Brian joined the Knox Faculty in 2004.
Brian enjoys guiding students toward a better understanding of the culture and setting of the Bible and helping them acquire the tools to exegete and apply it in a responsible and life-changing way. His areas of teaching and research are Old Testament interpretation, Hebrew, Joel and Amos, eschatology, and Israelite history and religion. Brian is frequently invited as a guest lecturer and preacher in a variety of denominational settings. He is an active member of Glenbrook Presbyterian Church, Mississauga.
He is currently working on the Joel and Amos volume in the Apollos Old Testament Commentary Series for IVP-UK.
His new book (with Tim Perry), After Dispensationalism: Reading the Bible for the End of the World (Lexham Press), releases April 2023 and is available for pre-order now at www.afterdispensationalism.com.
Courses:
KNB3232HS – Bible in Context: Amos and Social Justice
KNB2362HF – You, Your Congregation, and the End of the World: Reclaiming Biblical Apocalyptic for the Church
KNB1006 – Reading the Old Testament
KNB2127HF – Hebrew Reading and Exegesis
My publications:
- “The Curious Incident of the Boys and the Bears: 2 Kings 2 and the Prophetic Authority of Elisha.” Tyndale Bulletin 67, no. 1 (2016): 23–35.
- “Orígenes y desarrollo del fundamentalismo estadounidense y sus implicaciones para la iglesia cubana.” [In Spanish. English title: “The Roots and Development of American Fundamentalism and its Implications for the Cuban Church”]. Didajé 7 (2015): 16–28.
- “Amos 4:1 and the Cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria: A Reappraisal.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 74/2 (2012): 231–46.
- “Not Just Any King: Abimelek, the Northern Monarchy, and the Final Form of Judges.” Journal of Biblical Literature, 131/3 (2012): 443–54.
- “Social Justice.” In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Prophets. Eds. Mark Boda & J. Gordon McConville. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2012.
- “Habershon, Ada Ruth.” In The Handbook of Women Biblical Interpreters: A Historical and Biographical Guide, edited by Marion Ann Taylor and Agnes Choi, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2012.
- “The Book of Daniel and the Roots of New Testament Mission.” In Christian Mission: Old Testament Foundations and New Testament Developments. McMaster New Testament Studies. Ed. Stanley Porter. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2010.
- Randall Heskett & Brian Irwin (Eds.) The Bible As A Human Witness To Divine Revelation: Hearing The Word Of God Through Historically Dissimilar Traditions. Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 469. London: T & T Clark, 2010.
- “Removing Ruth: Tiqqune Sopherim in Ruth 3.3-4?” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 32 (2008): 331-338.
- “The Laying on of Hands in 1 Tim. 5:22: A New Proposal.” Bulletin of Biblical Research 18/1 (2008): 123-129.
- “Ruth, History of Interpretation.” In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry, and Writings. Eds. Tremper Longman III & Peter Enns. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2008.
- “Amanuensis.” In Vol. 1 of The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Old Testament. Eds. Katharine Doob Sakenfeld et al. Nashville: Abingdon, 2006.
- “Ekron.” In Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books. Eds. Bill T. Arnold & H. G. M. Williamson. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2005.
- “Yahweh’s Suspension of Free Will in the Old Testament: Divine Immorality or Sign-Act?” Tyndale Bulletin 54/2 (2003): 55-62
- Entries, “Cubit,” “Hamon-Gog,” “Libnah,” “Mount Gilboa,” “Topheth,” and “Travellers, Valley of the” in The Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Ed. David Noel Freedman. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. 2000.
- “Molek Imagery and the Slaughter of Gog in Ezekiel 38 and 39.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 65 (1995): 93-112.
- “Mahaneh-Dan.” Pp. 473-74 in Vol. 4 of The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Ed. David Noel Freedman et al. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
- “Shebarim.” Pp. 1171-72 in Vol. 5 of The Anchor Bible Dictionary. Ed. David Noel Freedman et al. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
