Articles by Markus Zehnder

Markus Zehnder

Markus Zehnder is a professor of Old Testament and Semitics at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. Zehnder grew up in Switzerland and is an ordained minister of the Reformed Church of Switzerland. After the completion of his doctorate, he moved to Jerusalem and then to Boston for postdoctoral studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at Harvard University. He has held teaching positions in Switzerland, Germany, Norway, and Belgium. He has a passion to connect the Bible both with personal and societal issues. Questions relating to migration are at the top of the list of his research interests.

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The Good Book Blog
Biblical Migration Ethics: Two General Principles
Markus Zehnder — September 29, 2021
Migration/immigration has become an ever-present global phenomenon. This is the case also in the Western world, with Western countries being...
The Good Book Blog
Thoughts on a New Book on Christian-Muslim Relations, “Vulnerable Love”
Markus Zehnder — July 09, 2021
The Dutch theologian Bernhard J.G. Reitsma has recently published a book entitled “Vulnerable Love: Islam, the Church and the Triune God” (Langham,...
The Good Book Blog
Jesus as a Migrant?
Matthew 2:13-23: The Flight from Bethlehem to Egypt, and Return from Egypt to Nazareth
Markus Zehnder — February 01, 2021
The story of Jesus and his parents fleeing from Bethlehem to Egypt is one of the biblical passages that is often seen as supporting immigration...
The Good Book Blog
Plausibility vs. Certainty: Can There Be “Proof” in History?
Some Additional Thoughts on the Foundation[s] of Faith
Markus Zehnder — February 10, 2020
Most people in the West think that in the realm of history, there is no such thing as certainty, but only (varying degrees of) plausibility, and...
Talbot Magazine
Shelf Life
Recent publications from our very own Talbot faculty.
Uche Anizor, Octavio Esqueda, Erik Thoennes, Markus Zehnder — December 02, 2019
Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology and Mission in a Changing World Erik Thoennes Professor of TheologyEditor & Contributor Moody...
The Good Book Blog
Violence against the Canaanites in Deuteronomy and Joshua Reconsidered
Markus Zehnder — September 18, 2019
It is often taken for granted that the book of Joshua and some passages in the Pentateuch, especially parts of Deuteronomy 7, condone or command a...
The Good Book Blog
Creation and Migration: Part 1
Markus Zehnder — August 19, 2019
The opening chapters of the book of Genesis are of great importance when it comes to determining fundamental ethical guidelines, as rooted in the...
The Good Book Blog
Some Preliminary Thoughts on the Foundation(s) of Faith
Markus Zehnder — March 13, 2019
For most people, “faith” comes in where knowledge is not sufficient. Faith and knowledge, in this understanding of the terms, are opposites. “I do...
Think Biblically
The Bible and Immigration
with Markus Zehnder
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae, Markus Zehnder — June 14, 2018
Immigration remains one of the most divisive and debated social and political issues of our day. Understanding the Bible's teaching on immigration...
The Good Book Blog
Love and Compassion, Respect and Dialogue: A European Perspective
Markus Zehnder — October 25, 2017
I present these thoughts from the perspective of someone who grew up in and is familiar with the academic and spiritual situation on the European continent. My observation is that many of the trends that have eroded a robust Christian influence on European culture are very much active in the Evangelical world of the US in the current situation as well ...