my favourite new testament scholars

Who are my favourite New Testament scholars? This is a slightly different question than who I think are the best New Testament scholars.

My favourite New Testament scholars are those whose work is three-dimensional: having depth, reflecting careful and thoughtful study of the texts or subjects at hand and the critical issues involved; having breadth, representing genuine engagement with perspectives much broader than their own; and having height, approaching the subject from an authentic, dynamic Christian perspective centred on the apostolic gospel. Put another way, these are scholars who produce quality work that directly benefits Christian thinking and living but that also transcends faith borders. (Scholars whose work is less directly "Christian" can still be outstanding scholars, of course, often even better scholars than those whose work is more distinctly "Christian." Outstanding non-Christian scholars, or even publicly "a-Christian" scholars, possess the two dimensions of depth and breadth--the essential dimensions of all quality scholarship. Many of these scholars would make it on my list of the best New Testament scholars, but these are not necessarily among my favourites.) In addition, my favourite New Testament scholars write well, communicating the results of their research clearly and in an engaging way; when I read them I don't feel like I am doing research so much as engaging in a conversation.

Given these descriptions, here are but a few of my favourite living New Testament scholars:

• Richard Bauckham. Bauckham obliterates the distinctions between biblical studies and theology. His work is characterized by carefulness, but with more than a touch of the provocative as well.
• James Dunn. Dunn has made a distinguished career of questioning old assumptions and casting old questions in new terms. He has unflinchingly tackled the really big questions of New Testament studies.
• Gordon Fee. Fee is the unsung hero on this list. Everything he's done is excellent and much is required reading on the topic, but he hasn't been as prolific in scholarly writing as the others.
• Richard Hays. Everything I've read of his reflects careful scholarship and attempts to advance the given discussion in significant ways. His integration of exegesis, theology, and ethics is compelling. Only one complaint: he needs to write more.
• Ben Witherington. The N. T. Wright of America: evangelical in perspective, public and prolific in his work. He's what I would consider a "steady exegete": you always know what to expect from him, which makes his interpretation somewhat predictable, but he's consistent in the multi-dimensional character of his scholarship.
• N. T. Wright. Love him or hate him, he is certainly the most influential and prolific evangelical New Testament scholar today. For myself, I also think he is one of the best. He's brilliant in general theories and perspectives, less consistently so in the details of exegesis and critical methodology. He's terrific at reading old texts in fresh ways, but can be guilty at times of imposing fresh ways on old texts.

"Time fails me" in describing other favourites, along with some of those whom I would consider to be among the best living New Testament scholars: Dale Allison, David Aune, Craig Blomberg, Darrell Bock, Markus Bockmuehl, Donald Carson, Adela Yarbro Collins, Bart Ehrman, Philip Esler, Craig Evans, Paula Fredriksen, Mark Goodacre, Martin Hengel, Larry Hurtado, Craig Keener, John Kloppenborg, Andreas Köstenberger, Richard Longenecker, Howard Marshall, Scot McKnight, Douglas Moo, E. P. Sanders, Graham Stanton, Peter Stuhlmacher, Gerd Theissen, Anthony Thiselton, Francis Watson, and more...