D. Jeffrey Bingham
CONTACT
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1995
Dissertation: Irenaeus's Use of Matthew's Gospel in Adversus Haereses
Master of Theology in Systematic Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1986
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, New Mexico State University, 1982
RESEARCH INTEREST
Jeffrey Bingham is interested in research projects in the follow areas: Historical Theology; Systematic Theology; History of the Reception of the Bible, History of Biblical Interpretation; Patristic Theology; Second-Century Christianity; Irenaeus, Athenagoras.
D. Jeffrey Bingham and his wife, Pamela, share a life devoted to Christ, the church, and theological education. Dr. Bingham serves as research professor of historical theology, holds the Jesse Hendley Chair of Biblical Theology, and directs the Center for Early Christian Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, and raised across multiple continents, he brings a global perspective to his scholarship and teaching. He earned his Th.M. and Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary and has taught at LeTourneau University, Criswell College, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Wheaton College. He first joined Southwestern in 2002, returned in 2016 as dean of the School of Theology, and later served as interim president from 2018 to 2019.
An internationally recognized scholar of early Christianity, Dr. Bingham specializes in second-century theology, particularly Irenaeus of Lyons and Athenagoras of Athens, as well as the history of biblical interpretation. He is the author of seven books and more than fifty scholarly articles and serves as general editor of the Bible in Ancient Christianity series (Brill). A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and former president of the North American Patristics Society, he is also an ordained minister committed to preparing students for faithful gospel ministry. He and Pamela reside in Fort Worth, Texas.
2016–Present: Teacher of Explore God Sunday School Classes, First Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
2007–2013: Teacher of Sonburst, First Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
1998–2002: Teacher of Adult 2, First Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
2005–2006: Interim Pastor, Highland Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
1990–1992: Church Planter and Pastor of Altus Bible Church, Altus, OK
1986–1989: Pastor of the Community Church, Kermit, TX
1984–1985: Pastoral Internship, Memorial Baptist Church, Irving, TX
Various Dates: Interim Pastor, Guest Preacher, and Speaker at Numerous Churches, Family Camps, and Church Retreats
FORTHCOMING: Christianity in the Second Century (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans)
Consulting Editor: Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, rev. ed., W. A. Elwell and D. J. Treier (Baker, 2017)
“Canon of the Old Testament,” in New English Translation Study Bible, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, forthcoming).
“Eternal Torment for the Unjust in the Second Century and the Intertestamental Literature,” in What is Hell? A Multidisciplinary Dialogue, ed. Paul Copan and Chris Date (Downers Grove: IVP, forthcoming, 2026).
“Biblical Inspiration, Authority, and Canonicity,” in Theology, Church, and Ministry: A Handbook for Theological Education, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2017), 93–114.
“Against Historicism: The Rule of Faith, Scripture and Baptismal Historiography in Second Century Lyons,” in Explorations in Interdisciplinary Readings: Theological, Exegetical and Reception-Historical Perspectives, ed. Robbie F. Castleman, Darian R. Lockett, and Stephen O. Presley (Eugene: Pickwick, 2017), 91–119.
“Paideia and Polemic in Second Century Lyons: Irenaeus on Education,” in Pedagogy in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, ed. Karina Martin Hogan, Matthew Goff and Emma Wassermann (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2017), 323–57.
“History of Interpretation,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 3d ed. D. J. Treier and W. A. Elwell (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017), 707–11.
“The Doctrine of the Future and Canonical Unity: Connecting the Future to the Past,” in Eschatology: Biblical, Historical and Practical Approaches, ed. D. J. Bingham and G. R. Kreider (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2016), 35–52.
“Irenaeus of Lyons,” in Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, vol. 13 (Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter, 2016), 242-47.
“Reading Martyrdom: Intertextuality in the Letter from Vienne and Lyons,” in Intertextuality in the Second Century, ed. D. J. Bingham and C. N. Jefford (Leiden: Brill, 2016), 163–78.
“Irenaeus and the Kingdoms of the World,” in Sacred Scripture and Secular Struggles, ed. David Vincent Meconi (Leiden: Brill, 2015), 104–17.
“Evangelicalism, Dispensationalism and the Bible,” in Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption: A Developing and Diverse Tradition, ed. D. J. Bingham and G. R. Kreider (Chicago: Moody, 2015), 47–68.
“Didache as a Source for the Reconstruction of Early Christianity: A Response,” in The Didache: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle in Early Christianity, ed. C. N. Jefford and J. A. Draper (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2015), 515–28.
“Irenaeus and Hebrews,” in Irenaeus: Life, Scripture, Legacy, ed. P. Foster and S. Parvis (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2012), 65–80.
“Irenaeus and Hebrews,” in Christology and Hermeneutics of Hebrews, ed. J. Laansma and D. Treier (New York/London: T&T Clark, 2012), 48–73.
with B. R. Todd, “Irenaeus’s Text of the Gospels in Adversus haereses,” in The Early Text of the New Testament, ed. C. E. Hill and M. J. Kruger (Oxford: Oxford University, 2012), 370–92.
“Evangelicals and the Rule of Faith: Irenaeus on Rome and Reading Christianly,” in Evangelicals and The Early Church, ed. G. Kalantzis and A. Tooley (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2011), 159–86.
“The Bishop in the Mirror: Scripture and Irenaeus's Self-Understanding in Adversus haereses Book One,” in Tradition and the Rule of Faith in the Early Church (Washington, DC: Catholic University, 2010), 48–67.
“Irenaeus of Lyons,” in The Routledge Companion to Early Christian Thought, ed. D. J. Bingham (London: Routledge, 2010), 137–53.
“The Apocalypse, Christ, and the Martyrs of Gaul,” in The Shadow of the Incarnation, ed. P. Martens (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame, 2008), 11–28.
with C. Graham, “Amos,” in The Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2008).
“Aristides,” “Aristo of Pella,” “Arnobius of Sicca,” “Athenagoras,” “Justin Martyr,” “Minucius Felix,” “Tatian,” “Theophilus of Antioch,” in The Westminster Dictionary of Church History, vol. 1 (Louisville: WJKP, 2008).
“Christianizing Divine Aseity: Irenaeus Reads John,” in The Gospel of John and Christian Theology, ed. R. Bauckham and C. Mosser (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008), 53–67.
with C. Graham, “Eusebius of Caesarea,” in Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters, ed. D. K. McKim (Downers Grove: IVP, 2007).
“Irenaeus’s Reading of Romans 8: Resurrection and Renovation,” in Early Patristic Readings of Romans (London: T&T Clark, 2005), 114–32.
with David Balas, “Patristic Exegesis of the Books of the Bible,” in Handbook of Patristic Exegesis (Leiden: Brill, 2004), 1:271–373.
“Eucharist and Incarnation: The Second Century and Luther,” in Rediscovering the Eucharist (New York: Paulist, 2003), 116–41.
“Evangelicals, Irenaeus, and the Bible,” in The Free Church and the Early Church (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), 27–46.
“Response to Robert L. Wilken,” in Anti-Judaism and the Gospels (Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1999), 209–15.
with David Balas, “Patristic Exegesis of the Books of the Bible,” in International Bible Commentary (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1998), 64–115.
“Gabriel;” “Michael;” “Pilate, Pontius;” “Raphael,” in Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, 2d ed. (1997).
“Evangelicals, Irenaeus, and the Bible,” Southwestern Journal of Theology vol. 68, no. 2, 2026, pp. 51-72.
“Evangelicalism, the Word of God, and the Spirit,” Southwestern Journal of Theology vol. 67, no. 2, 2025, pp. 55-78.
“Christology and Communion: Worship as Doctrinal Confession in the Second Century,” Southwestern Journal of Theology, vol. 66, no. 1, 2023, pp. 29-45.
“Intertextuality Now and Then: From Kristeva Back to Irenaeus and the Valentinians,” Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum / Journal of Ancient Christianity vol. 27, no. 1, 2023, pp. 9-21.
“Reading the Second Century” (2018 NAPS Presidential Address), Journal of Early Christian Studies vol.27, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-26.
“Athenagoras and the Divine Nature: The Father, the Son, and the Rational,” Perichoresis, vol. 17, no. 1, 2019, pp. 55-64.
“Senses of Scripture in the Second Century: Irenaeus, Scripture, and Non- Canonical Christian Texts,” Journal of Religion vol. 97, no. 1, 2017, pp. 26-55.
“A Reading of Irenaeus in Response to Father Denis Farkasfalvy,” Perspectives in Religious Studies vol. 43, 2016, pp. 429-36.
"“We Have the Prophets”: Inspiration and the Prophets in Athenagoras of Athens" Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum / Journal of Ancient Christianity, vol. 20, no. 2, 2016, pp. 211-242.
“Heresy and Catholicity in Economical Perspective: Irenaeus on Wealth,” Ephemerides Theologicae Lovaniensis, vol. 92, no. 3, 2016, pp. 381-405.
“Lex and Religio in Irenaeus of Lyons,” in Lex et Religio: XL Incontro di Studiosi dell’Antichità Cristiana (Roma, 10-12 maggio 2012) (Rome: Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, 2013), 409-17.
with C. Graham, “History of Interpretation,” Henoch vol. 34, 2012 pp.193-94.
“Less Doctrinaire? Evangelical Theological Education at the Crossroads,” Patheos.com (3 November 2011).
“Scripture as Apology in Athenagoras of Athens,” Studia Patristica vol. 45, 2010, pp. 425-31.
with S. O. Presley, “Jews and Judaism in Early Christian Interpretation,” Henoch 30 (2008): 203.
“One God, One Christ, One Salvation,” Christian History, vol. 96, 2007, pp. 18- 21.
“Development and Diversity in Early Christianity,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, vol. 49, no. 1, 2006, pp. 45-66.
“Irenaeus on Gnostic Biblical Interpretation,” Studia Patristica, vol. 40, 2006, pp. 367-379.
“Himself within Himself: The Father and His Hands in Early Christianity,” Southwestern Journal of Theology, vol. 47, 2005, pp. 137-51.
“Irenaeus’s Reading of Romans 8,” Society of Biblical Literature 2001 Seminar Papers, pp. 131–50.
“The Practice of Prayer in Early and Medieval Monasticism,” Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. 158, 2001, pp. 104-115.
“Knowledge and Love in Irenaeus of Lyons,” Studia Patristica, vol. 36, 2001, pp. 184-99.
“Hope in Irenaeus of Lyons,” Ephemerides Theologicae Lovanienses, vol. 76, no. 4, 2000, pp. 265-282.
“Justin and Isaiah 53,” Vigiliae Christianae, vol. 54, no.3, 2000, pp. 246–61.
"Joy" on February 13, 2025
"Forsaken and Forgotten?" on September 19, 2024
"Virtue and Authenticity" (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12) on February 20, 2024
"Gospel Clothing" on September 14, 2016
"Being First Is Not Always Best" on January 24, 2019
"What Child is This?" on December 4, 2018
Meet Jeffrey Bingham
World-class Patristics scholar, noted author, and respected professor. These credentials and his 6-foot, 7-inch frame could make Jeffrey Bingham seem intimidating, but his students give him high marks for his approachability and his engaging lectures in the classroom.