Klaus Issler | People, Biola University

Department	Talbot School of Theology
Website	http://www.klausissler.com/

Documents

Degrees

Ph.D., Michigan State University
Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary
M.A., University of California, Riverside
B.A., California State University, Long Beach

Biography

Klaus Issler has authored, or co-edited eight books, including Living Into the Life of Jesus: The Formation of Christian Character, Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective: An Intermediate Christology, Wasting Time with God: A Christian Spirituality of Friendship with God, and Jesus, Money and Work: Practices for Formation Christian Character. He has published five dictionary articles, ten book chapters, and fourteen articles in journals such as Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, and the Christian Education Journal. Before his retirement from Talbot, Biola University in August 2020, Klaus taught in the Ph.D. and Ed.D. in Educational Studies program for 29 years. With degrees in education, theology and philosophy, he specializes in Christian formation, discipleship, sanctification, virtue ethics and Christian spirituality. Currently Klaus is a theological consultant to his brother’s organization, Epika Studios, which produces and distributes virtual reality Bible experiences. He manages the Holy Land 360 Tours app. He has been an associate pastor, an instructor for Walk Thru the Bible, and a member of the Institute for Spiritual Formation’s executive committee. Klaus lives in Colorado with wife, Beth, and near their three granddaughters. Articles and book chapters can be downloaded at KlausIssler.com

Affiliations

National Association of Directors of Church Educators (1973-1980)
North American Professors of Christian Education
Evangelical Theological Society

Publications

Books

"Jesus, Money, and Work: Practices for Forming Christian Character." Downer Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2012.
“Living into the Life of Jesus: The Formation of Christian Character.” InterVarsity Press, 2012.
“In Search of a Confident Faith: Overcoming Barriers to Trusting in God”, with J.P. Moreland, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2008.
“Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective: An Introductory Christology”, Fred Sanders and Klaus Issler, editors, Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007.
“The Lost Virtue of Happiness: Discovering the Disciplines of the Good Life.” (co-authored with J. P. Moreland). NavPress, 2006.
“Wasting Time With God: A Christian Spirituality of Friendship With God.” Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001. 296pp. Korean, Portuguese, Russian translations.
“Teaching For Reconciliation: Foundations and Practice of Christian Educational Ministry.” (co-authored with Ronald Habermas). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 421 pp. 1992. Paper edition published, 1977. Korean translation published, 1996.
“How We Learn: A Christian Teacher's Guide to Educational Psychology.” (co-authored with Ronald Habermas) Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1994 [Baker, originally], 288 pp.

Chapters in Books

Chapter 3: “Two Categories of Loans in the Old Testament: Subsistence Loans Without Interest and Productive Loans With Interest” in The Bible and Money: Economy and Socioeconomic Ethics in the Bible, Markus Zehnder and Hallvard Hagelia, eds., Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2020.
Chapter 8: “Learning from Jesus to Live in the Manner Jesus Would If He Were I: Biblical Grounding for Willard’s Proposal Regarding Jesus’ Humanity”, in Until Christ is Formed in You: Dallas Willard and Spiritual Formation, eds. Steven Porter, Gary Moon, and J. P. Moreland, Abilene, TX; Abilene Christian University, 2018, 187-214.
Chapter 12: “Jesus, The Paradigmatic Exemplar in Gethsemane: An Effective Model to Guide Spiritual Formation,” in Loving God with Your Mind: Essays in Honor of J. P. Moreland, eds. Paul Gould and Richard Davis, Chicago: Moody, 2014, 187-99. Chapter 5: "Philosophy of Education" Faith and Learning: A Handbook of Christian Higher Education, ed. David Dockery, Nashville: B&H Academic, 97-121. 2012.
Chapter 1: “Theological and Philosophical Foundations”, Curriculum Development, Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, (in press).
Chapter 5: “The Soul/Heart and Spiritual Formation”, in Foundations of Spiritual Formation: A Community Approach, Ed. Paul Petitt Ed., Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2008.
Chapter 6: “"Jesus' Example: Proto-type of the Dependent, Spirit-Filled Life"” in Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective: An Introductory Christology. (co-edited with Fred Sanders). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007.
Chapter 4: “Biblical Perspectives on Children's Spirituality”, in Children's Spirituality: Christian Perspectives, Research, and Application, ed. Donald Ratcliff, Eugene, OR: Cascade/Wipf & Stock, 2004.
Chapter 3: “Theological Foundations of Christian Education”, in Christian Education in the New Millennium, Michael Anthony, ed., Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001.

Dictionary Articles

“Healing as Christian Practice” (1,100 words), Encyclopedia of Christian Education, eds. George T. Kurian and Mark Lamport, Scarecrow Press, 2015, Vol. 2:575-577.
"Happiness" (400 words), Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, Glen Scorgie, ed., Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 2011.
“Louis Marshall (1773-1866),” (1000 words); "Eliphalet Pearson (1752-1826)," (1000 words) in the American National Biography, 20 Volumes, John A. Garraty, gen. ed., NY: Oxford University Press, 1998 [this new edition replaces the Dictionary of American Biography, 1928].
“Faith/Belief, Content of,” (2000 words); "The Teaching-Learning Process" (1600 words) in the Baker Dictionary of Christian Education, Michael Anthony, ed., Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001.

Journal Articles

“An Emerging Consensus on Virtue Ethics in Christian Living and Sanctification,” Faith & Flourishing: Journal of Karam Fellowship, 1 (2022), 69-79.
“Five Factors of New Testament Economic Interpretation: Rohrbaugh’s Parable of the Talents,” Journal of Markets and Morality 20.2 (2017), 243-261.
“Lending and Interest in the OT: Examining Three Interpretations to Explain the Deuteronomy 23:19-20 Distinction in Light of the Historical Usury Debate,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 59.4 (2016) 761-89.
“Exploring the Pervasive References to Work in Jesus’ Parables,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 57.2 (2014) 323-39.
"Five Key Barriers to Deep Learning and Character Formation Based Primarily on Jesus' Parable of the Four Souls" Christian Education Journal, Supplement Issue, Spring 2012, S-138 - S-156. 2012.
"Approaching Formative Scripture Reading With Both Head and Heart" Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 5 (1), Spring 2012, 117-134. 2012.
"Learning from Jesus to Live in the Manner Jesus Would If He Were I: Biblical Grounding for Willard's Proposal Regarding Jesus' Humanity" Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 3 (2), Fall, 155-80. 2010.
"Six Themes to Guide Spiritual Formation Ministry based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount" Christian Education Journal, 7 (2), Fall, 366-88. 2010.
“Inner Core Belief Formation, Spiritual Practices, and the Willing Doing Gap,” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 2(2), Fall, 179-98. 2009.
“Divine Providence And Impetratory Prayer: A Review of Issues from Terrance Tiessen's Providence and Prayer,” Philosophia Christi, Series 2, Vol 3, Nov., 533-541. 2001.