Luke Timothy Johnson is the R. 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. Professor Johnson's research interests encompass the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity (particularly moral discourse), Luke-Acts, the Pastoral Letters, and the Letter of James.
Johnson received degrees from Notre Dame Seminary (B.A., 1967), Indiana University (M.A., 1970), Saint Meinrad School of Theology (M.Div, 1970), and Yale University (Ph.D. 1976). Dr. Johnson was a Benedictine monk before marrying and entering secular life as a teacher.
He often lectures at universities and seminaries worldwide, where he is widely perceived as the leading conservative scholar on the debates surrounding the Jesus Seminar, often taking stances against Burton Mack, Robert Funk and John Dominic Crossan in discussions of the Historical Jesus. He attempts to set out more balanced and critical observations on this hotly debated topic by emphasizing the importance of tradition, experience and belief.
Publications
- The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters (2004). ISBN 0385502486, ISBN 978-0385502481
- Brother of Jesus: Friend of God: Brother of Jesus, Friend of God: Studies in the Letter of James (2004). ISBN 0802809863 ISBN 978-0802809865
- The First and Second Letters to Timothy: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Bible) (2001). ISBN 0385484224 ISBN 978-0385484220
- Living Jesus: Learning the Heart of the Gospel (1999). ISBN 0060642831 ISBN 978-0060642839
- Religious Experience: A Missing Dimension in New Testament Studies (1998). ISBN 0800631293 ISBN 978-0800631291
- Reading Romans: A Literary and Theological Commentary (1997). ISBN 1573122769 ISBN 978-1573122764
- Letters to Paul's Delegates: A Commentary on 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus (1996). ISBN 1563381443 ISBN 978-1563381447
- Scripture and Discernment: Decision Making in the Church (1996). ISBN 0687012384 ISBN 978-0687012381
- The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels (1996). ISBN 0060641665, ISBN 978-0060641665
- The Letter of James (Commentary) (1995). ISBN 0385413602 ISBN 978-0385413602
- Proclamation 5: Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year (1993). ISBN 0800641841 ISBN 978-0800641849
- The Acts of the Apostles (Commentary) (1992). ISBN 0814659683 ISBN 978-0814659687
- The Gospel of Luke (Commentary) (1991). ISBN 0814659667 ISBN 978-0814659663
- Faith's Freedom: A Classic Spirituality for Contemporary Christians (1990). ISBN 0800624289 ISBN 978-0800624286
- 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus (1987). ISBN 0804232423 ISBN 978-0804232425
- The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (1986, rev. ed. 2002).
ISBN 0334029112, ISBN 978-0334029113
- Decision Making in the Church: A Biblical Model (1983). ISBN 0800616944 ISBN 978-0800616946
- Luke-Acts: A Story of Prophet and People (1982). ISBN 0819905240 ISBN 978-0819905246
- Some Hard Blessings: Meditations on the Beatitudes in Matthew (1981). ISBN 0895050587 ISBN 978-0895050588
- Sharing Possessions: Mandate and Symbol of Faith (1981). ISBN 0800615344 ISBN 978-0800615345
- Invitation to the Letters of Paul III: Ephesians, Colossians, Pastorals (Commentary) (1980).
- The Literary Function of Possessions in Luke-Acts (1977).
- Teaching Religion to Undergraduates (1973).