Faculty Focus: Dr. Thomas J. King
Why did you enter your specialty?
I was inspired by Old Testament professors who taught me in both undergraduate school and Seminary. I have a love for detective-like investigation, which works well for analyzing and interpreting the Bible.
Why are you at NBC?
NBC is an answer to the prayer I prayed during my final year of doctoral school. I asked the Lord to place me where I can contribute to the education and preparation of those who are called to ministry.
Publications:
Books:
- The Realignment of the Priestly Literature
- Leviticus, New Beacon Bible Commentary
- Articles: Various articles in Holiness Today and Illustrated Bible Life
- "The Sacrificial System" in Global Wesleyan Encyclopedia of Biblical Theology
Chapters in Books:
- "Ezekiel 36:26" in The Old Testament in 12 Verses
- "The Overwhelming Love of God: Hosea 11" in Encountering the God of Love: Portraits from the Old Testament
- "Is There Anything to Preach from Leviticus" in The Bible Tells Me So: Reading the Bible as Scripture
Current Project:
Working on a longtime project which has been a passion of mine: a book focused on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
Best advice I ever received:
"If you don't love the work, do not enter graduate studies." This simple statement from my Seminary OT professor has inspired my love for Old Testament studies, not only during graduate work, but throughout the process of lifelong learning.
Friends describe me as:
Quiet and withdrawn outside the classroom, but energetic and enthusiastic when teaching Bible.
Favorite Quotation:
"That God should play the tyrant over man is a dismal story of unrelieved oppression; that man should play the tyrant over man is the usual dreary record of human futility; but that man should play the tyrant over God and find him a better man than himself is an astonishing drama indeed."
- Dorothy L. Sayers, "The Greatest Drama Ever Staged" in The Whimsical Christian
Favorite place to visit:
Thanks to a time when our daughter worked for an airline, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Switzerland. Other than that, our favorite place to visit is Oregon, where we grew up and still have family.
Hobbies:
- I love to run: 13 marathons and numerous fun runs. After replacing a knee, running has given way to hiking opportunities, which I also love.
- Reading detective mysteries.
- Dr. King serves as the Director of the Bible and Theology Program at Nazarene Bible College.
Published: 01/15/2026
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