Faculty | M.A. Christian Apologetics
Faculty
Clinton E. Arnold
- Research Professor of New Testament
- Post-Doctoral Study, University of Tübingen, Germany
- Ph.D., University of Aberdeen
- M.Div., Talbot Theological Seminary
- B.A., Biola College
Clinton E. Arnold enjoys teaching, speaking and writing on various aspects of the New Testament. He has had a special interest in the historical and cultural setting of the letters of Paul and the Book of Acts. He is the former Dean of Talbot (2012-2022) and the past President of the Evangelical Theological Society (2011). He serves on the translation oversight committee for the English...
John Bloom
- Professor Emeritus of Physics
- Ph.D., Annenberg Research Institute, Philadelphia
- Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- M.Div., Biblical Theological Seminary, Hatfield, PA
- B.A., Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
I am very interested in the integration of Christianity with the sciences. I am able to share this with both undergraduate and graduate students as a physics professor and as the academic director for Biola's Master of Arts – Science and Religion program. I live in La Mirada with my family, but some of my students think I live in my office.
Courses
- Physics I and II
- Astronomy
- Science and Origins
- Christianity and the Natural Sciences
- Scientific Apologetics
- Intelligent Design Seminar
- Modern Physics, Cosmology and Design
Research Interests
- Science and religion
- Energy
Mihretu Guta
- Associate Professor of Christian Apologetics
- Ph.D., Durham University, UK,
- M.A. in Philosophy, Biola University
- M.A. in Science and Religion, Biola University
- BTh in Academic Theology, Evangelical Theological College, Ethiopia
Mihretu P. Guta completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at Durham University (UK) under the supervision of Professor E.J. Lowe and Professor Sophie Gibb. Guta was a recipient of the merit based Prestigious Durham Doctoral Studentship Award for three years. While doing his Ph.D., Guta also served as an Academic Tutor in philosophy at Durham University. After completing his Ph.D., he worked as a...
Craig Hazen
- Professor Emeritus of Christian Apologetics
- Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara
- M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara
- B.A., California State University, Fullerton
Craig Hazen is the founder of the master's program with a concentration in Christian apologetics at Biola University. He is the editor of Philosophia Christi, a philosophy journal. He is also the author of the monograph The Village Enlightenment in America; the acclaimed apologetics novel Five Sacred Crossings; and dozens of articles and chapters in various books and journals. Craig is a...
Gary Manning Jr
- Director, Master of Divinity program
- Professor of New Testament Language and Literature
- Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary
- M.Div., Talbot School of Theology
- B.Ed., University of Hawaii
Gary Manning is passionate about helping leaders in the church interpret and teach the Scriptures more faithfully and more powerfully. Gary studied at Talbot School of Theology and Fuller Seminary. He focuses his studies on the Gospel of John, the Synoptic Gospels, literary approaches to interpretation, and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament. He is the author of Peter Rabbit...
Sean McDowell
- Associate Professor of Christian Apologetics
- Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- M.A. Theology, Talbot School of Theology
- M.A. Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology
- B.A., Biola University
Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a biblical worldview. Sean is an associate professor in the Christian Apologetics...
David Merrill
- Assistant Professor of Spiritual Theology
- Ph.D., Durham University, U.K.
- Th.M., Talbot School of Theology
- M.Div. Talbot School of Theology
- B.A., Trinity International University
David Merrill and his wife first joined the Biola community in 2006 when Merrill began as a Master of Divinity student and his wife took on an administration role at Talbot’s Institute for Spiritual Formation. During his time as a student, Merrill immersed himself in the academic and communal life of the campus taking on roles varying from adjunct faculty, staff spiritual director, and resident...
Courses
- Introduction to Spiritual Theology and Formation
- Personal Foundations for Spiritual Formation
- Spiritual Formation, Vocation, and the Disciplines
Ashish Naidu
- Professor of Theology
- Ph.D., University of Aberdeen
- M.A., Oral Roberts University
- Adv. Diploma, International Bible College
Ashish Naidu's interests are in the areas of historical and systematic theology, particularly in exploring the historical-theological foundations of the Christian faith. Besides contributing to various publications and regularly presenting at academic societies, he relishes teaching theology enriched by insights from the great tradition of historic Christianity. Naidu desires to serve the...
Rob Price
- Associate Professor and Co-Chair, Department of Theology
- Ph.D., University of Aberdeen
- M.A., Talbot School of Theology
- B.S., Indiana University
Dr. Price's interests are in systematic and historical theology. He studied New Testament here at Talbot before venturing off to do research on Swiss theologian Karl Barth. In addition to core Talbot theology courses, Dr. Price teaches electives on major theologians and doctrines of the Christian faith.
Ben Shin
- Associate Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership
- D.Min., Dallas Theological Seminary
- Th.M., Talbot School of Theology
- M.Div., Talbot School of Theology
- B.A., University of California, Los Angeles
Benjamin C. Shin has served in the ministry as a pastor, parachurch leader and professor for more than 30 years. He is a graduate of UCLA, Talbot School of Theology and Dallas Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading, music, sports (especially the UCLA Bruins) and spending time with people. His vision and passion includes mentoring leaders, rebuilding churches and teaching the Word of God. He...
Scott Smith
- Professor of Christian Apologetics
- Ph.D., University of Southern California
- M.A., University of Southern California
- M.A., Talbot School of Theology
- B.A., California State University, Hayward
As one of his central concerns, Scott challenges the common mindset in academia and the west that we cannot know things as they really are; instead, we only work with our interpretations. This pervasive view affects not only ethics and religion, but most every discipline. Yet, Scott has written extensively against this "constructivist" view, arguing instead that we can have knowledge in ethics,...
Kenneth Way
- Professor of Old Testament and Semitics
- Ph.D., Hebrew Union College
- M.Phil., Hebrew Union College
- M.A., Trinity International University
- B.A., Moody Bible Institute
Kenneth Way's passion is teaching the Old Testament in its ancient Near Eastern environment. His research interests include Exodus, Judges, Ruth, Israelite religion/archaeology, Northwest Semitic inscriptions, and the fauna of the ancient Near East. He regularly presents at academic meetings and has been published in Ugarit-Forschungen, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Journal...
Adjunct Faculty
John Hollenbeck
Diane McDaniel-Mah
Betty Talbert
- M.A., New Testament Language and Literature, Talbot School of Theology
- M.A., Christian Apologetics, Simon Greenleaf (School of Law)
- Music Education, California State University Fullerton
Betty J. Talbert is the managing editor of Philosophia Christi, the journal of the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Writing clients have included the California Association of Realtors, Deep River Books, Wiley-Blackwell, Lexham Press and Fresh Voice Publishers among others. Betty is also a freelance book editor and writing coach.
When at Freedom Communications Betty...
Emeritus
William Lane Craig
- Emeritus Research Professor
- D.Theol., Ludwig-Maximilliéns-Universität München, Germany
- Ph.D., University of Birmingham England
- M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
- B.A., Wheaton College
William Lane Craig is a visiting scholar in philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, Calif. He lives in Atlanta, Ga., with his wife Jan and their two teenage children Charity and John. At age 16, while a junior in high school, he first heard the message of the Christian gospel and yielded his life to Christ. Craig pursued his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (B.A. 1971),...
Research Interests
- Natural theology
- Coherence of the doctrine of God
- Philosophy of time
- Science and religion
- Historical Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus