David A. Burnett (BA, MA, PhD Candidate)

Thesis title: Resurrection and the Death of the Gods: Rival Jewish Reception of the Patriarchal Promises and the Argument of 1 Corinthians 15

Biography

Background

David is a Ph.D. candidate in New Testament and Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh. He has also completed doctoral coursework toward a Ph.D. in Religious Studies in Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity at Marquette University. He currently serves on the Religion Faculty of St. Anthony School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a private Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. For five years prior, David served as the Religion and Theology Specialist for the Educational Opportunity Program at Marquette University, a federal TRIO program to support first generation low income college students. He has served as a graduate teaching assistant and research assistant in the Department of Theology at Marquette. He has also studied at Tantur Ecumenical Institute of the University of Notre Dame in Jerusalem, Israel and the University of Oxford. His work has been published with Fortress Academic/Lexington Press and in the Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters.

CV

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Qualifications

PhD Candidate, New Testament and Christian Origins, University of Edinburgh

  • Additional Studies: Doctoral Research Scholars Program, Princeton Theological Seminary

PhD (studies) Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity (completed doctoral coursework), Marquette University

  • Additional Studies: Tantur Ecumenical Institute, University of Notre Dame, Jerusalem, Israel, Summer 2019. Topic: Sin and Atonement in Judaism and Christianity. Senior Ecumenical Fellow: Fr. Brain Daley, S.J.

MA Theological and Biblical Studies, Criswell College

  • Thesis in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Literature: "Abraham's Star-Like Seed: Neglected Functional Elements in the Patriarchal Promise of Genesis 15."

BA Biblical Studies, Criswell College

  • Additional Studies: University of Oxford, Summer 2007. Topic: Pauline Theology of Israel. Adviser: E. David Cook

Responsibilities & affiliations

Memberships

  • Society of Biblical Literature
  • Catholic Biblical Association
  • European Association of Biblical Studies
  • Chicago Society of Biblical Research
  • The Enoch Seminar
  • American Academy of Religion
  • Association of Jewish Studies

 

Professional Service

  • Technical Assistant, Catholic Biblical Association 86th International Meeting, August 3–6, 2024.
  • Conference Organizer and Co-Convener, “The Meanings and End(s) of Monotheism” Conference, Program of Judaic Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, May 6–7, 2024.
  • Technical Assistant, Catholic Biblical Association 85th International Meeting, July 22–25, 2023.
  • Technical Assistant, Catholic Biblical Association 83rd International Meeting, July 31–August 3, 2021.
  • Technical Assistant, 11th Enoch Seminar/LMU Munich Congress on Apocalypticism in Antiquity, May 23–27, 2021.
  • Chair, Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity Session, Loyola-Marquette Graduate Theology Colloquium, Spring 2019.
  • Chair, New Testament Session, Loyola-Marquette Graduate Theology Colloquium, Spring 2018.
  • Research Assistant, Marquette University, Spring 2017.

Research summary

David's research interests include early Jewish apocalyptic and mystical traditions found within the reception and interpretation of scripture in the Second Temple period. His work seeks to demonstrate the integral role these traditions play in the study of Christian origins in the wider context of the ancient Mediterranean. The concentrations of David's research in Judaism and Christianity in antiquity include the origins and development of deification and angelomorphic traditions, Messianism and "Christology," and apocalyptic eschatology and resurrection beliefs. His research agenda focuses on tracing these streams of tradition in Second Temple Jewish literature, Pauline literature and thought, Luke-Acts, and the exploration and (re)description of the "parting of the ways" between early Judaism and Christianity. His dissertation is entitled, "Resurrection and the Death of the Gods: Rival Jewish Reception of the Patriarchal Promises and the Argument of 1 Corinthians 15."

Knowledge exchange

Publications

  • Co-Editor, The Meanings and End(s) of Monotheism. Brown Judaic Studies. Forthcoming. 
  • "Virtuous Gods or Deserving of Death? Conflicting Early Jewish Postures toward the Gods within Ancient Mediterranean ‘Paganism.'" In The Meanings and End(s) of Monotheism. Edited by Josiah S. Bisbee, David A. Burnett, Daniel M. McClellan, Saul M. Olyan, and Emma J. Wasserman. Forthcoming. 
  • “A Neglected Deuteronomic Scriptural Matrix for the Nature of the Resurrection Body in 1 Corinthians 15:39–42.” Pages 187–212 in Scripture, Texts, and Tracings in 1 Corinthians. Edited by Linda Belleville and B.J. Oropeza. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2019.
  • “‘So Shall Your Seed Be’: Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions.” Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 5.2 (2015): 211–36.

 

Podcast Appearances

The Data Over Dogma Podcast - hosted by Dr. Dan McClellan and Dan Beecher

  • Episode 19 (August 14, 2023) - "I'll Make You a Star!" with David A. Burnett
  • Episode 59 (May 20, 2024) - "The End(s) of Monotheism" with David A. Burnett

 

The Naked Bible Podcast - hosted by the late Michael S. Heiser

  • Episode 61 (August 20, 2015) - "David Burnett"
  • Episode 95 (April 9, 2016) - "Resurrection and the Death of the Gods" with David Burnett
  • Episode 130 (November 23, 2016) - "Conference Interviews Part 3"
  • Episode 133 (November 26, 2016) - "Live from San Antonio"
  • Episode 164 (June 24, 2017) - "Paul's Ascent and Angelic Torment" with David Burnett
  • Episode 189 (November 25, 2017) - "Live from Boston"
  • Episode 190 (November 28, 2017) - "SBL Conference Interviews Part 1"
  • Episode 205 (March 3, 2018) - "The Sword and the Servant" with David Burnett
  • Episode 264 (November 21, 2018) - "SBL Conference Interviews Part 1"

 

Project activity

  • PhD Thesis: "Resurrection and the Death of the Gods: Rival Jewish Reception of the Patriarchal Promises and the Argument of 1 Corinthians 15."
  • Editing a book, a product of the conference I co-organized and co-convened at Brown University, sponsored by the Program of Judaic Studies at Brown, entitled, "The Meanings and End(s) of Monotheism." My chapter for that upcoming volume is entitled, "Virtuous Gods or Deserving of Death? Conflicting Early Jewish Postures towards the Gods within Ancient Mediterranean 'Paganism'."
  • Writing a chapter for a festschrift entitled, "The Dying and Rising Gods of Paul: Psalm 82 and the Eschatology of 1 Corinthians 15."

Invited speaker

  • “Meet the Author: James McGrath, Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist.” Invited Panelist. Enoch Seminar, Meet the Author Series, December 18, 2024.

  • Invited Respondent to Kyle Sherling, “Renewing the Luminaries: Deforming and Reestablishing Cosmic Order in Jubilees and Paul.” Early Christian Judaism Program Unit, 2024 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Biblical Research, San Diego, California.

  • “The Origin of Evil, the Devil, and the Triumph of God on Evil Forces.” Invited Discussant. “Was Paul an Apocalyptic Jew? A Case of Jewish Diversity in the Second Temple Period,” Apocalyptic Paul Virtual Event, Enoch Seminar, Oct. 25–27, 2021.
  • “Paul’s Apocalyptic Messianism.” Invited Discussant. “Was Paul an Apocalyptic Jew? A Case of Jewish Diversity in the Second Temple Period,” Apocalyptic Paul Virtual Event, Enoch Seminar, Oct. 25–27, 2021.

Organiser

  • Conference Organizer and Co-Convener, “The Meanings and End(s) of Monotheism” Conference, Program of Judaic Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, May 6–7, 2024.

Papers delivered

  • "An Image-Making Deity: Recasting the Aniconic Discourse of Deuteronomy 4." Deuteronomy Program Unit, 2026 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, Colorado. 

  • Invited Respondent to Kyle Sherling, “Renewing the Luminaries: Deforming and Reestablishing Cosmic Order in Jubilees and Paul.” Early Christian Judaism Program Unit, 2024 Annual Meeting of the Institute of Biblical Research, San Diego, California.

  • “Virtuous Gods or Deserving of Death? Conflicting Early Jewish Postures toward the Gods within Ancient Jewish “Paganism.”” The Meanings and End(s) of Monotheism Conference, 2024, Program of Judaic Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
  • “Star Differs from Star (1 Cor 15:41): Celestial Hierarchicalism and Exodus Tradition in Paul’s Resurrection Mythos.” Bible, Myth, and Myth Theory Program Unit, 2023 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas.
  • “Virtuous Gods or Deserving of Death? Conflicting Early Jewish Postures toward the Gods within Ancient Jewish “Paganism.”” Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Program Unit, 2022 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, Colorado.
  • “Reassessing Paul’s Apocalyptic Politeia in 1 Cor 15:20–28: Reorganization of the Cosmic Polis or the Death of the Gods?” Pauline Epistles Program Unit, 2021 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas.
  • “’Then at My Feet a Multitude of Stars Fell Down’: The Divine Plenipotentiary Function of Abrahamic Tradition in the Exagoge 68–89.” Pseudepigrapha Program Unit, 2021 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas.
  • “The Beautified Feet of Jesus: The Isaianic Re-Narration of Synoptic Tradition in Luke 7:36–50.” Synoptic Gospels Program Unit, 2020 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • “The Beautified Feet of Jesus: The Isaianic Renarrativization of Synoptic Tradition in Luke 7:36–8:1.” New Testament Program Unit, 2019 Annual Meeting of the Upper Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • “Sowing Celestial Seed: Early Jewish Interpretation of the Abrahamic Promise and Paul’s Metaphor for the Resurrection Body in 1 Cor 15:35-49.” Pauline Literature Program Unit, 2019 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, Notre Dame, Indiana.
  • “Sowing Celestial Seed: Early Jewish Interpretation of the Abrahamic Promise and Paul’s Metaphor for the Resurrection Body in 1 Cor 15:35-49.” Paul Within Judaism Program Unit, 2018 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Denver, Colorado.
  • “Ascent and Torment: The Apocalyptic Juxtaposition of an Abrahamic Victorious Ascent Trope in 2 Corinthians 12:1–10?” Second Corinthians: Pauline Theology in the Making Program Unit, 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • “A Neglected Deuteronomic Scriptural Matrix to the Nature of the Resurrection Body in 1 Cor 15:39–42?” Systematic Transformation and Interweaving of Scripture in 1 Corinthians Program Unit: Death, Resurrection, Transformation and Scripture in 1 Corinthians 15 Seminar, 2016 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Antonio, Texas.
  • “A Neglected Deuteronomic Scriptural Matrix to the Nature of the Resurrection Body in 1 Cor 15:39–42?” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, 2016 Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas.
  • “The Sword and the Servant: Reframing the Function of the ‘Two Swords’ of Luke 22:35–38 in Narrative Context.” Synoptic Gospels Program Unit, 2015 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • “‘So Shall Your Seed Be’: Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions.” Pauline Epistles Program Unit, 2014 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego, California. Respondents: N. T. Wright, Pamela Eisenbaum, and Ward Blanton.
  • “‘So Shall Your Seed Be’: Paul’s Use of Genesis 15:5 in Romans 4:18 in Light of Early Jewish Deification Traditions,” 2014 Paul and Judaism Conference, Houston Baptist University, Houston, Texas. March 19–20, 2014.
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