Gary D Collier

Gary Dean Collier (born August 31, 1950) is an American New Testament scholar focusing on the topics scripture and canon, midrash, and intertextuality of the New Testament. Related to these interests, he has proposed a "conversational model" for understanding biblical interrelationships. He has written and edited books and articles ranging from academic studies in Paul to popular level study books for church groups. He is the founder and current CEO of the not-for-profit Institute for the Art...See more

Gary Dean Collier (born August 31, 1950) is an American New Testament scholar focusing on the topics scripture and canon, midrash, and intertextuality of the New Testament. Related to these interests, he has proposed a "conversational model" for understanding biblical interrelationships. He has written and edited books and articles ranging from academic studies in Paul to popular level study books for church groups. He is the founder and current CEO of the not-for-profit Institute for the Art of Biblical Conversation. EDUCATION: Collier was the first from his immediate family to attended college. He entered as a Bible and Biblical languages major at Freed-Hardeman College (A.A.,1970) and continued at David Lipscomb College (B.A., 1972) and Harding Graduate School of Religion (M.Th. 1977). At Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA), Collier graduated summa cum laude (4.0 grade average) studying with Drs. Donald A. Hagner, Ralph P. Martin, and Robert A. Geulich. Upon graduation Collier received the Everett Harrison, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award as top graduating student (Th.M., 1991). While attending Fuller Seminary, Collier also studied Comparative Midrash with James A. Sanders at the Ancient Biblical Manuscript Center in Claremont, CA., and also attended regularly (for two years) the New Testament Graduate Seminar at the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity (of the Claremont Graduate School) directed at that time by James M. Robinson of the Nag Hammadi Library fame. Upon entry to the University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology (1991, Denver, CO.), Collier was awarded the Gerald L. & Florence M. Schlessman Graduate Fellowship (Highest Academic Award for entering doctoral studies) where he studied especially with Drs. Gregory Robbins and Dennis R. MacDonald, and where he received two awards: Rocky Mountain/Great Plains regional award for best student paper for the Society of Biblical Literature (1993) and the Christian Scholarship Foundation Graduate Student Award (1995). After completing his coursework and qualifying exams, a family crisis led to an extended leave. Collier then completed his Ph.D. in 2014 with the Graduate Theological Foundation through its association with Oxford University. His dissertation defense was held at Christ Church before a mixed American/Oxford faculty committee. Professor Donald A. Hagner served as the supervisor of the dissertation entitled Engaging Paul: Shades of Conversation in 1Thessalonians (2014), which has since been thoroughly revised and expanded for a wider audience. CAREER: Collier was appointed as Teaching Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary for both Hebrew and Greek languages, and he became a Teaching Assistant for professor Donald A. Hagner, serving as the initial (unlisted) proof-reader for the Word commentary on 1Thessalonians by F. F. Bruce. He also taught Greek as an adjunct faculty member (from 1992-1995) at the Iliff School of Theology while in residence during doctoral classwork. From 1997-2003, Collier joined the faculty at Martin University in Indianapolis, IN., where he taught biblical literature and languages on both undergraduate and graduate levels. Noting the changing landscape of higher education to an increasingly "distance model," Collier resigned college teaching in 2003 to found a new venture for academic biblical studies: The Institute for the Art of Biblical Conversation (at first, The Coffee With Paul Classroom), a biblical-text-focused, online program for non-degree students to bring academic biblical studies to people of all backgrounds. Complete bio here: https: //coffeewithpaul.com/gcollier/ See less