Christ Seminary-Seminex Professor of Old Testament emeritus, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

Born  at Springfield, IL, of George and Pauline Dorow Klein

Married to Marilyn Kieninger on 30 December, 1962, at Grace Lutheran Church, Pagedale, MO

Children:  Martha, Rebecca

Grandchildren:  Patrick Michael Conway; Daniel Patrick Conway

Luke Walter Klein-Collins, Seth Thomas Klein-Collins, and Jonah Flynn Klein-Collins

Education

1942-1950 Caldwell Elementary School, Chatham, IL

1950-1952 Ball Township High School, Glenarm, IL

1952-1954 Luther High School South, Chicago, IL

1954-1957 Concordia College, Milwaukee, WI

1957-1959 Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN (B.A., 1959)

1959-1962 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO (B.D. [M.Div.] 1962)

1962-1966 Harvard University Divinity School, Cambridge, MA (Th.D. 1966)

1963-1965 Teaching Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

1965-1966 Rockefeller Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

1966-1967 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

1977-1978 University of Göttingen, Germany (Humboldt Fellow)

1993 Kirchliche Hochschule, Humboldt University, Berlin (Humboldt Fellow)

1998 Albright Institute of Archaeological Research and Ecole Biblique, Jerusalem

2000 Visiting Scholar in Oriental Studies, Clare Hall, Cambridge University, England
 

2004 Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany (Humboldt Fellow)
 

4 September 1966 at St. Martini Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL

1966-1968 Instructor, Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN

1968-1974 Assistant Professor, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO

1969-1972 Pastor, The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, St. Louis, MO

1974-1981 Associate Professor, Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis, MO

1981-1983 Professor, Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis, MO

1981-1983 Chairperson, Department of Exegetical Theology, Christ Seminary-Seminex

1983-2008 Christ Seminary-Seminex Professor of Old Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

1988-1999 Dean, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; Acting Dean, January 1-June 30, 2005

Director of Reaccreditation Self-Study, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 2004-2006
 

1998 Guest Professor, Divinity School, University of Chicago

Society of Biblical Literature

Catholic Biblical Association

International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies

Chicago Society of Biblical Research, President-elect 2005-2006

Member, Board of Directors, Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis, MO; 1974, 1976-77, 1978-87

Member, Advisory Committee on Doctrine and Conciliation, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; 1974-1975

Member, Board of Directors, Lutheran Family and Children's Services, St. Louis, MO; 1971-1977

Chair, Social Policies Committee, Lutheran Family and Children's Services, St. Louis, MO; 1971-1977

Member, St. Louis Task Force on Soviet Jewry; 1977-1978

Seminary Series Dialogue Group - National Conference of Christians and Jews; 1978-1983

Recipient of Micah Award. American Jewish Committee; April 26, 1983

Chair, Curriculum Steering Committee, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; 1984

Member of Program Committee, Society of Biblical Literature; 1984-1986

Chair, Consultation on Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah, Society of Biblical Literature; 1985-1986

Chair, Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah Group, Society of Biblical Literature; 1987-1990

Chair, Stewardship Committee, Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL; 1986-1987

Member, Stewardship Committee, Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA; 1987-1989

Accrediting Commission, Association of Theological Schools, Pittsburgh, PA; 1990-1996

ELCA Consultation on Lutheran/Jewish Relations; 1990

Curriculum Review Committee, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 2001-2003

Academic Technology Leader, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 2003-

1985-Present Chicago Society of Biblical Research

1986-Present Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph Series

1986-92 Journal of Biblical Literature

2001-Present  Associate Editor Catholic Biblical Quarterly

2005- Theology & Life.  Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong

1974-Present Currents in Theology and Mission

1974-86 Managing Editor, Preaching Helps

"Studies in the Greek Texts of the Chronicler," Th.D. Dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

"New Evidence for an Old Recension of Reigns," Harvard Theological Review 60: 93-105

"Supplements in the Paraleipomena: A Rejoinder," Harvard Theological Review 61: 492-495

"Old Readings in 1 Esdras: The List of Returnees From Babylon (Ezra 2/Nehemiah 7)," Harvard Theological Review 62: 99-107

"Jeroboam's Rise to Power," Journal of Biblical Literature 89: 217-218

"The Song of Hannah," Concordia Theological Monthly 41: 674-687

"Job's Wife," Concordia Theological Monthly 42: 399-401

"Aspects of Intertestamental Messianism," Concordia Theological Monthly 43: 507-517

Sermon Studies for Epiphany II and III, Concordia Theological Monthly 44: 62-64

"Archaic Chronologies and the Textual History of the Old Testament," Harvard Theological Review 67: 255-263

"The Yahwist Looks at Abraham," Concordia Theological Monthly 45: 43-49

Sermon Study on Isaiah 49: 1-6 in The Minister's Manual, edited by Charles L. Wallis (New York, Harper & Row), 101-102

"Apocalyptic—What Is It?," Academy 32: 9-16

"A Theology for Exiles: The Kingship of Yahweh," Annual Meeting, Society of Biblical Literature, Chicago, IL

Sermon Study for the Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, Preaching Helps 2:65-66

Sermon Studies on the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Preaching Helps 3: 2, 19-21

"The Bible According to Beck" (A Review of An American Translation by William F. Beck), Currents in Theology and Mission 3: 104-109

"Interpreting OT Texts for Preaching—Ten Easy Steps," Preaching Helps 3: 11-13

"The Ordination of Women in the Lutheran Church" (with Gloria Weber), Currents in Theology and Mission 4: 151-157

Sermon Study for Trinity Sunday and the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Preaching Helps 4: 46-48

"Going Home—A Theology of Second Isaiah," Currents in Theology and Mission 5: 198-210

Textual Criticism of the Old Testament, Second Printing, Philadelphia: Fortress Press

"The Thrill of Discovery: Reflections on Frederick W. Danker's Contributions to New Testament Lexicography," Currents in Theology and Mission 6: 63-66

"A Book Worth Discussing: Brevard S. Childs' Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture" Currents in Theology and Mission 7: 57-63

"The Message of P," Kansas-Missouri Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Columbia, MO.  See 1981.

"Aspects of Intertestamental Messianism," The Bible in its Literary Milieu, edited by John Maier and Vincent Tollers, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 191-203. Reprinted from Concordia Theological Monthly 43 (1972) 507-517

"One Thing Is Needful," The Church and Changing Families, Lutheran Human Relations Association of America, Valparaiso, IN

Sermon Studies on the Third and Fourth Sundays of Easter, Preaching Helps 8: 25-27

"The Childs' Proposal: A Symposium," Word and World 1: 106-109

"Hands on the Threshold—I Sam. 5:4 and Judg. 19:27," Kansas-Missouri Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Columbia, MO

a.k.a. Kazanjian, Paul. "What Parallels?" The Christian Century p. 654, June 3-10

"Twelve Cheers for the Risen Christ," A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Easter, based on Psalm 148, Augsburg Sermons, Old Testament Lessons, Series B; Minneapolis: Augsburg, 116-122

"The Message of P," Die Botschaft und die Boten, Festschrift für Hans Walter Wolff, Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 57-66

Sermon Studies on the Transfiguration of our Lord and on Ash Wednesday, Preaching Helps 9: 104-107

"The Ten Commandments and Human Rights," a major review of a book by Walter Harrelson, Interpretation 36: 189-198

"The Use of the Old Testament in Parish Ministry," Resource, Series 9, Number 5, January 1982.  Continuing Education Cassette Series, American Lutheran Church, Minneapolis:  Augsburg.

"Abijah's Campaign Against the North—What Were the Chronicler's Sources?" Kansas-Missouri Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, Liberty, MO.  See 1983.

"The Origin and Nature of our Estrangement," Fourth International Consultation on the Church and the Jewish People, sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation; Bossey, near Geneva, Switzerland, August, 1982. Published in The Significance of Judaism for the Life and Mission of the Church, LWF Studies, 1983, pp. 19-39

"A Liberated Lifestyle: Slaves and Servants in Biblical Perspective," Currents in Theology and Mission 9: 212-221

"Liberated Leadership: Masters and 'Lords' in Biblical Perspective," Currents in Theology and Mission 9:282-290

"Religious Documents and Statements on Christian-Jewish Relations," Interfaith Clergy Council of Greater St. Louis, November 11

"From Confessing to Creating," Exegetical Essay, English Synod Convention, Valparaiso University

"How Many in a Thousand?" Annual Meeting, Society of Biblical Literature, New York, December 20.  See 1997.

"How Should We Read the Genealogies in Chronicles?" Kansas-Missouri Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, St. Louis, MO, March 21

"Abijah's Campaign Against the North (II Chr. 13)—What Were the Chronicler's Sources?" Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 95: 210-217

"Women and Men in the Church," National Lutheran Campus Pastors Staff Conference, August

"Great Love Stories of the Bible," The Pastor's School, Furman University, Greenville, SC, July 4-8

"So You Want to Buy an Old Testament Commentary," Currents in Theology and Mission 11: 237-242

"The Origin and Nature of our Estrangement from the Jews," published in German as "Ursprung und Art unserer Entfremdung," in Die Bedeutung des Judentums für Leben und Mission der Kirche, LWF-Studien

Sermon Study on Jeremiah 15: 15-21, Preaching Helps 11: 41-42

1984 Lutheran Conferences for Worship, Essays on Mark's Gospel, Colorado State University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary/Capital University

"Anti-Semitism as Christian Legacy: The Origin and Nature of Our Estrangement from the Jews," Currents in Theology and Mission 11: 285-301

"Historical Allusions in the Genealogies of 1 Chronicles 1-9," Annual Meeting, Society of Biblical Literature, Anaheim, CA November 23

Israel in Exile: A Theological Interpretation, Second printing, Philadelphia: Fortress

Sermon Study on Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Preaching Helps 12: 72-73

"Speaking of Prophets Today," Forum Letter 14, 10 (October 25), 7-8

"Learning Unit on Judges, 1 Samuel," ABIL (Adult Biblical Independent Learning)

"A Valentine for Those Who Fear Yahweh: The Book of Malachi," Currents in Theology and Mission 13: 143-152

"Beginning of the Covenant People," Adult Augsburg Bible Studies, Lutheran Church in America

Sermon Study on Deuteronomy 8:1-10 (Thanksgiving Day) Preaching Helps 13: 58-59

"Dialog with Gay and Lesbian Lutherans: A Response," Currents in Theology and Mission 13: 304-306

"Are We Lovers Anymore? A Response?" Theological Education 24 : 37 38 39

"Call, Covenant, and Community: The Story of Abraham and Sarah," Third Interfaith Conference on Biblical Studies, Portland, Oregon, May 5

John Milton Lectures on the Prophet Ezekiel, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN October 13

Conference of Bishops of the ELCA, "The Bishops and Prayer," December 14

"Redactional and Text-Critical Issues in the Ark Narrative," Annual Meeting, Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, MA.

"Call, Covenant, and Community: The Story of Abraham and Sarah," Currents in Theology and Mission 15: 120-127

"Old Testament Studies Today and Tomorrow," Entree 5: 19-21

"Rules Are Not Enough," The Lutheran 1: 10-11

"WORDsearch: State of the Art Concordance," Currents in Theology and Mission 15: 194-196

"Samuel," International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume IV, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, pp. 311-312

"Samuel, Books of," International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume IV, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, pp. 312-320

Ezekiel: The Prophet and His Message, Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press

"Ezra," Harper's Bible Commentary, edited by James L. Mays, San Francisco: Harper & Row, pp. 372-378

"Nehemiah," Harper's Bible Commentary, pp. 379-386

"1 Esdras," Harper's Bible Commentary, pp. 769-775

Textual Criticism of the Old Testament (Korean edition)

"Faith and Sight in Exodus 32-34," Lutheran Forum 23 (May): 25-26, 31, 33

"The God of the Bible Confronts the Politics of Hunger," Address at the World Mission Institute, LSTC, April.  See 1990.

"The God of the Bible Confronts the Politics of Hunger," Currents in Theology and Mission 17: 110-117

Israel No Exílio. Sao Paulo: Edicioes Paulinas.  Translation into Portuguese

"Reflections on Historiography in the Account of Jehoshaphat." New Orleans: Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, November 20

"Prophet-Mystic and Social Justice: A Response." Centennial Meeting of the Chicago Society of Biblical Research. DePaul University. April 20

"'Prophet-Mystic and Social Justice': A Response." Biblical Research 36:69-73

"Celebrating and Sharing the Gift: Reflections on Jacob, Israel's Ancestor." Currents in Theology and Mission 18: 263-272

"Christology and Incarnation: Fulfillment and Radical Reinterpretation of the Old Testament Prophets." Ex Auditu 7 (1991): 9-17.

"Chronicles, Book of 1-2." Anchor Bible Dictionary 1:992-1002.

"The First Lesson: Advent-Easter." Exploring the Yearly Lectionary: Studies in the Series A Bible Texts. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress

"Commentary Recommendations for the Old Testament," Currents in Theology and Mission 20 (1993): 45-48

Notes on "1 and 2 Chronicles." The HarperCollins Study Bible (New Revised Standard Version). New York: HarperCollins

"The Nations in the Book of Ezekiel." Invited Address—Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, November 20, 1993

"The Tower of Babel and Pentecost." Lutheran Woman Today 6: 10-11

"Review of Japhet's I & II Chronicles," Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah Section, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, November 20

"Reflections on Historiography in the Account of Jehoshaphat," in Pomegranates and Golden Bells (Jacob Milgrom Volume), ed. David P. Wright, David Noel Freedman, and Avi Hurvitz.  (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 1995) 643-657.

"Let Me Not Sing the Story of Your Love Off Key." Keynote Address at Annual Meeting of Lutheran Musical Association, Valparaiso University

"Compassion and Justice—but When and How?" Nebraska Synod Leadership Conference, Fall

"Something new under the sun: Computer concordances and biblical study," Christian Century (November 12): 1034-1037.

"How Many in a Thousand?" in The Chronicler as Historian, ed. M. Patrick Graham, Kenneth G. Hoglund, and Steven L. McKenzie (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press), pp. 207-282.

"Israel/Today's Believers and the Nations: Three Test Cases," Currents in Theology and Mission 24: 232-237.

"Prophets and Prophecy in the Books of Chronicles," The Bible Today 36, 4:227-232.

"David: Sinner and Saint in Samuel and Chronicles," Currents in Theology and Mission 26: 104-116.

"Commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah," in New Interpreter's Bible. (Nashville: Abingdon Press)

"The High Priestly Genealogies: A New Reconstruction" (SBL Annual Meeting, Boston, November 23)

Notes on "1 Esdras" in The Access Bible. (Oxford: University Press).

"Biblical Studies after Seminex."  A Lecture at the 25th anniversary of Christ Seminary-Seminex

Website (since 2000) The Old Testament and the Ancient Near East http://ot-studies.com

"Let Me Not Sing the Story of Your Love Off Key," Currents in Theology and Mission 27:253-262.

"A Book Worth Discussing: Authority Vested. A Story of Identity and Change in the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod," Currents in Theology and Mission 27:369-373.

"Commentary on "Ezra," "Nehemiah," "1 Esdras," pp. 338-352 and 698-704, in The HarperCollins Bible Commentary. Revised Edition (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco)

"The Ironic End of Joash in Chronicles" pp. 116-127 in For a Later Generation (Nickelsburg Volume) (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International)

"Ezekiel in the Twenty-first Century," pp. 1-21 in The Book of Ezekiel. Theological and Anthropological Perspectives (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature)

"Ezekiel, Book of," pp. 446-448 in Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans)

Letter to the editor, criticizing the work of Neil Altman, Lutheran Partners  17, 1 (2001) 6. 

"The Faith and the World," CurTM 28 (2001) 335-340 (Hefner Volume).

"Isaiah for Advent," CurTM 28 (2001): 560-566.

"Narrative Texts:  Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah," pp 385-401 in The Blackwell Companion to the Bible (November, 2001).

Panelist reviewing Unfolding the Deuteronomistic History, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, November, 2001.

"Which Bible Translation is Right for Me?" Interpreter 45, 8 (2001) 22-23.

Israel in Exile:  A Theological Interpretation.   Mifflintown, PA:  Sigler Press.

Notes for "Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1 Esdras," in New Interpreter's Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon)

"The Bible and Our Ethics," Epistle 33 (2003):6-9.

The Chronicler as Theologian.  Essays in Honor of Ralph W. Klein.

Edited by M. Patrick Graham, Steven L. McKenzie, and Gary N. Knoppers.
London:  T & T Clark, 2003

A Festschrift presented to me at the Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta, November 22, 2003.
 

A response to Passion, Vitality, and Foment.  The Dynamics of Second Temple Judaism.  Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, Atlanta, November 24, 2003.

2004

"The Last Words of David,"  CurTM 31 (2004):15-23. (Smith Volume)

"Africa and Africans in the Book of Chronicles,"  CurTM 31 (2004): 274-281. (Pero Volume)

Invited lectures on Chronicles at Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany, and the University of Zürich.

Panelist responding to Isaac Kalimi, An Ancient Israelite Historian (Assen:  Royal Van Gorcum).  Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, San Antonio

Revision of Selected Psalms for the new worship book of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Robert H. Fischer, Donovan J. Palmquist, and John H. Tietjen.  In Memory and in Hope.

2005

Notes on "1 and 2 Chronicles."  The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Bible.  San Francisco:  HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.

"Promise and Fulfillment".  Old Testament Colloquium at Catholic Theological Union, February 13, and Contesting Texts Conference, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, March 1.

"Psalms in Chronicles," Currents in Theology and Mission 32 (2005): 264-275.

"Sermon on Matthew 10:24-42," delivered at the Institute for Liturgical Studies, Valpariso University, April 4.  Published as "Ministry this Year," Currents in Theology and Mission 32 (2005): 366-370.

2006

"The Last Words of David" in Essays in Honor of Sara Japhet (Jerusalem:  Mosad Bialik).

"The God of the Chronicler," Word and World Supplement Series 5.  Essays in honor of Terence E. Fretheim. 120-127

Panel Discussion:  Bible Software in the Classroom.  Midwest Region of the Society of Biblical Literature, Madison, Wisconsin, February 11.

1 Chronicles.  Hermeneia Commentary Series.  Minneapolis:  Fortress

"The Book of Ezra and Nehemiah" in Old Testament Survey.  Nashville:  Abingdon

Participant in discussion of I. Kalimi, An Ancient Israelite Historian:  Studies in the Chronicler, his Time, Place and Writing.  Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 6

Studies on the Lessons for the Lenten and Easter Seasons.  Select.  ELCA Vocation and Education Unit.

"Taking our Ethics from the Bible."  The Network Letter 15, 1, 1-6.

Notes on "1 Chronicles" and "2 Chronicles" for the revised version of the HarperCollins Study Bible.

"Seeing the Pentateuch:  Reading the Text through the Eyes of Artists."  Invited Address, Catholic Biblical Association of America, Loyola University of Chicago, August 6.

 Invited Reviews of Melody Knowles, Centrality Practiced:  Jerusalem in the Religious Practice of Yehud and the Diaspora in the Persian Period, and Jacob Wright, Rebuilding Identity:  The Nehemiah Memoir and its Earliest Readers.  Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Washington, DC.

Articles on "Ariel," 259;  "Artaxerxes," 275; and "Branch," 496-497 in The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible A-C.

2007

Introduction to Old Testament Readings, Sundays and Seasons, Year A 2008.  Minneapolis:  Fortress, 2007

"Promise and Fulfillment," pp. 47-63,  in Contesting Texts:  Jews and Christians in Conversation about the Bible

"No Easy Answers."  Keynote Address at 2007 LSTC Leadership Conference, February 12, 2007

"Response to Donald Hagner."  Hein-Fry Lectures at LSTC, March 16, 2007.

"Reading the Bible as Lutherans in the Twenty-First Century."   Essay at the New Jersey Synod Ministerium Day, April 18, 2007.

Gary N. Knoppers, ed. Expatriates, Repatriates, and the Question of Zion's Status.  A Conversation with Melody D. Knowles by Deirdre N. Fulton, David Janzen, and Ralph W. Klein

Reading the Bible as Lutherans in the Twenty-First Century.  Keynote Address at the Metropolitan Chicago Synod Assembly, June 8, 2008

Articles on "Exile," 367-370; "Ezra and Nehemiah, Books of," 398-404; and  "Ezra," 397-398 in the New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible

Review of Jacob Wright, Rebuilding Identity:  The Nehemiah Memoir and its Earliest Readers.

The Rendering of 2 Chronicles 35-36 in 1 Esdras.  Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego, November 19, 2007

"The Last Words of David" pp. 81-98 in Shai le-Sara Japhet

2008

Creation of a website: The Gruber Rare Books Collection and Other Rare Books at LSTC

"Promise and Fulfillment," pp. 61-75 in Covenantal Conversations. Christians in Dialogue with Jews and Judaism. (in conversation with Isaac Kalimi)

Sermon studies on Joshua 3:7-17; Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Judges 4:1-7, and Ezekiel 34:11-16. 20-24, Center for Biblical Preaching, Luther Seminary

"Love of God and Neighbor," Center for Christian Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice. April 6

"Reading the Old Testament with Martin Luther--and Without Him." Lutheran Heritage Lecture at LSTC, October 20, 2008. Podcast, with access to the Manuscript itself.

2009

"Textual Criticism of the Old Testament." Contribution to Festschrift for David L. Petersen.

Forthcoming or in Process

Dean and Lecturer for Introduction to the Old Testament, Select

Lecture on Israel in Exile, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, MA.

Note on the dating of the rebuilding of the temple, Journal of Biblical Literature

Revised Edition of 1 Samuel, Word Biblical Commentary 10.  Tentatively scheduled for 2008.

2 Chronicles. Heremeneia Commentary Series (Minneapolis: Fortress).  Volume 2 tentatively scheduled for 2010.