Kelly D. Liebengood

 

Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies
E-mail: KellyLiebengood@letu.edu
Phone: (903) 233-3372

Courses Taught:

• Biblical Literature, Paul's Prison Letters, and The Book of Revelation.

Education:

• B.S., San Jose State University (1993). Major: Advertising
• M.A., University of Kansas. Education /Teaching English as a Second Language (1998).
• M.Div., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Concentration: New Testament and Greco-Roman Backgrounds.
• Ph.D., University of St. Andrews, Scotland (ABD). Dissertation: "Zechariah 9-14 and the Substructure of 1 Peter's Theology of Suffering."

Research Interests:

• 1 Peter, The Pauline Epistles, The Book of Revelation, the Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament, theological hermeneutics, and the interface between Christian theology, work, economics, and vocation.

Publications and Presentations:

• Bruce W. Longenecker and Kelly D. Liebengood, eds. Engaging Economics: New Testament Scenarios and Early Christian Reception. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, forthcoming in November 2009.
• "Economics and New Testament Studies?". In Engaging Economics: New Testament Scenarios and Early Christian Reception. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, forthcoming November 2009.
• "Towards A Theology of Work in the Catholic Epistles," for the Theology of Work Project (http://www.theologyofwork.com/home/index.cfm), forthcoming 2009.
• "¿Que quiere decir la pasión de Cristo? El significado del sufrimiento de Jesús, según las Escrituras." Apuntes Pastorales 21:4 (2004): 8-12. [What does the Passion of Christ mean? The significance of Jesus' suffering according to the Scriptures.]
• "1 Peter's Fiery Trials and Zechariah 9-14's Pierced Shepherd-King". 22 Nov 2008, Society of Biblical Literature, Boston.
• "Messianic Woes in 1 Peter? Whoa!" 22 Nov 2008, Society of Biblical Literature, Boston
• "'Don't be like your fathers': reassessing the ethnic identity of 1 Peter's 'elect sojourners'." British New Testament Conference, 4 September 2008, University of Durham.

Background:

Prior to joining the faculty of LeTourneau University in 2009, Kelly taught New Testament and Theology at Seminario ESEPA in San José, Costa Rica. Kelly and his wife, Marietta, met while serving as missionaries in Concepción, Chile. Together they have served as campus ministers at the University of Kansas, and as missionaries with United World Mission in Costa Rica and Scotland. They have four children who teach them a lot about God and the meaning of life.

Personal Statement:

In my junior year of college my world was turned upside-down: I became a follower of Jesus. Perhaps it is for this reason that I have always considered the university years to be the most significant period of life for developing a holistic, globally-minded, understanding of our Christian call for life-long service in God's world. I consider it to be a tremendous privilege and opportunity to serve at LeTourneau University, where I hope to encourage college students to discover, understand and live out their Christian vocation, whether in the workplace or in a cross-cultural setting.