Dr. Ronald Herms

Associate Professor

Early Judaism, New Testament Studies

• B.A. Northwest College, 1989
• M.C.S. Regent College, 1997
• Ph.D. University of Durham, 2005

Background

While I teach in the areas of New Testament studies and Biblical interpretation, my primary research interests include early Jewish history & literature and early Christian origins. In particular, I am intrigued by the development of apocalyptic thought in Second Temple Judaism and its influence on early Christian theology.  My hobbies include: reading ‘old’ books; sports (of all kinds, but especially ice hockey and soccer –Edmonton Oilers & Manchester United are the teams!); playing with my kids; and, preparing talks for our local church.

As a family we’ve been blessed with many rewarding opportunities and life-adventures.  Wherever we’ve lived, college / university students have been an important part of our family’s life.  Kathy and I have four kids and do our best to keep up with them!  Before coming to NU in 2006, our family lived in Durham, UK (2001-2005) where we had time for study, ministry among university students and roaming ancient castles. Prior to this (1989-2001), church-based work allowed us to connect with many friends and join them on their spiritual journeys.  We’re glad to be able to continue this here at NU.

Publications

• Review of N. Habel and V. Balabanski, eds., The Earth Story in the New Testament. In Borderlands: A Journal of Theology and Education 2 (Sum 2003): 49.
• S. Ahrnke, B. Embry & R. Herms. Bibliographische Dokumentation: Qumran Cave 4 Cryptic Texts DJD XXVI ( Zeitschrift für Althebraistik ) 2004 .
• “Being Saved Without Honor: A Conceptual Link Between 1 Cor 3 and 1 Enoch 50?” In Journal for the Study of the New Testament , 2006.
• An Apocalypse for the Church and for the World: The Narrative Function of Universal Language in the Book of Revelation ( Berlin: DeGruyter, 2006)
• Review of R. Waddell, The Spirit of the Book of Revelation. In Journal of Pentecostal Theology 17 (2008): 9-18.
• “Invoking the Spirit and Narrative Intent in John’s Apocalypse.” In Scripture and Spirit: Examining A Pneumatic Hermeneutic (forthcoming T&T Clark,  2010).
• Early Jewish Literature: An Introduction and Reader. Eds., B.Embry,  R.Herms and A.T. Wright (forthcoming Eerdmans, 2013).

Recommended Reading

• Watership Down (Richard Adams)
• Life Together (Dietrich Bonhoffer)
• A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens)
• Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)
• Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God (Gordon Fee)
• Crossing the Threshold of Hope (John Paul II)
• The World’s Last Night (C.S. Lewis)
• A Generous Orthodoxy (Brian McLaren)
• Signs amid the Rubble (Leslie Newbigin)
• Leap Over a Wall (Eugene Peterson)
• Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of St John and the Praying Imagination (Eugene Peterson)
• Subversive Spirituality (Eugene Peterson)
• Interior Castle (Teresa of Avila)
• The Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Tales from the Perilous Realm (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense (N.T. Wright)
• The Challenge of Jesus (N.T. Wright)