Clarence J. Abbott Professor of Biblical Studies, Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, Bangor University, Wales

A member of the full-time faculty of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary since 1982 and a member of staff at Bangor University since 2007, Professor Thomas has been honored for his work in New Testament scholarship by his election into membership of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas and his appointment as the Clarence J. Abbott Professor of Biblical Studies at the Seminary.  He has published articles in several leading international journals devoted to study of the New Testament including: New Testament Studies, Novum Testamentum, Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, and Journal for the Study of the New Testament.  

He has authored a major study entitled Footwashing in John 13 and the Johannine Community, published a collection of his essays for the church, Ministry and Theology: Studies for the Church and Its Leaders, written a significant monograph on healing entitled The Devil, Disease, and Deliverance: Origins of Illness in New Testament Thought, authored a brief study entitled He Loved Them until the End: The Farewell Materials in the Gospel according to John, written commentaries entitled 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, The ApocalypseThe Book of Revelation (with Frank Macchia), published a collection of his academic studies in The Spirit of the New Testament, and recently produced A Pentecostal Reads the Book of Mormon

Professor Thomas serves as the General Editor of the Journal of Pentecostal Theology (Brill), the Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series (Deo), and the Pentecostal Commentary Series (Deo). Strongly committed to parish ministry, he has served as Associate Pastor of the Woodward Ave. Church of God in Athens, Tennessee since 1981.  Professor Thomas has been a Guest Lecturer or Visiting Lecturer at a variety of educational institutions on five continents.

He was named Alumnus of the Year by Ashland Theological Seminary (1992) and by the Church of God Theological Seminary (2004). Dr Thomas served as the President of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (1997-98). In 2017 he was presented the Society for Pentecostal Studies Lifetime Achievement Award. Professor Thomas is married to Barbara and they have two daughters, Paige Thomas Scaperoth and Lori Thomas Brown, two sons-in-law, David Scaperoth and Chad Brown, and two grandchildren, Madeline and Thomas Scaperoth.

Education

BA, Lee College (1976)

MA, Church of God School of Theology (1977)

MDiv, Ashland Theological Seminary (1978)

ThM, Princeton Theological Seminary (1979)

PhD, University of Sheffield (1990)


PUBLICATIONS

Books

Footwashing in John 13 and the Johannine Community (JSNTS 61; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991).


Ministry and Theology: Studies for the Church and Its Leaders (Cleveland: Pathway Press, 1995).


The Devil, Disease, and Deliverance: Origins of Illness in New Testament Thought (JPTS 13; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998).

He Loved Them until the End: The Farewell Materials in the Gospel according to John  (Pune, India: Fountain Press, 2003).


1 John, 2 John, 3 John (Pentecostal Commentary Series; London: T&T Clark  International, 2004).


The Spirit of the New Testament (Blandford Forum, UK: Deo Publishing, 2005).


(Editor) Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology; The Church and the Five-fold Gospel(Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2010).


Spălarea picioarelor în Ioan 13 şi în comunitatea ioanină (trans. and ed. Emanuel Conţac; Oradea: Metanoia, 2011).

The Devil, Disease, and Deliverance: Origins of Illness in New Testament Thought (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2011).


The Apocalypse: A Literary and Theological Commentary (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2012).


Footwashing in John 13 and the Johannine Community – Second Edition (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2014).

He Loved Them until the End: The Farewell Materials in the Gospel according to John (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2015).


A Pentecostal Reads the Book of Mormon: A Literary and Theological Introduction (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2016).


The Book of Revelation (with Frank D. Macchia; Two Horizons Commentary Series; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016).

Il lavacro dei piedi: nel Cap. 13 del Vangelo di Giovanni e la comunita Giovannea (Caserta, Italy: Mediterraneo Edizioni, 2017).


Books/Journals (Edited)

General Editor, Journal of Pentecostal Theology (Brill).


General Editor, Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series (Deo Publishing).


General Editor, Pentecostal Commentary Series (Deo Publishing).


Editorial Advisory Board, Journal for Book of Mormon Studies


Articles/Book Chapters

'A Reconsideration of the Ending of Mark', Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 26 (1983), pp. 405-19.

'Preliminaries to Exegesis', The Greek Review 1 (1983), pp. 6-8.

'Righteous Living: A New Testament Perspective', On Guard (May/June, 1984), pp. 14-15.

'The Meaning and Significance of Footwashing: John 13:1-20', Pentecostal Minister VI (Summer, 1986), pp. 52-56.

'A Note on the Text of John 13:10', Novum Testamentum 29 (1987), pp. 46-52.

'Discipleship in Mark's Gospel', in Faces of Renewal (ed. Paul Elbert; Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 1988), pp. 64-80.

'The New Testament and the Kingdom', Pentecostal Minister VIII (Fall, 1988), pp. 22-26.

'Washing the Saints' Feet in Worship', Church of God Evangel 78 (10) (1988), pp. 26-27.

'Life in the Future', in Discipleship: Developing the Christlife (ed. Floyd Carey and Hoyt Stone: Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 1989), pp. 209-32.

'eujfraivnw', Complete Biblical Library XII (ed. Thoralf Gilbrant; Complete Biblical Library: Springfield, MO, 1990), pp. 654-56.

'eujchv', Complete Biblical Library XII, pp. 658-59.

'eu[comai', Complete Biblical Library XII, pp. 659-60.

'ejfhmeriva', Complete Biblical Library XII, p. 663.

'ejfivsthmi', Complete Biblical Library XII, pp. 664-65.

'e{wß', Complete Biblical Library XII, pp. 674-76.

'The Fourth Gospel and Rabbinic Judaism', Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 82 (1991), pp. 159-82.


'The Word and the Spirit', Church of God Evangel 81 (April 15, 1991), pp. 5-7.


'The Kingdom of God in the Gospel according to Matthew', New Testament Studies 39 (1993), pp. 136-46.


'The Devil, Disease, and Deliverance: James 5:14-16', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 2 (1993), pp. 25-50.


'Women, Pentecostals, and the Bible: An Experiment in Pentecostal Hermeneutics', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 5 (1994), pp. 41-56.


'The Order of the Composition of the Johannine Epistles', Novum Testamentum 37 (1995), pp. 68-75.

'Is Footwashing Relevant?' Church of God Evangel 85 (3) (March, 1995), pp. 10-11.

' "Stop Sinning Lest Something Worse Come Upon You": The Man at the Pool in John 5', Journal for the Study of the New Testament 59 (1995), pp. 3-20.

'Revival and Leadership: A Case Study', Call to Revival (Joe Sneed Ministries, 1995), pp. 66-74.

'Women in the Church: An Experiment in Pentecostal Hermeneutics', Evangelical Review of Theology 20 (1996), pp. 220-32.

' "An Angel from Satan": Paul's Thorn in the Flesh (2 Corinthians 12.7-10)', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 9 (1996), pp. 39-52.

'Footwashing in the Context of the Lord's Supper', The Lord's Supper: Believers' Church Perspectives (ed. Dale Stoffer; Scottdale, PA:Herald Press, 1997), pp. 169-84.

'Max Turner's The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts: Then and Now (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1996): An Appreciation and Critique', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 12 (1998), pp. 3-22.

'Pentecostal Theology in the Twenty-First Century', Pneuma 20 (1998), pp. 3-19.

'The Literary Structure of 1 John', Novum Testamentum 40 (1998), pp. 369-81.

'Reading the Bible from within our Traditions: A Pentecostal Hermeneutic as Test Case', Between Two Horizons (ed. J.B. Green and M. Turner; Grand Rapids: Eerdmanns, 2000), pp. 108-22.

'Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet: A Study of John 13.1-20', The Living Pulpit 9 (January-March, 2000), pp. 28-29.

'Evangelism and the Bible: A Survey of the Gospels', Church of God Evangel 90 (March, 2000), pp. 28-29.

'The Spirit in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Explorations', The Spirit and the Mind: Essays in Informed Pentecostalism (Donald N. Bowdle FS; ed. T.L. Cross and E. Powery; Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2000), pp. 87-104.

'Footwashing', White Wing Messenger 78 (Nov, 2000), pp. 10-13.

'Fusswaschung: I. Westliche Kirchen', Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart4 Band 3 (Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr {Paul Siebeck}, 2000), p. 444.

'Spiritual Conflict in Illness and Affliction', Deliver Us From Evil: An Uneasy Frontier in Christian Mission (ed. A.A. Moreau, et.al.; Monrovia, CA: World Vision Publications, 2002), pp. 37-60.

'Prophets and Prophecy – The New Testament Evidence', Profiles 8.2 (October, 2002), pp. 2-3, 6.

'Pentecostal Explorations of the New Testament: Teaching New Testament Introduction in a Pentecostal Seminary', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 11.1 (2002), pp. 120-29.

(With Kimberly Ervin Alexander) ' "And the Signs Are Following": Mark 16.9-20 – A Journey into Pentecostal Hermeneutics', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 11.2 (2003), pp. 147-70.

'The Spirit, Healing, and Mission: A Survey of the Biblical Canon', International Review of Mission 93 (2004), pp. 421-42.

'The Charismatic Structure of Acts', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 13.1 (2004), pp. 19-30.

'Healing in the Atonement: A Johannine Perspective', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 14.1 (2005), pp. 23-39.

'Health and Healing: A Pentecostal Contribution', Ex Auditu 21 (2005), pp. 88-107.

'The Holy Spirit and Interpretation', Dictionary of Biblical Criticism and Interpretation (S.E. Porter, ed.; London: Routledge, 2007), pp. 165-66.

'Footwashing: Western Church’, Religion Past and Present2 (Leiden: Brill, 2007).

'Why Footwashing?' Evangel 97.9 (September, 2007), pp. 8-9.

'Study Notes on the Book of Revelation' in J.B. Green (ed.), The Wesley Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2009).

'Editorial', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 18.1 (April 2009), pp. 1-5.


'"Where the Spirit Leads": The Development of Pentecostal Hermeneutics', Journal of Beliefs and Values 30.3 (2009), pp. 289-302.

'Die Pfingstbewegung und die Bibel', Jahrbuch für Biblische Theologie 24 (2009), pp. 295-309.

'Pneumatic Discernment: The Image of the Beast and his Number' in S.J. Land, R.D. Moore, J.C. Thomas (eds.), Passover, Pentecost, and Parousia: Studies in Celebration of the Life and Ministry of R. Hollis Gause (eds.; JPTS 35; Blandford Forum, UK: Deo, 2010), pp. 106-24.

'A Celebration of and Engagement with James D.G. Dunn’s Baptism in the Holy Spirit Forty Years On', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 19.1 (2010), pp. 19-24.


'The Mystery of the Great Whore – Pneumatic Discernment in Revelation 17' in P. Althouse and R. Waddell (eds.), Perspectives in Pentecostal Eschatologies: World without End (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2010), pp. 111-36.


'Introduction' in J.C. Thomas (ed.), Toward a Pentecostal Ecclesiology; The Church and the Fivefold Gospel (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2010), pp. 3-6.


'According to John: Christology and the Great Commission' in R.A. Culpepper et. al. (eds.), The Great Commission Connection (Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 2011), pp. 53-75.


'Editorial – Clark Pinnock', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 20.1 (2011), pp. 1-3.


'Afterlife' in G.G. Scorgie, et. al. (eds.), Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), p. 254.

'Footwashing', Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, pp. 450-51.


'Hell', Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, pp. 497-98.


'Mercy', Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, pp. 610-11.


'Rewards', Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, pp. 719-20.


'What the Spirit Is Saying to the Church: The Perspective of a Pentecostal Working in New Testament Studies' in Kevin Spawn (ed.), Spirit &Scripture: Examining a Pneumatic Hermeneutic (London: Continuum, 2012), pp. 115-29.


'Discerning Dialogue' in Kevin Spawn (ed.), Spirit &Scripture: Examining a Pneumatic Hermeneutic (London: Continuum, 2012), pp. 183-85.


'Frederick J. Gaiser, Healing in the Bible: Theological Insight for Christian Ministry (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010) – An Appreciative Engagement', Journal of Pentecostal Theology 21.1 (2012), pp. 16-26.


'New Jerusalem and the Conversion of the Nations: An Exercise in Pneumatic Discernment – Revelation 21.1-22.5' in I.H. Marshall, V. Rabens, C. Bennema (eds.), The Spirit and Christ in the New Testament and & Christian Theology – Essays in Honour of Max Turner (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012), pp. 228-45.


'In My Life', in S. Fettke and R. Waddell (eds.), Pentecostals in the Academy: Testimonies of Call (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, 2012), pp. 149-72.


'Women, Pentecostals, and the Bible: An Experiment in Pentecostal Hermeneutics' in L.R. Martin (ed.), Pentecostal Hermeneutics: A Reader (Leiden: Brill, 2013), pp. 81-94.


'Pentecostal Biblical Interpretation' in S.L. McKenzie (ed.), Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), II, pp. 89-97.


'The Role and Function of the Demonic in the Johannine Tradition', in C.S. Keener, J.S. Crenshaw, J.D. May (eds.), 'But These Are Written': Essays onJohannine Literature in Honor of Professor Ben C. Aker (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2014), pp. 27-47.


'Johannine Epistles', in K. Warrington and T. Burke (eds.), A Biblical Theology of the Spirit (London: SPCK, 2014), pp. 250-56.
'Revelation', in K. Warrington and T. Burke (eds.), A Biblical Theology of the Spirit (London: SPCK, 2014), pp. 257-66.


'Foot Washing: Greek and Latin Patristics and Orthodox Churches’, in Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2014), pp. 394-95.


'An Appreciation and Critique of Craig R. Koester: Revelation (AYB 38A; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2014), Journal of Pentecostal Theology 24.1 (2015), pp. 24-31.


'Biblical Reflections on Women in Ministry' in L.R. Martin (ed.), Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Preaching (Cleveland, TN; CPT Press, 2015), pp. 135-40.


'Book of Mormon Pneumatology', Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015), pp. 217-30.


'Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Anointed Cloths' in L.R. Martin (ed.), Toward a Pentecostal Theology of Worship (Cleveland, TN; CPT Press, 2016), pp. 89-112.


'A View from the Outside – An Appreciative Engagement with Grant Hardy’s Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide', Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 25 (2016), pp. 93-115.


'Theological Vitality', Sage 30.2 (Summer, 2016), pp. 30-33.


'Grace and Works – A Johannine Perspective' in V. Synan (ed.), The Truth about Grace: Spirit-Empowered Perspectives (Lake Mary FL: Charisma House, 2018), pp. 90-98.


'An Appreciative Engagement with Joseph M. Spencer’s The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record (Contemporary Studies in Scripture; Salt Lake City: Kofford Books, 2016)', Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 27 (2018, forthcoming).


'The Thousand-Year Reign (Revelation 20.1-10)' in A. Davies and R. Pope (eds.), The Spirit in Society: Perspectives on Pentecostalism in Honour of William K. Kay (Kay FS; Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, forthcoming).


'Driving Miss Daisy and the Theological Interpretation of Scripture' in A. Davies and J. Grey (eds.), Pentecostal Hermeneutics (Leiden: E.J. Brill, forthcoming).


'Hospitality in the Johannine Literature – Its Extent and Limits: A Wesleyan Pentecostal Engagement', in S.E. Han (ed.), Christian Hospitality and Neighborliness: a Wesleyan-Pentecostal Ministry Paradigm in the Multi-Faith Context (Cleveland, TN: CPT Press, forthcoming).


Book Reviews

'A Review of Gordon Fee's The First Epistle to the Corinthians', Pneuma 10 (1988), pp. 73-74.

'A Review of James B. Shelton's Mighty in Word and Deed (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1991)', Pneuma 15 (1993), pp. 125-28.

'A Review of D. Moody Smith's First, Second, and Third John (Louisville: John Knox, 1991)', Ashland Theological Journal 25 (1993), pp. 153-55.

'A Review of Marianne Meye Thompson's 1-3 John (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992)', Ashland Theological Journal 25 (1993), pp. 155-57.

'A Review of John W. Pryor's John: Evangelist of the Covenant People (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992)', Ashland Theological Journal 25 (1993), pp. 158-59.

'A Review of Michael G. Moriarity's The New Charismatics (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992)', Ashland Theological Journal 25 (1993), pp. 186-88.

'A Review of Christoph Niemand's Die Fusswaschungserzählung des Johannesevangelium: Untersuchungen zu ihrer Entstehung und Überlieferung im Urchristentum (Studia Anselmiana 114; Roma: Pontificio Ateneo S. Anselmo, 1993)', Journal of Biblical Literature 114 (1995), pp. 535-37.

'A Review of Sydney H.T. Page's Powers of Evil: A Biblical Study of Satan & Demons  (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1995)', Ashland Theological Journal 29 (1997), pp. 169-72.

'A Review of Francis J. Moloney’s Glory not Dishonor: Reading John 13-21 (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1998)', Review of Biblical Literature (Nov. 26, 2000).

'A Review of Keith Warrington’s Discovering the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005)', Pneuma 28 (2006), pp. 382-84.

'A Review of Perspectives on the Ending of Mark: Four Views' (ed. David Alan Black; Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2008), Pneuma 31 (2009), p. 322.

'A Review of Jon K. Newton’s Revelation Worldview: Apocalyptic Thinking in a Postmodern World (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015)', Spiritus: ORU Journal of Theology 2.1-2 (2017), pp. 147-51.


Scholarly  Society Involvement

Elected Member, Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (2000)

President, Society for Pentecostal Studies (1997-98)

Program Chair, Society for Pentecostal Studies (1997)

Chair, Biblical Studies Special Interest Group, Society for Pentecostal Studies (1993-96)

Paper Presentation, Respondent, and/or Session Chair:

Studiorum Novi Testimenti Societas, Society of Biblical Literature, Society for Pentecostal Studies, European Pentecostal Charismatic Research Association, European Pentecostal Theological Association, Believers' Church Conference, Appalachian Studies Conference, Evangelical Theological Society, Lausanne Consultation on Theology, World Council of Churches Consultation(s) on Healing and Mission, Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology, Book of Mormon Studies Conference.


Awards

Alumnus of the Year, Ashland Theological Seminary (1992)

Distinguished Faculty Award, Church of God Theological Seminary (1998)
Alumnus of the Year, Church of God Theological Seminary (2004)

Lifetime Achievement Award, Society for Pentecostal Studies (2017)


John Christopher Thomas

Centre for Pentecostal Theology