Listed here are a few of the things I've been working on in my recent graduate career, some of which might give a better sense of who I am and what drives my day-to-day work.

CURRENT PROJECTS:

My dissertation on 2 Corinthians, written under Richard B. Hays.

A new translation of 1 Maccabees for the Lexham Greek-English Interlinear Septuagint in conjunction with Logos Bible Software. [project description here]

A first edition and English translation of an important new Syriac text. With fellow Duke doctoral students K. Luckritz and K. Smith.

COMPLETED PROJECTS:

09.2009 /// Finalized a translation of a Syriac text entitled "The Great Deeds of Bishop Paul and Priest John," a sort of Don-Quixote-like tale of the adventures of two undercover clerics in the strange world they inhabit. Rarely is a text from antiquity so engaging and downright funny. At some point I hope to post a translation here.

04.2009 /// Presented at the April session of the Duke New Testament and Judaic Studies Colloquium, giving a paper entitled "Deuteronomy and Discipline at Corinth." Very much enjoyed the experience.

03.2009 ///
Conference paper for the 2009 meeting of SECSOR, entitled "The Circle of Grace in 2 Corinthians 1," Paul and Pauline Tradition section.

02.2009 ///
A reader's lexicon for the Testament of Abraham (A), to be used in the instruction of NT 2A/2B (Duke Divinity School). [draft available here]

12.2008 ///
Some light but rewarding organizational work with a graduate-student driven day conference at Duke Divinity School entitled "St. Paul and St. Alasdair." Papers were given and discussed, new connections betwen research projects were made, pizza and drinks were enjoyed. A good time was had by all. [my description here]

10.2008 ///
Finalized, after many labors, a submission draft of a study of 4 Maccabees, currently under review at a major journal.

08.2008 ///
Completed the second-level intensive language program in French at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT.

12.2007 ///
Completed comprehensive doctoral examinations in New Testament, Judaism, and Classics in partial fulfillment of my degree. Dissertation committee members: Richard B. Hays (chair), Joel Marcus, Zlatko Plese, Eric M. Meyers.

12.2007 ///
German-English translations for Reading the Bible Intertextually. eds. Richard Hays, Stefan Alkier, and Leroy Huizenga. Waco, TX: Baylor Press, forthcoming 2009. [publisher's description here]

08.2007 ///
Successfully completed the fourth-level (highest non-graduate level) German program at Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT, which included one masters-level course. Passed the Goethe-Zertifikat C1 examination, one of my goals for the summer. [descriptions of the examination here and here]

07.2005 ///
Completed intensive, intermediate-level German language program in Frankfurt, Germany.

06.2005 ///
Completed inaugural visiting scholar stint for the Duke University - Durham University exchange program in Religion and Theology. Supervised by John M. G. Barclay.