Jeffrey Bingham named new dean of School of Theology

Dr. D. Jeffrey Bingham will serve as the 11th dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Trustees unanimously approved this decision at their spring meeting, April 13. Bingham is succeeding David Allen, who will now serve as dean of the School of Preaching.

Southwestern President Paige Patterson cited four reasons for being excited about Bingham’s joining the seminary. “First of all, [Jeffrey Bingham] is a name that is known at every evangelical institution in the world,” he said. “Secondly, he is a recognized patristic scholar, and we’ve been attempting to build our patristics area. Third, because he is increasingly committed to our stance on the significance of the Anabaptist movement.” Citing his final reason with a laugh, Patterson concluded, in reference to Bingham’s tall stature, “And fourth, because we needed some height on this faculty.”

This will not be Bingham’s first time serving at Southwestern. From 2002-2003, he served as assistant dean for theological studies and professor of historical theology here at the seminary. Prior to this, as well as after, Bingham served in multiple positions at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). Most recently, he served as associate dean of biblical and theological studies as well as professor of theology at Wheaton College.

Bingham completed his undergraduate work at New Mexico State University and his post-graduate work at DTS, earning both a master of theology (1986) and Ph.D. (1995). Additionally, he was ordained at Arlington Bible Church in Arlington, Texas, in 1986.

Bingham’s academic specialties are patristic theology, history of the reception of the Bible, history of biblical interpretation, second-century Christianity, and Irenaeus. His published works include Irenaeus’ Use of Matthew’s Gospel in Adversus Haereses and Pocket History of the Church. He also served as editor of The Bible in Ancient Christianity and associate editor of the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology.

Former president of the Southwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), Bingham also served as section chair of the “History of Interpretation” section of SBL and section chair of the “Biblical Interpretation in Ancient Christianity” section of SBL International. Other past positions include president of the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies and director of the Southwest Seminar on the development of early Catholic Christianity. Bingham also has extensive international experience, having lived in numerous locations around the world including Venezuela, Madagascar, Thailand, Qatar, Tunisia and Italy.

David Allen has been serving as dean of the School of Theology since 2004. During Southwestern’s fall 2015 trustee meeting, Allen was elected the founding dean of the seminary’s new School of Preaching, effective August 1, 2016. In addition, during the spring meeting, trustees voted to approve Allen’s status as distinguished professor of preaching.