Stephen I Wright

Stephen has been tutor in Biblical Studies and Practical Theology since September 2006. He was previously an Associate Lecturer at the College. During this period he directed the College of Preachers, an ecumenical training and resource agency, and pioneered the joint Spurgeon's College/College of Preachers Master's in Theology and Certificate in Theology courses in Preaching. He was Course Director for the MTh in Preaching until 2011 and is now the College's Director of Research.

Having taken degrees in English at Oxford and in Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge and Lancaster, Stephen did his PhD under the supervision of Professor James D.G. Dunn at the University of Durham. His topic was the parables of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel in light of literary theory and of the history of interpretation.

His current areas of teaching are the Synoptic Gospels, Romans, New Testament Theology, Biblical Hermeneutics and Preaching. He has supervised PhD and DMin students in these areas and he welcomes enquiries from prospective research students.  

Stephen continues to develop his own research interests in various aspects of parable scholarship: in particular the parables in the ministry of the historical Jesus, the parables in the light of the Old Testament, the history of parable interpretation and preaching the parables. He is also working on aspects of the New Testament's portrayal of Jesus as the true human being.

Stephen has been in the Anglican ministry since 1986, serving in parishes in Cumbria and County Durham until 1998. He is an honorary associate member of staff at St John the Divine, Selsdon. He is married to Linda and they have three (young adult) children. He enjoys walking, growing fruit, birdwatching, films, classical music (including the occasional tinkle on the piano) and a variety of reading. He does not enjoy DIY, football or hot curries.

Selected Publications

• ‘Exegesis and the Preacher’ in Evangel 17.2 (Summer 1999), 62-67
• ‘Parables on Poverty and Riches’ in R.N. Longenecker (ed.), The Challenge of Jesus' Parables (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000), 217-239
• The Voice of Jesus: Studies in the Interpretation of Six Gospel Parables (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2000)
• ‘An Experiment in Biblical Criticism: Towards the Restoration of the Aesthetic in Reading and Preaching Scripture’ in Craig Bartholomew, Colin J.D. Greene and Karl Möller (eds.), Renewing Biblical Interpretation(Grand Rapids / Carlisle: Zondervan / Paternoster, 2000), 240-267
• Preaching with the Grain of Scripture, Grove Biblical Series 20 (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2001)
• ‘Preaching the Parables of Jesus’ in The College of Preachers Journal 111 (July 2001), 17-29
• ‘Words of Power: Biblical Language and Literary Criticism with reference to Stephen Prickett’s Words and the Word and Mark 1:21-28’ in Craig Bartholomew, Colin J.D. Greene and Karl Möller (eds.), After Pentecost: Philosophy and Theology of Language and Biblical Interpretation (Grand Rapids / Carlisle: Zondervan / Paternoster, 2001), 224-240
• ‘The Bible as Sacrament’, guest editorial, Anvil 19.2 (Spring 2002), 81-87
• Tales Jesus Told: An Introduction to the Narrative Parables of Jesus (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2003)
• ‘The Phrase “Image of God” in the New Testament’ in Jean Mayland (ed.), Growing into God (London: Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, 2003), 31-44
• ‘Inhabiting the Story: Using Scripture to Interpret History’ in Craig Bartholomew, C. Stephen Evans, Mary Healy and Murray Rae (eds.), Behind the Text (Grand Rapids / Carlisle: Zondervan / Paternoster, 2003), 412-519
• (Editor with Geoffrey Hunter and Gethin Thomas) A Preacher’s Companion (Oxford: BRF, 2004)
• (with Peter Stevenson) Preaching the Atonement (London: T. & T. Clark, 2005) – shortlisted for the Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing, 2007
• Articles on Luke, Parables and Use of the Bible in Preaching in Kevin J. Vanhoozer (ed.), Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible (Grand Rapids / London: Baker Academic / SPCK, 2005)
• ‘Reading Luke, Hearing Jesus and Understanding God: Reflections on Some Hermeneutical Issues: A Response to John Nolland's "The Role of Money and Possessions in the Parable of the Prodigal Son"’ in Craig Bartholomew, Joel B. Green and Anthony C. Thiselton (eds.), Reading Luke: Interpretation, Reflection, Formation (Grand Rapids / Milton Keynes: Zondervan / Paternoster, 2005), 210-228
• (with Geoffrey Stevenson) Preaching with Humanity: A practical guide for today's church (London: Church House Publishing, 2008)
• 'Debtors, Laborers and Virgins: The voice of Jesus and the voice of Matthew in three parables' in B.J. Oropeza, C.K. Robertson and D.C. Mohrmann (eds.), Jesus and Paul: Global perspectives in honour of J.D.G. Dunn for his 70th birthday, Library of New Testament Studies 414 (London: T.&T. Clark, 2009), 13-23
• (with Peter Stevenson) Preaching the Incarnation (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010)
• Reading Gospel Stories in Today's World, Grove Biblical Series 56 (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2010)
• Alive to the Word: A Practical Theology of Preaching (London: SCM, 2010)
• 'The Future of the Bible in Preaching' in Geoffrey Stevenson (ed.), The Future of Preaching (London: SCM, 2010)

Email: s.wright@spurgeons.ac.uk