John H. Elliott (biblical scholar)

John Hall Elliott (October 23, 1935 - December 13, 2020) was a biblical scholar and Professor Emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco. A founding member of The Context Group, his scholarship and teaching examine the Bible through interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and ecumenical lenses.[1][2][3][4]

Education

After attending Concordia Preparatory School, Elliott enrolled in Concordia College in 1953. In 1955 he began attending Concordia Seminary, where he later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree (1957), as well as Bachelors and Masters of Divinity degrees (1960). Elliott then pursued doctoral work at Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, graduating magna cum laude in 1963 with a Doctor of Theology degree. He was ordained a minister of the Lutheran Church in 1964.[2]

Teaching

Elliott was an Assistant Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary from 1963-1967. During this same period he was also a Visiting Professor of Sacred Scripture at Webster College. In 1967, as the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod became more conservative, Elliott took a position as a Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco, a position he would hold until 2001.[2] During this time, he twice won USF's Distinguished Research Award (1982, 2001) as well as its Distinguished Teaching Award (1992). Additionally, he served as the inaugural Honore F. Zabala Chair in Theology (1967-1968), the Director of the Honors Program in the Humanities (1982-1992), and won the university's Distinguished Service Award (1992).[4]

Elliot also held visiting and adjunct professor positions at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (1976, 1983), Graduate Theological Union (1977), University of Notre Dame (1981), University of Pretoria (1991), and the University of Bologna (2001). Additionally, he was the first Lutheran to serve as the Catholic Biblical Association of America Visiting Professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.[3][5]

Activism

Elliot was a strong union supporter, and played a significant role in the struggle to unionize faculty at the University of San Francisco, a process which led to the creation of the University of San Francisco Faculty Association in 1975.[4][5]

He also played a key role in the University Lutheran Chapel Sanctuary's participation in the Sanctuary movement.[5][6]

Scholarship

Elliott is the author of numerous books, articles and reviews. He is regarded as a pioneer of the social-scientific method in biblical studies and an expert in 1 Peter.[3][5] His major works include:

  • The Elect and the Holy. An Exegetical Examination of 1 Peter  2:4-10 and the Phrase basileion hierateuma. Supplements to  Novum Testamentum12. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1966; reprinted, Wipf & Stock, Eugene, OR, 2006.
  • Doxology: God's People Called to Celebrate His Glory. St. Louis, 1966.
  • The Christ-Life: Jesus Christ the Sacrament and Sacramental Living. Chicago, 1968.
  • Proclamation: Aids for Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year. Series A. Pentecost 3. Co-authored with Bruce Vawter.  Philadelphia: Fortress, 1975.
  • 1 Peter: Estrangement and Community. Herald Biblical Booklets. Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1979.
  • A Home for the Homeless.  A Sociological Exegesis of 1 Peter, Its Situation and Strategy. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981 (translated into Portugese and Spanish)
  • I-II Peter/Jude in: R. A. Martin and John Elliott, James, I-II Peter/Jude.  Augsburg Commentary on the New Testament. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1982.
  • What is Social-Scientific Criticism?  Guides to Biblical Scholarship.  Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993; published in Great Britain as  Social-Scientific Criticism of the New Testament. An Introduction. London: SPCK, 1995.
  • 1 Peter. A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Anchor Bible 37B. New York: Doubleday/Random House, 2000.
  • Conflict, Community, and Honor: 1 Peter in Social-Scientific Perspective. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2007.
  • Beware the Evil Eye. The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World. 4 vols. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015-2017.
  • Social-Scientific Criticism of the New Testament and Its Social World. (editor) Semeia 35. Decatur, GA: Scholars Press, 1986.

References
  1. "Teaching About Jesus". www.chronicle.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. "John Elliott | University of San Francisco - Academia.edu". usfca.academia.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  3. "Rev. Dr. John H. Elliott -- A Professional Resume". www.stcecilia-lagunitas.org. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  4. usfca.edu. "Passing of Rev. Dr. John H. Elliott". Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  5. "A Tribute to John "Jack" Elliott". Center & Library for the Bible and Social Justice. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. "John Elliott Obituary (1935 - 2020) - San Francisco Chronicle". www.legacy.com. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
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