Stanley P. Saunders

{{Short description|New Testament scholar}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox academic | honorific_prefix =  | name = Stanley P. Saunders | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name =  | birth_date =  | birth_place = | death_date =  | death_place = | death_cause = | region = | nationality = | citizenship = | residence = | other_names = | occupation = [[New Testament]] scholar | period = | known_for = | home_town = | title = Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary <ref name=David /> | boards =  | spouse = | children = | parents = | relatives = | awards =  | website = | education = | alma_mater = [[Princeton Theological Seminary]] | thesis_title = | thesis_url = | thesis_year = 1990 | school_tradition = | doctoral_advisor = | academic_advisors = | influences =  | era = | discipline =  | sub_discipline =  | workplaces = [[Columbia Theological Seminary]] | doctoral_students =  | notable_students =  | main_interests = Social justice, creation care | notable_works = | notable_ideas = | influenced =  | signature = | signature_alt = | signature_size = | footnotes = }} '''Stanley P. Saunders''' is a [[New Testament]] scholar, whose particular research interest includes [[eschatology]], creation and the [[Gospel of Matthew]].<ref name=JWF>{{cite web |url= https://johnwesleyfellows.org/authors/stanley-p-saunders/ |title= Stanley P. Saunders |author= |date= |website= A Foundation for Theological Education |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> He is also involved in issues of social justice particularly pertaining to the [[American criminal justice system]] and creation care.<ref>{{cite web|title=Columbia Professors Win Environmental Stewardship Award|url=http://seminaryalliance.org/columbia-professors-win-environmental-stewardship-award/|website=Seminary Alliance|publisher=Blessed Earth's Seminary Stewardship Alliance}}</ref><ref name=WP>{{cite web |url= https://www.workingpreacher.org/authors/stanley-saunders |title= Stanley P. Saunders |author= |date= |website= Working Preacher |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

==Career== Saunders received a B.A. from [[San Jose Christian College]] (1975), a M.Div. from [[Emmanuel School of Religion]] (1980) and a Ph.D. from [[Princeton Theological Seminary]] (1990). He began his academic career as an assistant professor of New Testament at [[Wartburg Theological Seminary]] (1984-1988). He then took the position of assistant professor of New Testament at [[Columbia Theological Seminary]] (1991-1999) and then served as associate professor of New Testament.<ref name=JWF /><ref>{{Cite web| title=Stanley P. Saunders | url=http://www.ctsnet.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Saunders_Stan_CV2012.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011223510/http://www.ctsnet.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Saunders_Stan_CV2012.pdf | archive-date=2016-10-11}}</ref>

By 2023, he had retired from teaching and was focusing on restorative justice and writing.<ref name=David>{{cite web |url= https://www.stdavidchurch.org/events-1/special-rectors-forum-with-dr-stanley-p-saunders |title= Special Rector's Forum with Dr. Stanley P. Saunders |last= |first= |date= 7 May 2023 |website= St David’s Church |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

==Thought== In much of Saunders' work he asserts "we usually think that the goal of exegesis is to uncover the meanings in a text. But ‘meaning’ is discovered more in the dialogues that transpire between interpreters, their communities and worlds, the text, the worlds of the text, and the tradition."<ref>{{cite web|last1=LaGioia|first1=Rock|title=Preaching the Gospel of Matthew: Proclaiming God's Presence|publisher=The Journal of Christian Ministry|url=http://c/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812155911/http://c/ |archive-date=2013-08-12}}</ref> He is a proponent of the school of biblical interpretation which takes into account all external factors in the current setting, not just the text itself. This has led to an increased emphasis of how scripture engages the contemporary world and its current issues, such as care for the earth and the injustices of the criminal justice system.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ctsnet.edu/at-this-point/toward-deep-christian-ecology/ |title= Special Rector's Forum with Dr. Stanley P. Saunders |last= Saunders |first= Stanley P. |date= March 29, 2018 |website= Columbia Theological Seminary |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref>

==Works== ===Books=== *{{cite book |author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author2-last=Campbell |author2-first=Charles L. |author2-link=Charles L. Campbell (academic) |title=The Word on the Street: Performing the Scriptures in the Urban Context |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Eerdmans |date=2000 |isbn=9780802843937 |oclc=43445518 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780802843937 }} <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-word-on-the-street-stanley-p-saunders/1120283293 |title= The Word on the Street |last= |first= |date= |website= Barnes and Noble |publisher= |access-date= December 16, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Philippians and Galatians |series=Interpretation Bible Studies |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Geneva Press |date=2001 |isbn=9780664501020 |oclc=46420131 }}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallaher Branch|first1=Robin|title=Philippians and Galatians|url=http://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/1992_886.pdf|website=Book Reviews|publisher=Society of Biblical Literature}}</ref> *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Preaching the Gospel of Matthew: Proclaiming God's Presence |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |date=2010 |isbn=9780664229207 |oclc=505423916 }}<ref name=WP /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Gilbert Bartholomew|first1=Adam|title=Preaching the Gospel of Matthew - Review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287430201 |website=Research Gate|publisher=Homiletic}}</ref>

===Chapters=== *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Gospel of Matthew |editor1-last=Myers |editor1-first=Alan C. |editor1-link=Alan C. Myers |title=The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Eerdmans |date=2000 |isbn=9780802842503 |oclc=256847676 }} *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Revelation and Resistance: Narrative and Worship in John’s Apocalypse |editor1-last=Green |editor1-first=Joel B. |editor1-link=Joel B. Green |editor2-last=Pasquarello |editor2-first=Michael III |editor2-link=Michael Pasquarello III |title=Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching: Reuniting New Testament Interpretation and Proclamation |location=Grand Rapids, MI |publisher=Baker Academic |date=2003 |isbn=9780801027215 |oclc=1015475103 |pages=117–150 }} *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Between Blessing and Curse: Reading, Hearing, and Performing the Apocalypse in a World of Terror |editor1-last=Yoder |editor1-first=Christine R. |editor1-link=Christine Roy Yoder |editor2-last=Johnson |editor2-first=Beth |editor2-link=Beth Johnson (academic) |editor3-last=O'Connor |editor3-first=Kathleen M. |editor3-link=Kathleen M. O'Connor |title=Shaking Heaven and Earth: Essays in Honor of Walter Brueggemann and Charles Cousar |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |date=2005 |isbn=9780664227777 |oclc=1025491101 |pages=141–156 }}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallaher Branch|first1=Robin|title=Shaking Heaven and Earth: Essays in Honor of Walter Brueggemann and Charles B. Cousar|url=http://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/4861_5059.pdf|website=Book Reviews|publisher=Society of Biblical Literature|access-date=29 February 2016|archive-date=15 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015065228/http://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/4861_5059.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Introductions and Text Notes for Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians |title=The Discipleship Study Bible |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |date=2008 }} *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Matthew |editor1-last=O’Day |editor1-first=Gail R. |editor1-link=Gail R. O'Day |editor2-last=Petersen |editor2-first=David L. |editor2-link=David L. Petersen |title=Theological Bible Commentary |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |date=2009 |pages=293–310 }} *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Prophets in the New Testament and Early Church |title=New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible |volume=4 |publisher=Abingdon Press |date=2009 |pages=621–622 }} *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Philippians, Letter to the |title=New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible |volume=4 |publisher=Abingdon Press |date=2009 |pages=503–507 }} *{{cite book|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |chapter=Exegetical Essays |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=Barbara Brown |editor1-link=Barbara Brown Taylor |editor2-last=Bartlett |editor2-first=David L. |editor2-link=David L. Bartlett |title=Feasting on the Word |location=Louisville, KY |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |date=2008–2011 }} - "Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21"; "Mark 9:1-9"; "Mark 1:9-14."

===Edited by=== *Editorial Board Member and Contributor to Elizabeth Johnson and Cynthia Jarvis, eds., ''Feasting on the Gospels'' (Westminster John Knox Press, 2013-).

===Journal articles=== *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Christian Eschatology: the Ground and Impetus for Mission |journal=Gospel in Context |volume=2 |date=1979 |pages=3–10, 16–17 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Bailey |author2-first=James L. |author2-link=James L. Bailey |title=God's Merciful Community," (with ) |journal=Currents in Theology and Mission |volume=14 |date=1987 |pages=325–333 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Cram |author2-first= Ronald H. |author2-link= Ronald H. Cram |title=Feet Partly of Iron and Partly of Clay: Pedagogy and the Curriculum of Theological Education," (with) |journal=Theological Education |volume=29 |date=1992 |pages=21–50 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Campbell |author2-first=Charles L. |author2-link=Charles L. Campbell (academic) |title=Anything But Ordinary: Worship and Preaching in Ordinary Time |journal=Journal for Preachers |volume=18 |issue=4 |date=1995 |pages=25–31 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |author2-last=Campbell |author2-first=Charles L. |author2-link=Charles L. Campbell (academic) |title=What Does This Mean? What Shall We Do? |journal=Journal for Preachers |volume=19 |issue=4 |date=1996 |pages=3–9 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Discernment on the way to Emmaus: Resurrection Imagination and Practices in Luke 24:13-35," ''Journal for Preachers''|volume=20 |issue=2 |date=1997 |pages=44–49 }} - (Also published in Campbell and Saunders, ''The Word on the Street'') *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=The Reality of a Present God; Living the Word: Matthew |journal=Sojourners |volume=28 |issue=1 |date=1999 |pages=46–49 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=God With Us in Power: Preaching Matthew Missionally |journal=Journal for Preachers |volume=22 |issue=2 |date=1999 |pages=25–30 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Taking It to the Streets |journal=The Other Side |volume=36 |issue=6 |date=2000 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Learning Christ: Eschatology and Spiritual Formation in New Testament Christianity |journal=Interpretation |volume=56 |issue=2 |date=2002 |pages=155–167 |doi=10.1177/002096430005600204 |s2cid=170402730 }} *{{cite journal|author1-last=Saunders |author1-first=Stanley P. |author1-mask=3 |title=Nurturing Hope: Nurturing Faithful Vision Amidst Defeat |journal=Catalyst |volume=31 |issue=4 |date=2005 |pages=1–3 }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cite web |url=https://www.ctsnet.edu/faculty/saunders-stanley/ |title=Stanley P. Saunders faculty page |access-date=1 November 2018}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160305230454/http://www.outcrygeorgia.org/theological-statement/ Outcry: Faith Voices Against Gun Violence] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160306081846/https://columbiaconnections.org/2015/05/01/teach-in-on-capital-punishment-and-the-church/ Teach-in On Capital Punishment and the Church]

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