E. Elizabeth Johnson

E. Elizabeth Johnson is an American New Testament scholar and the J. Davison Philips Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. She is widely known for her writings on the New Testament, specifically the Pauline Letters.

Johnson received a B.G.S. from Ohio University, an M.Div. and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. She was the chaplain and instructor in Humanities at Queens College (1979-1983) before she became a Teaching Fellow at Princeton Theological Seminary (1983-1986). Beginning in 1986, she served as the associate professor of New Testament at New Brunswick Theological Seminary (1986-1998). She is currently the J. Davison Philips Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Johnson has contributed extensively to a number of commentary series and scholarly publications. Her work includes being an editor of the Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary series and co-general editor to the Feasting on the Gospels series, which includes Feasting on the Gospels: Matthew Vols. 1 and 2, that were awarded the Reference Book of the Year award from the Academy of Parish Clergy.

Johnson has been interested in the ways the church uses the Bible to think about faith and life. Her work explores how the Pauline letters invite us to reflect about who God is and what Jesus' death and resurrection mean for human life and society. Her work has also explored how the New Testament relates to families and family values. Her exegetical perspective has allowed for new ways of viewing and interpreting many of the epistles of the New Testament to address today's world. Through her work she has contributed to Feminist-Womanist Biblical Studies and has contributed to the national conversation on capital punishment by giving a lecture titled, The Bible and Capital Punishment, during a Teach-in at Columbia Theological Seminary.

• "Paul’s Reliance on Scripture in 1 Thessalonians," in Paul and Scripture. Ed. Christopher Stanley. Atlanta: SBL, 2012.
• "Ephesians" in The Women’s Bible Commentary: Second Edition. Ed. Carol Newsom and Sharon Ringe. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
• "Colossians" in The Women’s Bible Commentary: Second Edition. Ed. Carol Newsom and Sharon Ringe. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2012.
• "God’s Covenant Faithfulness to Israel," in Reading Romans. SBL Resources for Biblical Studies. Ed. Jerry L. Sumney. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 2012.
• "1 Thessalonians" and "2 Thessalonians," 427-434 in Theological Bible Commentary, ed. Gail R. O’Day and David L. Peterson. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
• "Exegetical Perspective on 1 Corinthians 1:3-9," 15-19 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 1. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2008.
• "Exegetical Perspective on James 3:1-12," 63-67 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
• "Exegetical Perspective on James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a," 87-91 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
• "Exegetical Perspective on James 5:13-20," 111-115 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
• "Pastoral Perspective on Philemon 1-21," 38-42 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on Luke 18:9-14," 213-217 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on Luke 6:20-31," 237-241 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on Luke 19:1-10," 261-265 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on Romans 6:3-11," 341-345 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 2. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on Colossians 3:1-4," 365-369 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 2. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on 1 Peter 1:3-9," 389-393 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 2. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on 1 Peter 4:1-8," 317-321 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 2. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Exegetical Perspective on Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9," 291-295 in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year A, Volume 2. Ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2010.
• "Central’s Teaching Elders and Their Seminaries," 161-178, and "Central’s Ministers," 215-218 in On Our Way Rejoicing: The 150th Anniversary of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Ed. Martin C. Lehfeldt. Atlanta: XLibris, 2007.
• "A Modest Proposal in Context," 232-245 in The Impartial God: Essays in Honor of Jouette M. Bassler. Ed. Robert Foster; Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2007.
• "Life Together in the Household of God," 89-103 in Shaking Heaven and Earth: Essays in Honor of Walter Brueggemann and Charles B. Cousar. Ed. Christine Roy Yoder, Kathleen M. O’Connor, E. Elizabeth Johnson, and Stanley P. Saunders. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005.
• "‘Who Is My Mother?’ Family Values in the Gospel of Mark," 32-46 in Blessed One: Protestant Perspectives on Mary. Ed. Beverly R. Gaventa and Cynthia L. Rigby. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2002.
• "Apocalyptic Family Values," Interpretation 56 (2002) 34-44.
• "Colossians," 1126-1130 in Harper’s Bible Commentary. Revised edition; New York: Harper & Row, 2000.
• "A Critical Assessment of Mark Nanos, The Mystery of Romans," 153-162 in Critical Review of Books in Religion. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1998.
• "2 Esdras" 267-271 in The Women’s Bible Commentary. Revised edition. Ed. Carol Newsom, Sharon Ringe, and Cynthia Thompson. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998.
• "Preface," vii-xiii in Pauline Theology, Vol. 4: Looking Back, Pressing On. Ed. David M. Hay and E. Elizabeth Johnson. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997.
• "Divine Initiative and Human Response," 356-370 in A Critical Reader in the Theological Interpretation of Scripture. Ed. Stephen Fowl. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1997.
• "Beker as Mentor," The Princeton Seminary Bulletin 16.1 ns (1995) 15-21.
• "The Function of Apocalyptic and Wisdom Traditions in Romans 9-11: Rethinking the Questions" in SBL Seminar Papers 1995, 352-361. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995.
• "Romans 9-11: The Faithfulness and Impartiality of God" in Pauline Theology, Vol. 3: Romans, 240-258. Ed. David M. Hay and E. Elizabeth Johnson. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1995.
• "Wisdom and Apocalyptic in Paul" in In Search of Wisdom: Essays in Memory of John G. Gammie, 263-283. Ed. Leo G. Perdue, Bernard Brandon Scott, and William Johnston Wiseman. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993.
• "2 Thessalonians" in The Women’s Bible Commentary, 442-443. Ed. Carol Newsom, Sharon Ringe, and Cynthia Thompson. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1992/1998.
• "Colossians" in The Women’s Bible Commentary, 437-439. Ed. Carol Newsom, Sharon Ringe, and Cynthia Thompson. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1992/1998.
• "Ephesians" in The Women’s Bible Commentary 428-432. Ed. Carol Newsom, Sharon Ringe, and Cynthia Thompson. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1992/1998.
• "The Wisdom of God as Apocalyptic Power" in Faith and History: Essays in Honor of Paul W. Meyer, 137-148. Ed. John T. Carroll, Charles H. Cosgrove, and E. Elizabeth Johnson. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1991.
• "Jews and Christians in the New Testament: John, Matthew, and Paul," Reformed Review 42 (1988–89) 113-128.
• The Function of Apocalyptic and Wisdom Traditions in Romans 9-11. SBLDS 109. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1989.
• "Preaching in 1 Thessalonians," Journal for Preachers 28.3 (2005) 20-26.
• "Temptation," Journal for Preachers 27.2 (2004) 59-61.
• "Preaching From Matthew," Journal for Preachers 23.1 (1999) 37-42.
• Interpreting the Lessons of the Church Year: Advent Christmas. Proclamation 6C. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1997.
• The Common Good in Christ: Peacemaking in Ephesians. Louisville: Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, 1995.
• "Diverse Community in the New Testament," The Living Pulpit 3.4 (October–December, 1994) 20-21.
• Good News to the Poor: Peacemaking in the Gospel of Luke. Louisville: Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, 1991.
• Exegetical essays for the third Sunday in Lent through Easter (Exodus 20:1-17; Ephesians 2:4- 10; John 12:20-33; Mark 15:1-39; Mark 16:1-8) in Lectionary Homiletics 2 (March, 1991).
• "The Children of Light," The Church Herald 46:11 (1989) 30-31.
• "Biblical and Historical Perspectives on Human Sexuality," Church and Society 80.2 (1989) 6-25.
• "Not in Vain: I Corinthians 15:51-58," Perspectives 3 (1988) 4-6.
• The Miracle of Pentecost: Peacemaking in the Acts of the Apostles. Louisville: Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, 1988.
• "Be Trustworthy—But Also Trusting," Presbyterian Survey (July/August, 1987) 47.

• "Shaking Heaven and Earth Peer-Review" (PDF). Review of Biblical Literature. Society of Biblical Literature.