Overview
A proponent of theological interpretation of the Bible, Professor Chapman has studied, lectured, and taught internationally in a variety of academic and church settings. His work focuses on the formation of the biblical canon, the nature of the Old Testament as scripture, the dynamics of biblical narrative, the challenge of biblical violence, and the history and use of the Old Testament within the Christian tradition and Western culture. He is the author of 1 Samuel as Christian Scripture (Eerdmans, 2016) and The Law and the Prophets (Mohr Siebeck, 2000; paperback edition 2009). He coedited The Cambridge Companion to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (CUP, 2016) and Biblischer Text und theologische Theoriebildung (2001). He is an affiliate faculty member with Duke's Center for Jewish Studies and Director of Graduate Studies for Duke's PhD program in religion. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Theological Interpretation and the monograph series Siphrut: Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Scriptures (Eisenbrauns). He is also an ordained American Baptist minister. His current project is titled The Theology of the Book of Joshua, under contract with Cambridge University Press.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Editor’s Note
Journal Article Journal of Theological Interpretation · June 19, 2025 Full text CiteSaul the undead and David the bringer of life
Chapter · February 6, 2025 When the Israelite leadership ask for a king like all the other nations, it introduces a new sequence of powerful characters into the storyline. ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Fostering a culture of Teaching
Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Wabash Center · 2017 - 2022View All Grants