Dr. Viktor Roudkovski

Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies

viktorroudkovski@letu.edu

Courses Taught: Biblical Literature, Acts of the Apostles, General Letters, Romans, Intertestamental Period, Biblical Foundations, Johannine Literature, Introductory and Intermediate Greek, Parables of Jesus, Life and Teachings of Christ, Cornerstones.

Dr. Viktor Roudkovski was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, a former Republic of the Soviet Union, into the family of a Protestant Evangelical minister. In spite of the influence of Communist culture in high school, he accepted Christ at the age of 16. A few months later, he felt God calling him into full-time ministry. Prior to coming to the United States, Dr. Roudkovski pursued a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering at the Technical and Industrial College in Almaty.  Following the technical training, he spent a semester at Mueller College (affiliated with the Brethren church) in Brisbane, Australia, in English studies. Next, he traveled to the Fiji Islands to study missions at the South Pacific Missionary Training Center in the city of Suva. In 1993, not long after the fall of Communism, Dr. Roudkovski came to the United States to pursue biblical studies. While studying at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary he met his wife, Melanie. Prior to coming to LeTourneau, he had the opportunity to teach biblical studies courses as an adjunct instructor at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. His wife, Dr. Melanie Roudkovski, serves as Associate Professor of Psychology at LeTourneau University. They have one son, Nikolas, and one daughter, Viktoria. Growing up, Dr. Viktor Roudkovski played on a junior hockey team representing his home town of Almaty. Now he loves playing golf.

Education

Blue Mountain College, B.A. (Major: Biblical Studies; Minor: Social Science), 1993-1996
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, M.Div. in Biblical Languages, 1996-1998
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th.M. 1999-2003
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (Major: NewTestament; Minor: Theology), 1999-2004

Writings and Research Interests

• Dissertation, "Understanding the Meaning of Jesus' Death through Mark's Presentation of the Last Supper," March 2004
• “Liturgy in the Life of the Synagogue: Studies in the History of Jewish Prayer” by Ruth Langer and Steven Fine. Reviewed by Viktor Roudkovski. Review of Biblical Literature (June 2006).
• “Praising Christ in the Book of Hebrews: When Hymns Must Give Way to Encomia,” Paper presented at Southwest Regional Meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature, March 7, 2009.
• Articles in the Russian Bible Dictionary (Gospel of Mark, Last Supper, Passover, Second Temple, and Synagogue).
• “The Neglected Gospel: The Significance of Mark’s Gospel for Our Faith,” The Voice of Truth, October 2006 (Published in Russian).
• “The Death of Jesus and the Torn Veil,” The Voice of Truth, November, 2006 (Published in Russian).
• “The Death of Jesus and the Centurion’s Confession,” The Voice of Truth, January, 2007 (Published in Russian).“The Triumphant Gospel: the Story of the Acts of the Apostles,” The Voice of Truth, February, 2008 (Published in Russian). 
• “The Resurrection of the Son of God: Surveying Theories of the Resurrection” The Voice of Truth, March 2009 (Published in Russian).
  

Research Interests: Historical Jesus Research, New Testament and Old Testament Literature, Backgrounds of Early Christianity, Intertestamental Period, Social and Cultural Aspects of the Biblical Texts, Literary Approaches to Biblical Texts, Historical Jesus Research, Textual Studies of Biblical Literature, Biblical and Systematic Theology, Charismatic and Pentecostal Spirituality, The Relevance of Biblical and Theological Studies in the Life of the Church. 

Professional Involvement

Society of Biblical Literature American
Academy of Religion
Evangelical Theological Society

Service

Ministerial
Youth Director, Antioch Baptist Church, Rienzi, MS, 1994-1995
Summer Youth Director, First Baptist Church, Booneville, MS, May-August 1996
Pastor, Olive Baptist Church, Lumberton, MS, 1996-2000
Pastor, Blood River Baptist Church, Albany, LA, 2000-2002
Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church, Boligee, AL, 2002-2005 (part-time)
Pastor, Providence Baptist Church, Longview, TX  2005-2008

Teaching
Adjunct Instructor of New Testament and Greek, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001-2003
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies, LeTourneau University, 2005-2008
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry, LeTourneau University, 2008-present

Personal Statement

I feel blessed and privileged to teach biblical studies courses for the students of LeTourneau University. I enjoy interacting with students and others from diverse backgrounds. Nothing is more exciting for me than to see students develop passion for the Word of God. My favorite passage in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 15:58 which states "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."