Dean David Pao: On Theological Education, Reading Scripture Well, and Life as a Pastor's Kid

In this episode, Dr. Madison Pierce and Dr. Josh Jipp interview Dr. David Pao, the newly-appointed Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. David is not only Dean of TEDS, but is also Professor of New Testament and an accomplished author and scholar.

Josh and Madison talk to David about the key experiences that led him to vocational ministry, including encounters with doubt and the role of Scripture in shaping his way of seeing reality. The conversation then shifts to what David perceives the key challenges to theological education to be, and he maintains that a strong commitment to what Christians hold in common enables a community to interact charitably with one another, even in the midst of differences and struggles. David also shares about his recent research on the Pastoral Epistles, the importance of cultural context for biblical interpretation and his excitement about the ability of Scripture to speak subversively to cultural norms. 

Along the way, listeners will discover:

• David’s favorite places to travel
• David’s favorite extra-canonical book to study
• Which member of the Foreword crew’s mom pranked them with the help of David

Finally, David shares a pastoral word on the true meaning of success in ministry as an alternative to the common desire for success and popularity. 

To learn more about Dr. David Pao, see his excellent commentary on Colossians and Philemon, his book Acts and the Isaianic New Exodus, or you can watch his recent chapel message here.