{{Short description|New Testament scholar}} {{Infobox academic | honorific_prefix = | name = Luke Timothy Johnson | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = <!-- Use only if different from full/othernames --> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|11|20|mf=y}} | birth_place = Park Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | occupation = Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology | known_for = Theologian, historian, scholar, former priest | spouse = Joy Randazzo (1974–2017; her death) | children = 1 (& 6 stepchildren) | discipline = New Testament studies
| education = Notre Dame Seminary<br>Saint Meinrad School of Theology<br>Indiana University Bloomington | alma_mater = Yale University (Ph.D.)<!-- will often consist of the linked name of the last-attended higher education institution. --> | thesis_title = | thesis_url = | doctoral_students = | workplaces = Candler School of Theology, Emory University | notable_works = ''The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels'' | awards = 2011 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion}}
'''Luke Timothy Johnson''' (born November 20, 1943) is an American Catholic New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. He is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Candler School of Theology and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University.
Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity (particularly moral discourse), Luke-Acts, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Epistle of James.
==Early life== A native of Park Falls, Wisconsin, Johnson was educated in public and parochial schools. A Benedictine monk and priest at St. Joseph Abbey, St. Benedict, Louisiana from 1963 to 1972, he received a B.A. in Philosophy from Notre Dame Seminary in 1966, a M.Div. in Theology from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in 1970, an M.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University Bloomington, and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University in 1976.<ref>Emory Candler School of Theology. [http://www.candler.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-bios/johnson.cfm Luke Timothy Johnson].</ref> He has taught at St. Meinrad, Saint Joseph Seminary College, Yale Divinity School from 1976 to 1982, and Indiana University from 1982 to 1992.
==Academic career== Johnson is a critic of the Jesus Seminar, having taken stances against Burton Mack, Robert Funk and John Dominic Crossan in discussions of the "historical Jesus".<ref>{{cite journal |author1-last=Price |author1-first=Robert M. |url=http://depts.drew.edu/jhc/RPLTJ.html |title=Review of ''The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels'' |journal=The Journal of Higher Criticism |date=Spring 1997 |pages=156–158 |access-date=2008-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611142519/http://depts.drew.edu/jhc/rpltj.html |archive-date=2008-06-11 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Johnson objects to the Seminar's historical methodology. He is also a proponent of an early dating for the Epistle of James, arguing:
<blockquote>The Letter of James also, according to the majority of scholars who have carefully worked through its text in the past two centuries, is among the earliest of New Testament compositions. It contains no reference to the events in Jesus' life, but it bears striking testimony to Jesus' words. Jesus' sayings are embedded in James' exhortations in a form that is clearly not dependent on the written Gospels.<ref>{{cite book|author1-last=Johnson|author1-first=Luke Timothy |author1-link=Luke Timothy Johnson|title=The Real Jesus|date=1996|publisher=HarperOne|isbn=0060641665|page=[https://archive.org/details/realjesusmisg000john/page/121 121]|url=https://archive.org/details/realjesusmisg000john|url-access=registration|quote=The Letter of James also.}}</ref></blockquote>
In some areas, Johnson disagrees with Roman Catholic teaching. He has argued that "same-sex unions can be holy and good" and is in favor of "full recognition of gay and lesbian persons within the Christian communion."<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://commonwealmagazine.org/homosexuality-church-1 |title=Homosexuality & the Church: Scripture & Experience |journal=Commonweal Magazine |date=June 2007}}</ref>
Johnson has produced lectures on early Christianity and ancient Greek philosophy for The Teaching Company. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreatcourses.com/professors/luke-timothy-johnson/ |title=Professor Bio Page |work=The Teaching Company |access-date=18 Nov 2014}}</ref>
==Recognition== He is the recipient of the 2011 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion.<ref name=grawemeyer.org>{{cite web|title=Ancient religions had much in common, says Grawemeyer winner|date=2 December 2010 |url=http://grawemeyer.org/news-updates/ancient-religions-had-much-in-common-says-grawemeyer-winner}}</ref>
==Publications== *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy|title=Teaching Religion to Undergraduates|publisher=Society for Religion in Higher Education|date=1973}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy|author-mask=3|title=The Literary Function of Possessions in Luke-Acts|series=Dissertation series (Society of Biblical Literature)|volume=39|location=Missoula, Montana|publisher=Scholars Press|date=1977 |isbn=978-0-8913-0200-1|oclc=3327240}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Invitation to the Letters of Paul III: Ephesians, Colossians, Pastorals|date=1980}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|publisher=Fortress Press|date=1980|isbn=978-0-800-61886-5 |edition=1st}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Sharing Possessions: Mandate and Symbol of Faith|series=Overtures to Biblical Theology |volume=9 |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|publisher=Fortress Press |date=1981|isbn=978-0-800-61534-5 |oclc=7553096}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Some Hard Blessings: Meditations on the Beatitudes in Matthew |date=1981|publisher=Argus Communications |isbn=978-0-8950-5058-8}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Luke-Acts: A Story of Prophet and People |date=1982|publisher=Franciscan Herald Press |isbn=978-0-8199-0524-6}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Decision Making in the Church: A Biblical Model |date=1983 |publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-0-800-61694-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/decisionmakingin0000john}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus |date=1987|publisher=John Knox Press |isbn=978-0-8042-3242-5}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Faith's Freedom: A Classic Spirituality for Contemporary Christians |date=1990|publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-0-800-62428-6}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Gospel of Luke |series=Sacra Pagina series|volume=3 |location=Collegeville, Minnesota|publisher=Liturgical Press|date=1991|isbn=978-0-8146-5966-3 |oclc=23733531}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Acts of the Apostles |series=Sacra Pagina series|volume=5 |location=Collegeville, Minnesota|publisher=Liturgical Press |date=1992|isbn=978-0-8146-5968-7}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy|author-mask=3|title=Proclamation 5: Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year|date=1993|publisher=Fortress Press |isbn=978-0-800-64184-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/proclamation5int0000perk}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Letter of James: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary |series=Anchor Bible |volume=37a|location=New York |publisher=Doubleday|date=1995|isbn=978-0-3854-1360-2|oclc=31374078}} (Commentary) *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels |location=San Francisco, California|publisher=HarperSanFrancisco |date=1996 |isbn=978-0-0606-4166-5 |oclc=32625131 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/realjesusmisg000john}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church|date=1996|publisher=Abingdon Press |isbn=978-0-6870-1238-1}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Letters to Paul's Delegates: A Commentary on 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus |series=New Testament in Context|location=Valley Forge, Pennsylvania|publisher=Trinity Press International|date=1996|isbn=978-1-5633-8144-7|oclc=35360799}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary|series=Reading the New Testament Series|location=New York|publisher=Crossroad Pub|date=1997|isbn=978-1573122764|oclc=35151248}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Religious Experience: A Missing Dimension in New Testament Studies |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|publisher=Fortress Press|date=1998|isbn=978-0-800-63129-1 |oclc=39079005}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy|author-mask=3|title=Living Jesus: Learning the Heart of the Gospel|location=San Francisco, California|publisher=HarperSanFrancisco|date=1999|isbn=978-0060642839|oclc=39050865|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/livingjesuslearn00john}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|author2-last=Crossan|author2-first=John Dominic|author2-link=John Dominic Crossan |author3-last=Kelber|author3-first=Werner H.|title=The Jesus Controversy: perspectives in conflict|series=Rockwell Lecture Series|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|publisher=Trinity Press International|date=1999|isbn=978-1-5633-8289-5|oclc=41628131}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy|author-mask=3|title=The First and Second Letters to Timothy: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary|series=Anchor Bible|volume=35a|location=New York |publisher=Doubleday|date=2001|isbn=978-0-3854-8422-0 |oclc=43657061}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|publisher=Fortress Press|date=2002 |isbn=978-0-334-02911-3 |edition=2nd revised}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|author2-last=Kurz|author2-first=William S.|title=Future of Catholic Biblical Scholarship: A Constructive Conversation|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2002|isbn=978-0-802-84545-0 |oclc=49902174}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Septuagintal Midrash in the Speeches of Acts |series=Père Marquette lecture in theology |location=Milwaukee|publisher=Marquette University Press |date=2002|isbn=978-0-8746-2582-0 |oclc=49011355}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters|location=New York |publisher=Doubleday |date=2003 |isbn=978-0-385-50247-4 |oclc=51534973}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=Brother of Jesus, Friend of God: Studies in the Letter of James|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2004 |isbn=978-0-8028-0986-5}} *{{cite book |last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Hebrews: A Commentary |series=New Testament library |location=Louisville, Kentucky|publisher=Westminster, John Knox Press|date=2006 |isbn=978-0-6642-2118-8 |oclc=62738718}} (Commentary) *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Among the Gentiles: Greco - Roman Religion and Christianity|series=Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library |location=New Haven, Connecticut|publisher=Yale University Press|date=2009|isbn=978-0-300-14208-2|oclc=444387833}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|publisher=Fortress Press|date=2010|isbn=978-0-800-66361-2 |edition=3rd}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson |first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3 |title=The New Testament: A Very Short Introduction|series=Very short introductions|volume=229|location=Oxford; New York|publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2010 |isbn=978-0-199-73570-9 |oclc=438055743}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Sharing Possessions: What Faith Demands, Second Edition|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2011|isbn=978-0-8028-0399-3}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church: The Challenge of Luke-Acts to Contemporary Christians|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2011|isbn=978-0-802-80390-0}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Contested Issues in Christian Origins and the New Testament: Collected Essays|series=Supplements to Novum Testamentum|publisher=Brill|date=2013 |isbn=978-9-0042-4290-6}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Revelatory Body: Theology as Inductive Art|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2015|isbn=978-0-8028-0383-2}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Constructing Paul (The Canonical Paul, volume 1)|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2020|isbn=978-0-8028-0758-8}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=Interpreting Paul (The Canonical Paul, volume 2)|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2021|isbn=978-0-8028-2466-0}} *{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Luke Timothy |author-mask=3|title=The Mind in Another Place: My Life as a Scholar|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Eerdmans|date=2022|isbn=978-0-8028-8011-6}}
Johnson is also the author of a large number of scholarly articles, encyclopedia, anthology and popular articles, book reviews, and other academic papers and lectures.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.law.emory.edu/cms/site/index.php?id=1877/ Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion Senior Fellow] *[http://www.candler.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-bios/johnson.cfm Emory University Faculty Home Page]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Luke Timothy}} Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:American Benedictines Category:American biblical scholars Category:Catholics from Wisconsin Category:Christian scholars Category:Commonweal (magazine) people Category:Former Benedictines Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni Category:Indiana University faculty Category:Laicized Roman Catholic priests Category:New Testament scholars Category:People from Park Falls, Wisconsin Category:Roman Catholic biblical scholars Category:Seminary academics Category:Writers from Wisconsin Category:Yale Divinity School faculty Category:Yale University alumni