Overview
Susan Grove Eastman’s scholarly focus is on Paul’s letters in relationship to the formation and transformation of Christian identity. Her first book explored Paul’s use of relational imagery to proclaim the gospel’s transforming and sustaining power in the life of Christian communities. More recent work has focused on Paul’s understanding of Israel, in Galatians and Romans, and on the theme of the incarnation, in Philippians. Her current research investigates questions of participation, imitation and identity formation, through a close reading of key Pauline texts in their first century context, and in conversation with contemporary work in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. With appointments in both the biblical and ministerial divisions, Dr. Eastman teaches courses on the New Testament, the Bible in the church, and preaching Paul, and directs the Doctor of Theology program.