Oxford: Lion Hudson) 2009
A textbook on historical sources and methods for the study of Jesus.

“Genesis of Everything: an historical account of the Bible’s opening chapter” 2008
(International Society for Christian Academics in Science and Technology Online Journal, May 2008)
A review of the history of interpretation of Genesis 1, comparing the Hebrew text with Ancient Near Eastern cosmogonies.

James: the wisdom of the brother of Jesus 2006
(Reading the New Testament Today Series. Sydney, Aquila Press)
An exegetical commentary on the epistle of James.

“Euaggel-from Aristophanes to the Apostle Paul”2005
(New Testament Studies, vol. 51, Cambridge University Press).
An historical study of the origins and usage of heralding-terminology from Classical Greece to the New Testament.

“Humility as a Social Virtue in the Hebrew Bible?” 2004
(Vetus Testamentum 54.2, Brill, Leiden).
A technical article (co-authored with Dr. Brian Rosner) tracing the history and etymology of humility (anawa) as a virtue of social relations.

Mission-Commitment in Ancient Judaism and in the Pauline Communities:2003 the shape, extent and background of early Christian mission
(Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe, vol.159. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck).
A large scale historical philological study of propaganda and proselytizing within Judaism, philosophical schools, and Christianity in the Roman period.

“Gentiles in Paul”, in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, updated 2nd edition (IVP Academic, 2022).

“Witness in Paul”, in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, updated 2nd edition (IVP Academic, 2022).

A Doubter’s Guide to World Religions: A Fair and Friendly Introduction to the History, Beliefs, and Practices of the Big Five (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2022).

Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil in Christian History (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2021).

Is Jesus History (London: The Good Book Company, 2019).

“Teaching as traditioning: an historical observation”, in The Gender Conversation (Moorling College Press, 2018)

A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus: An Introduction to the Man from Nazareth for Skeptics and Believers. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2018)

A Doubter’s Guide to the Ten Commandments: How, For Better Or Worse, Our Ideas About The Good Life Come From Moses And Jesus (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2017).

“Gentiles in the New Testament,” in Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception (edited by Dale C. Allison, vol.10. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2016).

A Doubter’s Guide to the Bible: An Introduction to History’s No.1 Bestseller for Skeptics and Believers. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2016)

“Mission-Commitment in Second Temple Judaism and the New Testament”, in Introduction to Messianic Judaism (Zondervan Academic, 2014).

Hearing Her Voice: a case for women giving sermons (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013).

Humilitas: Lost Key to Life, Love and Leadership (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011).

The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010).

The Christ Files: how historians know what they know about Jesus (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2010).

Investigating Jesus: An Historian’s Quest (Oxford: Lion Hudson, 2009).

“Genesis of Everything: an historical account of the Bible’s opening chapter”, in the International Society for Christian Academics in Science and Technology Journal, 2008).

James: A Commentary on the Wisdom of the Brother of Jesus. (Reading the New Testament Today Series. Sydney, Aquila Press, 2008).

“Euaggel- from Aristophanes to the Apostle Paul” (New Testament Studies, vol. 51, Cambridge University Press, 2005).

“Humility as a Social Virtue in the Hebrew Bible?” (Vetus Testamentum 54.2, Brill, Leiden, 2004).

Mission-Commitment in Ancient Judaism and in the Pauline Communities: the shape, extent and background of early Christian mission Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe, vol.159. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2003).

If I Were God I‘d Make Myself Clearer (Sydney/London: Matthias Media, 2002).

If I Were God I‘d End All the Pain 2001 (Sydney/London: Matthias Media, 2001).

Simply Christianity: Beyond Religion (Sydney/London: Matthias Media, 1999).

A Hell of a Life (Sydney/London: Matthias Media, 1996).

A Sneaking Suspicion (Sydney/London: Matthias Media, 1993).

Hanging in There (Sydney/London: Matthias Media, 1991).

• Priest, Anglican Diocese of Sydney
• Priest, Anglican Diocese of South Carolina
• Visiting Academic, Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford
• Distinguished Fellow, Ridley College, Melbourne
• Honorary Research Associate, Faculty of Arts, University of Sydney
• Honorary Research Associate, Sydney College of Divinity
• Full Member, Society of Biblical Literature
• Writer, Full Member, Australasian Performing Right Association
• Senior Research Fellow, Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University (2004-2017)

For the Love of God
(CPX Media: fortheloveofgodproject.com) 2018
A four-part historical documentary tracing the development of charity, religious violence, and human rights in ancient Israel, classical Greece, imperial Rome, and the Medieval period. Hosted by Dr. Dickson (with Simon Smart and Justine Toh), the documentary is shot in 15 countries and conducts interviews with over 40 leading scholars from universities around the world. It aired on the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), Nov 2018.

The Christ Files DVD: How Historians Know what they Know
2011 (Channel 7 Australia; Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic)
A four-part historical documentary hosted by Dr. Dickson exploring the sources and methods for the study of Jesus. Shot in Egypt, Israel, Rome, Germany, and the UK, the documentary also interviews twelve leading historians in the quest for Jesus of Nazareth.

Life of Jesus DVD
2010 (Channel 7 Australia; Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic)
A six-part documentary hosted by Dr. Dickson on location in Israel examining the historical roots of the founder of Christianity.

Published music recordings 1988-2003

• Things to Come – LP, tape, Spotify
• Bleeding Heart – EP and Spotify
• Sound Asleep – CD and Spotify
• Maranooka – CD and Spotify
• Ode – CD and Spotify
• Sydney Rocks – CD and Spotify