Dr David M. Moffitt
Reader in New Testament
Biography
Dr Moffitt came to St Andrews in 2013, having previously taught New Testament at Duke Divinity School and Campbell University Divinity School. Dr Moffitt’s research interests orbit around the various ways the earliest Christians understood Jesus and their own identities in relation to Jewish scripture, practices, and beliefs. His work is especially focused on the Epistle to the Hebrews and the strategies the text employs to interpret early Christian claims about Jesus’ person, death, resurrection, and ascension in high-priestly and sacrificial terms. His book on Hebrews (Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews) attempts to show that the Christology and Soteriology developed by the author rests upon his correlation of the basic narrative of early Christian proclamation (i.e., Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension) with the ritual process of the Yom Kippur sacrifices, the end goal of which was the restoration and maintenance of fellowship between God and creation (i.e., atonement). In addition to contributions in various edited volumes, Dr Moffitt’s publications appear in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Biblical Literature, New Testament Studies, Zeitschrift für die Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der Älteren Kirche, Journal of Theological Studies, and Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. Dr Moffitt has been a Fulbright Scholar (Germany 2006–2007). His book Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews was a recipient of a Manfred LautenschlägerAward for Theological Promise (2013). He has also received a British Academy Small ResearchGrant to engage in research on several mosaics depicting sacrifice located in and around Ravenna.
Teaching
DI2003 Paul and the Epistles
DI3601 Biblical Hermeneutics and Exegesis
DI4608 The Gospel of Matthew
DI4616 Atonement (with Dr Madhavi Nevader)
DI4628 The Epistle to the Hebrews
DI5107 Greek Readings
Dissertation and Thesis supervision
Research areas
Dr Moffitt’s research focuses on the variety of ways the earliest Christians understood Jesus and their own identities in relation to Jewish scripture, practices, and beliefs. His core areas of ongoing research concern the Epistle to the Hebrews and the ways this ancient, Christian sermon develops claims about Jesus’ person, death, resurrection, and ascension in high-priestly and sacrificial terms. Beyond Hebrews, Dr Moffitt has particular interests in the ways the early Christian confession of Jesus’ ascension influences the theologies of the various books of the New Testament.
PhD supervision
- Joshua Johnson
- Joel Butcher
- Eric Foster-Whiddon
- Cody Warta
- Rainer Thiessen
- Gwangsoo Lee
- Aogu Suzuki
- Tammy Wiese
Selected publications
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The Ongoing Assurance of Jesus's Heavenly Offering: A review of Joshua D. A. Bloor, Purifying the Consciousness in Hebrews: Cult, Defilement and the Perpetual Heavenly Blood of Jesus
Moffitt, D. M., 9 Jan 2024, In: The Expository Times. 135, p. 168-169Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
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Open access
Jubilees and Hebrews 2:10–18: Passover and the defeat of the devil
Moffitt, D. M., 31 Jan 2023, Reading Hebrews in context: the sermon and Second Temple Judaism. Blackwell, B. C., Goodrich, J. K. & Maston, J. (eds.). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, p. 39-45Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Open access
Exodus in Hebrews
Moffitt, D. M., 21 Apr 2022, Exodus in the New Testament. Ehorn, S. M. (ed.). London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, (Library of New Testament studies).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Isaiah 53, Hebrews, and Covenant Renewal
Moffitt, D. M., 2022, Rethinking the Atonement: New Perspectives on Jesus's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Moffitt, D. M. (ed.). Baker Academic, p. 47-71Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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New Testament basics: a guide for reading and interpreting the text
Alkier, S. & Moffitt, D. M., 2022, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 426 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Observations on Directional Features of the Incarnation and Jesus's Sacrifice in Hebrews
Moffitt, D. M., 2022, Rethinking the Atonement: New Perspectives on Jesus's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Moffitt, D. M. (ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, p. 159-180Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Rethinking the atonement: new perspectives on Jesus's death, resurrection, and ascension
Moffitt, D. M., 1 Nov 2022, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 298 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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Review of David A. Brondos, Jesus' Death in New Testament Thought
Moffitt, D. M., 23 Sept 2022, In: Review of Biblical Literature.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
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Review of Gabriella Gelardini, Deciphering the Worlds of Hebrews: Collected Essays
Moffitt, D. M., Dec 2022, In: Bulletin for Biblical Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
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Sacrifice
Moffitt, D. M., 9 Mar 2022, (Submitted) Behind the Scenes of the New Testament. Lang, T. J., Longenecker, B. W. & Shively, E. E. (eds.). Baker AcademicResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter