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Papers by Erbey G Valdez, PhD

ProQuest, 2022

As a product of both its time and place, the Fourth Gospel has been long regarded as distinct fro... more As a product of both its time and place, the Fourth Gospel has been long regarded as distinct from the Synoptics. This study engages the characterizations of the Fourth Gospel from the lens of both of its chronological and geographical distinctions in order to reveal the voices of some of the most significant Johannine characters. This work engages two fields that are relatively new to biblical research: characterizations and socio-rhetorical criticism, with the aim of reexamining the Johannine figures, not merely as “flat” characters limited to the literary boundaries of the text, but as living and active “voices” who continue to speak to both their historical encounters with Jesus of Nazareth and the socio-cultural context of the Johannine community. Five character case-studies are presented using a three-step method that incorporates exegetical, literary and historical features of the text: 1) The Disciple whom Jesus Loved, 2) Jesus of Nazareth, 3) John the Baptist, 4) Nicodemus, and 5) the Samaritan woman. Through each of these characters, readers become aware that, far from being a historically questionable text, the Fourth Gospel is a reliable and valuable contribution to the life of the emerging Christian Church at the end of the first century.

Liberty University School of Divinity, 2019

In approximately AD 48, the Apostle Paul, his coworker Barnabas, and Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark,... more In approximately AD 48, the Apostle Paul, his coworker Barnabas, and Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark, boarded a ship at Seleucia and headed for Cyprus to initiate their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). It was during this mission that an unexpected setback occurred—John Mark departed from the mission shortly after their arrival at Perga in Pamphylia. Although Luke offers no direct reason for Mark’s departure, the events that soon unfold point to an unprecedented movement that occurs within the Gentile mission. This study examines the viability of the idea that John Mark's departure was potentially motivated by theological differences with Paul that the Gospel message could be offered to the Gentiles without the traditional requirements of Jewish proselytization. Additionally, this analysis addresses a possible theological rift which may have occurred between Mark and Paul, which happened somewhere between their departure from Paphos and their arrival at Perga in Pamphylia, where Paul may have shared his missionary objective to John Mark and Barnabas to evangelize to the Gentiles without the requirement of the adoption of the Mosaic laws in order to be saved. This question on the requirements for Gentile membership in the church and qualifications for Jewish-Gentile table fellowship would later become the central focus of the Jerusalem Council, and Luke may have intended for Mark’s departure from the first missionary journey to serve as the distinct event that initiated the Gentile question in the early church. Thus, John Mark’s departure from the first Pauline missionary journey may have been theologically motivated, based on his theological view that the Gentiles could not live sanctified lives apart from the adoption of the Mosaic Law. Further, it is proposed that this event both explains why John Mark returned to Jerusalem (and not Antioch) and why the Jerusalem council was convened immediately upon Paul and Barnabas’ return. As such, this event would spark controversy in the early church which was eventually resolved at the Jerusalem Council. Despite its apparent resolution, the effects of this event would be felt for several years, dividing both Barnabas and Mark from Paul’s continued missionary work. There is no indication that Paul and Barnabas ever worked together again, while John Mark would be divided from Paul for several years until they eventually reconciled. Through this lens, it would thus appear that Luke did not intend for John Mark’s departure to serve as a parenthetical note to his account, but rather as a springboard to one of the greatest theological challenges facing the early church in the evangelization of the Gentiles.

The Expository Times, 2022

Acts 13:13 describes one of the most puzzling events of the nascent Christian Church-John Mark's ... more Acts 13:13 describes one of the most puzzling events of the nascent Christian Church-John Mark's departure from Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-14:28). Although Luke appears to offer no details on the motive for John Mark's actions, this study argues that Luke did not remain completely silent on this issue. Through a distinctive literary strategy, Luke depicted John Mark as an evolving character, thus pointing the informed first century Christian reader to the reason for his departure at Perga. To wit, this article proposes that, because John Mark's departure was driven by theological differences with Paul, based on his view that the Gentiles could not live sanctified lives apart from submission to certain ceremonial Second-Temple idiosyncrasies, Luke contextualized John Mark's progression towards embracing the Gentile mission by using four variant Markan name-structures as literary emblems of his missiological evolution. In light of Paul's pro-Gentile mission, affirmed at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), the rift between Paul and his young co-laborer, likely theological in nature, may have manifested itself upon their arrival at Paphos and subsequent voyage to Perga in Pamphylia.

Conference Presentations by Erbey G Valdez, PhD

2020 ETS Presentation on John Mark's Departure from the First Pauline Missionary Journey, 2020

Video Presentation by Erbey Valdez at the 2020 Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting. Th... more Video Presentation by Erbey Valdez at the 2020 Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting. This video examines the name-structures used by Luke to describe John Mark in Acts as potential clues to his spiritual evolution towards embracing the new Gentile mission. Erbey Valdez is Senior Pastor at New Spirit Baptist Church in San Antonio and a PhD student in NT Biblical Studies at Columbia International University.

ProQuest, 2022

As a product of both its time and place, the Fourth Gospel has been long regarded as distinct fro... more As a product of both its time and place, the Fourth Gospel has been long regarded as distinct from the Synoptics. This study engages the characterizations of the Fourth Gospel from the lens of both of its chronological and geographical distinctions in order to reveal the voices of some of the most significant Johannine characters. This work engages two fields that are relatively new to biblical research: characterizations and socio-rhetorical criticism, with the aim of reexamining the Johannine figures, not merely as “flat” characters limited to the literary boundaries of the text, but as living and active “voices” who continue to speak to both their historical encounters with Jesus of Nazareth and the socio-cultural context of the Johannine community. Five character case-studies are presented using a three-step method that incorporates exegetical, literary and historical features of the text: 1) The Disciple whom Jesus Loved, 2) Jesus of Nazareth, 3) John the Baptist, 4) Nicodemus, and 5) the Samaritan woman. Through each of these characters, readers become aware that, far from being a historically questionable text, the Fourth Gospel is a reliable and valuable contribution to the life of the emerging Christian Church at the end of the first century.

Liberty University School of Divinity, 2019

In approximately AD 48, the Apostle Paul, his coworker Barnabas, and Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark,... more In approximately AD 48, the Apostle Paul, his coworker Barnabas, and Barnabas’ cousin, John Mark, boarded a ship at Seleucia and headed for Cyprus to initiate their first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). It was during this mission that an unexpected setback occurred—John Mark departed from the mission shortly after their arrival at Perga in Pamphylia. Although Luke offers no direct reason for Mark’s departure, the events that soon unfold point to an unprecedented movement that occurs within the Gentile mission. This study examines the viability of the idea that John Mark's departure was potentially motivated by theological differences with Paul that the Gospel message could be offered to the Gentiles without the traditional requirements of Jewish proselytization. Additionally, this analysis addresses a possible theological rift which may have occurred between Mark and Paul, which happened somewhere between their departure from Paphos and their arrival at Perga in Pamphylia, where Paul may have shared his missionary objective to John Mark and Barnabas to evangelize to the Gentiles without the requirement of the adoption of the Mosaic laws in order to be saved. This question on the requirements for Gentile membership in the church and qualifications for Jewish-Gentile table fellowship would later become the central focus of the Jerusalem Council, and Luke may have intended for Mark’s departure from the first missionary journey to serve as the distinct event that initiated the Gentile question in the early church. Thus, John Mark’s departure from the first Pauline missionary journey may have been theologically motivated, based on his theological view that the Gentiles could not live sanctified lives apart from the adoption of the Mosaic Law. Further, it is proposed that this event both explains why John Mark returned to Jerusalem (and not Antioch) and why the Jerusalem council was convened immediately upon Paul and Barnabas’ return. As such, this event would spark controversy in the early church which was eventually resolved at the Jerusalem Council. Despite its apparent resolution, the effects of this event would be felt for several years, dividing both Barnabas and Mark from Paul’s continued missionary work. There is no indication that Paul and Barnabas ever worked together again, while John Mark would be divided from Paul for several years until they eventually reconciled. Through this lens, it would thus appear that Luke did not intend for John Mark’s departure to serve as a parenthetical note to his account, but rather as a springboard to one of the greatest theological challenges facing the early church in the evangelization of the Gentiles.

The Expository Times, 2022

Acts 13:13 describes one of the most puzzling events of the nascent Christian Church-John Mark's ... more Acts 13:13 describes one of the most puzzling events of the nascent Christian Church-John Mark's departure from Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-14:28). Although Luke appears to offer no details on the motive for John Mark's actions, this study argues that Luke did not remain completely silent on this issue. Through a distinctive literary strategy, Luke depicted John Mark as an evolving character, thus pointing the informed first century Christian reader to the reason for his departure at Perga. To wit, this article proposes that, because John Mark's departure was driven by theological differences with Paul, based on his view that the Gentiles could not live sanctified lives apart from submission to certain ceremonial Second-Temple idiosyncrasies, Luke contextualized John Mark's progression towards embracing the Gentile mission by using four variant Markan name-structures as literary emblems of his missiological evolution. In light of Paul's pro-Gentile mission, affirmed at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), the rift between Paul and his young co-laborer, likely theological in nature, may have manifested itself upon their arrival at Paphos and subsequent voyage to Perga in Pamphylia.

2020 ETS Presentation on John Mark's Departure from the First Pauline Missionary Journey, 2020

Video Presentation by Erbey Valdez at the 2020 Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting. Th... more Video Presentation by Erbey Valdez at the 2020 Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting. This video examines the name-structures used by Luke to describe John Mark in Acts as potential clues to his spiritual evolution towards embracing the new Gentile mission. Erbey Valdez is Senior Pastor at New Spirit Baptist Church in San Antonio and a PhD student in NT Biblical Studies at Columbia International University.