Joshua E. Williams
CONTACT
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Biblical Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006.
Dissertation: “An Analysis of Word Equivalencies Between the Books of Kings and the Books of Chronicles.”
Supervisor: John Sailhamer
M.Div. with Biblical Languages, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002.
B.A., Christian Ministries, Southwest Baptist University, 1998, Summa cum Laud
RESEARCH INTEREST
Dr. Williams is interested in research projects in the following areas: Biblical Interpretation, Old Testament Canon Formation, Biblical Theology, and Old Testament Textual Criticism and Composition. These interests have especially drawn him to work in 1 & 2 Chronicles.
Dr. Joshua E. Williams serves as Professor of Old Testament in the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is deeply committed to the formative task of theological education, viewing the teaching of Scripture not merely as the transmission of knowledge but as a relational and transformational endeavor. For Dr. Williams, faithful engagement with God’s Word shapes both the mind and the heart, cultivating greater Christlikeness, biblical conviction, and ministerial competence in those entrusted to his care.
Throughout his tenure at Southwestern Seminary, Dr. Williams has provided significant academic and institutional leadership. He has served in numerous roles, including Chair of the Old Testament Department, Chair of the Biblical Studies Division, Assistant Editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology, and Chair of the Curriculum Committee. He currently serves as Director of Research Doctoral Studies and as an officer in the Southwest Region of the Evangelical Theological Society.
Dr. Williams’s scholarly work reflects a sustained commitment to Old Testament studies, biblical theology, and the interpretation of Scripture within the context of the biblical canon. His academic engagement has extended internationally through service as a Visiting Scholar at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and as a Guest Researcher at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen in Germany under the invitation of renowned Old Testament scholar Reinhard Kratz. He has also contributed to theological education abroad as an invited lecturer in the Czech Republic, teaching courses on the theology of the Pentateuch.
Equally devoted to the life of the local church, Dr. Williams has faithfully served congregations through teaching, preaching, leadership, and discipleship ministries. He has supplied pulpits across multiple states and has served as both Bible teacher and congregational elder at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. His passion is to equip students, pastors, and church leaders to understand, proclaim, and apply the Old Testament faithfully as Christian Scripture, recognizing its vital place within the unfolding story of God’s redemptive work revealed throughout the whole canon.
1994–Present: Pulpit Supply, serving churches in Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia
2006–Present: Various Ministry Leadership Roles, Wedgwood Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, including Bible Teacher (2006–Present), Teacher Trainer (2007–2008), Chair of the Committee Revising Constitution and Bylaws (2017–2018), and Congregational Elder (2018–2019)
2018–2020: Adult Volunteer, Trail Life USA
2008–2009: Instructor, Lay Ministry Institute, First Baptist Church, Euless, Texas
2002–2006: Bible Teacher, Wake Crossroads Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina
Summer 1997: Pastoral Intern under Dale Thompson, First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Arkansas
1996–1998: Director, Ministerial Education Day, Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri
“The Prototypical God as the Only God: Addressing Monotheism in Chronicles.” Presented at ETS Annual Meeting. San Antonio, 2023.
“Narrative Subtlety in Chronicles? The Case of Israel’s Kingdom Dividing.” Presented at ETS Annual Meeting. Denver, 2022.
“From War to Rest: David and YHWH in Chronicles.” Presented at ETS Annual Meeting. Fort Worth, 2021.
“Like Father, Like Son: Uzziah and Jotham in Chronicles.” Presented at ETS Annual Meeting. Denver, 2018.
“Yahweh is God: The Meaning and Function of Manasseh’s Realization in the Context of Chronicles.” Presented at Southwestern Regional ETS Meeting. Dallas, 2016.
“Tracing Textual Strategies in the Hebrew Bible for Connecting the Temple Craftsman to the Tabernacle Craftsmen.” Presented at ETS Annual Meeting. Atlanta, 2015.
“Aspects of Orality and Literacy in the Solomonic Narrative of Chronicles: The Role of Tradition.” Presented at SBL National Meeting. San Diego, 2014.
“Oral and Literary Aspects in the Chronicles Account of Josiah’s Passover.” Presented at SBL International Meeting. Vienna, 2014.
“The Nature of Chronicles as a Literary Work as Reflected in the Description of the Temple Craftsman.” Presented at SBL International Meeting. Vienna, 2014.
“Aspects of Chronicles as a Literary Work,” Bibelseminar Bonn, Bornheim, Germany, 2014.
“Are We Created for Work or Rest?” Presented at Land Center Lecture, Fort Worth, TX, 2013.
“The Chronicler’s Textual Strategy and Theological Method in the Account of Sennacherib’s Defeat.” Presented at the ETS Annual Meeting. Chicago, 2012.
“Unpublished Dead Sea Scroll Fragments Recently Acquired by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.” Presented at the SBL National Meeting. San Francisco, 2011.
“Choosing the Right Words: Kings, Chronicles, and the Canon.” Presented at the ETS National Meeting. Providence, Rhode Island, 2008.
“The Role of Canon in Old Testament Interpretation.” Presented at Ph.D. Student Conference, Wake Forest, NC, 2003.
“The Stable but Dynamic Nature of Biblical Worship: Reflections from 1 & 2 Chronicles,” in Southwestern Journal of Theology 66.1 (Fall 2023): 9–26.
“Creation in Chronicles: YHWH’s Supremacy Manifested in Israel’s Worship,” in Southeastern Theological Review 10.2 (Fall 2019): 77–95.
“The Message of the Pentateuch," in Southwestern Journal of Theology 52.1 (Fall 2009): 2–16.
“Using Narrative Texts in Counseling." Association of Biblical Counselors eJournal, September 2007.
"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
Robertson Postdoctoral Loan, Southern Baptist Foundation, Fall 2013–Summer 2014. Granted to assist postdoctoral research/study.
John & G. Henton Davies Old Testament Award, SEBTS, Spring 2002. Awarded to graduating student who shows high potential as a teacher of Hebrew and Old Testament.
Raymond Bryan Brown Memorial Scholars Award, SEBTS, Fall 1998–Spring 1999. SEBTS’s most prestigious scholarship awarded for academic excellence, commitment to ministry, promise in the service of Christ, and Christian character.
Paul F. Wright Distinguished Speaker Award, SBU, Spring 1998. Awarded to a student who is considered an outstanding speaker and person of excellent character.
Founders Award, SBU, Fall 1994–Spring 1998. Full-tuition scholarship awarded to five incoming students with highest academic honors.
Meet Joshua Williams
Joshua Williams wants his teaching to be real.
“Something that’s significant, that’s going to change the way people either read their Bible, approach Christian ministry, look at the world, right? That’s what I’m going for,” said Williams.
His students say he has succeeded.