Van Voorst, Robert 1952–

(Robert E. Van Voorst)

PERSONAL: Born June 5, 1952, in Holland, MI; son of Robert Eugene (a chemist) and Donna Mae Boeve (a nurse) Van Voorst; married Mary Lind Bos (a teacher), June 15, 1974; children: Richard William, Nicholas John. Ethnicity: "White." Education: Hope College, B.A., 1974; Western Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1977; Union Theological Seminary, Ph.D., 1988. Politics: "Republican." Religion: Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Cooking, golf.

ADDRESSES: Home—Holland, MI. Office—Western Theological Seminary, 101 E. 13th St., Holland, MI 49424. E-mail—bob.vanvoorst@westernsem.edu.

CAREER: Rochester Reformed Church, Accord, NY, pastor, 1977–89; Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA, began as assistant professor, became, associate professor of religion, 1989–99; Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI, professor of New Testament, 1999–. Adjunct professor, Bucknell University and Susquehanna University; visiting professor, Westminster College, Oxford, England.

MEMBER: Society of Biblical Literature, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma Omega, American Academy of Religion, Eta Sigma Phi.

WRITINGS:

The Ascents of James, Scholars Press (Atlanta, GA), 1989.

Building Your New Testament Greek Vocabulary, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 1990, 3rd edition, SBL Press (Atlanta, GA), 2001.

Anthology of World Scriptures, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 1992, 6th edition, 2007.

Readings in Christianity, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 1996, 2nd edition, 2000.

Anthology of Asian Scriptures, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 1999.

Jesus outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence, Eerdmans (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000.

Reading the New Testament Today, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 2005.

Anthology of World Scriptures: Eastern Religions, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 2006.

Anthology of World Scriptures: Western Religions, Wadsworth (Belmont, CA), 2006.

Contributor to books, including The Death of Jesus in Early Christianity, Hendrickson (Peabody, MA), 1996, and Pastor's Bible Study, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS: Robert Van Voorst told CA: "My writing divides into two types: textbook resources in religious studies for college and university students, and research into the New Testament and cognate fields.

"The motivation for this writing is to contribute to the progress of religion and religious studies. My textbook writings specialize in presenting primary source materials and in helping students interpret and use them. This process began in comparative religion when I taught a survey course for the first time in the 1990s and realized that there were no resources in the primary sources for my students. I have found this to be particularly needed and useful in the North American higher education market. My books are used at a wide variety of institutions, from community college and land-grant universities to liberal arts colleges and the Ivy League.

"My research into the New Testament and other early Christian writings deals with ancient texts. I am particularly fascinated by issues of unity and diversity in the first two centuries of the Christian movement, particularly on how early Christians understand the person and significance of Jesus."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Catholic Biblical Quarterly, October, 1991, David H. Little, review of The Ascents of James, p. 724.

Choice, November, 2000, W.E. Osburn, review of Jesus outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence, p. 553.

Journal of Biblical Literature, summer, 1997, John Dominic Crossan, review of The Death of Jesus in Early Christianity, p. 361.

Journal of Ecumenical Studies, winter, 1992, Sue Frank, review of The Ascents of James, p. 124.

Publishers Weekly, April 24, 2000, review of Jesus outside the New Testament, p. 87.