Meredith Faubel Nyberg, Ph.D.

Teaching Outlook

Through study of the whole Bible, my goal is to help students to better understand YHWH the God of Israel as Father, Son, and Spirit, and to grow in relationship with Him. I desire to help students learn to ask deep questions of the text and to wrestle with possible answers in a conversational way, learning to hold both knowledge and mystery. I design my courses so that students learn to engage these ideas with mind, heart, spirit, and imagination.

Areas of Specialty

Bible: Genesis, the Torah / Pentateuch, the early historical books, Ruth, the prophetic books, the Gospels

Topics: Biblical narrative / storytelling techniques, literary patterns

Publications

Anticipated presentation and article: "Dedication and God's Salvation: Children and Sacrifice" to be presented at Oak Hill College, London, England, June, 2021, in honor of Dr. Gordon McConville

Lexham Bible Dictionary, Logos Bible Software, 2015. Authored seven articles on:

• Anointing in Background and Practice
• Caleb, Israelite Spy, Son of Jephunneh
• Children in the Biblical World
• Feast of Unleavened Bread
• Elkanah, Father of Samuel
• Kish, Son of Abiel, Father of Saul
• Rachel’s Tomb

Professional Presentations

• OT Paper: “The Character Spotlight Pattern in 1 Samuel 13–15,” SBL Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, November 2018

• Invited Respondent: Nancy DeClaissé-Walford on violence in the Psalms, North Park Symposium, Chicago, IL, September 2018

• OT Paper: “Jonathan and His Arrow Fetching Lad as a Narrative Pattern in 1 Samuel 20,” Twin Cites Hebrew Bible/OT Colloquium, St. Paul, MN, June 2017

• OT Paper: “Allusions to the Cain and Abel Narrative in 1 Samuel,” Upper Midwest Regional SBL, St. Paul, MN, Spring 2016

• Paper: “Lads in the Spotlight: Narrative Techniques in 1 Samuel”; Received first place in a competition of master’s level students from several prominent seminaries

• NT Paper: “The Lads Became Prophets and Kings: A Comparison of Luke 1-2 to 1-2 Samuel,” Upper Midwest Regional SBL, St. Paul, MN, Spring 2011

• OT Paper: “Expansion: Lads in the Spotlight: Narrative Techniques in 1 Samuel,” Upper Midwest Regional SBL, St. Paul, MN, Spring 2010

• OT Paper: “Early Hebrew Worship Practices: 1 Samuel 1-3 in the Context of Korah’s Rebellion and the Passover,” Midwest Regional ETS, St. Paul, MN, Spring 2010

• First Place OT Paper, Master’s level: “Lads in the Spotlight: Narrative Techniques in 1 Samuel,” Midwest Regional ETS conference; Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL, Spring 2008

Dissertation Topic

The Character Spotlight Pattern: Characterization and the na‘ar in 1 Samuel

Using narrative criticism, I identify a pattern of three overlapping “character spotlights” identifying five stages in the character development of Samuel, Saul, and David with an emphasis on the recurring role of the na‘ar, often translated as ‘young boy’ in English. Identifying this pattern reveals the purpose of the storytellers to show the character of God by exploring the challenges that He places before these three human leaders, thus exposing their allegiance or non-allegiance to God and His purposes for humanity.

Languages

Biblical Hebrew (primary), biblical Greek, theological German, basic French