Contact Information

denise_flanders@taylor.edu

765-998-4972

Reade Center

View CV

Denise Flanders

Associate Professor of Biblical Studies

I Serve in...

Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Intercultural Studies & Philosophy Department

Education

PhD, Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
MA, Christian Thought and Biblical Studies, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
BA, Journalism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Additional Coursework in Sumerian, University of California, Los Angeles

Specialties:

1-2 samuel biblical hebrew former prophets inductive study of the bible interpreting biblical numbers literary approaches to the old testament megillot numerical variants in the old testament old testament old testament narrative literature pentateuch ruth textual criticism

Career Accomplishments

Books

1–2 Samuel in The Bible in God’s World Commentary series. Cascade Publishing. Forthcoming, 2027.
Interpreting Biblical Numbers; A Rhetorical and Literary Guide. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. Forthcoming, 2026.
The Rhetorical Use of Numbers in the Deuteronomistic History. VTSup 191. Leiden: Brill, 2022.

Select Articles/Book Chapters

"David has Killed his Ten Thousands, Saul his Hundred Thousands;" Troop and Casualty Numbers in Josephus and 1–2 Samuel," Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament 39 (2025): 99–130. DOI: 10.1080/09018328.2024.2426594

"The Reversal of (Food) Injustice: The Song of Hannah (1 Sam 2:1–10)." Bulletin of Biblical Research 33(4) (2023): 458–475.

"A Thousand Times No: 'elep Does Not Mean 'Contingent' in the Deuteronomistic History." Biblica. 99/4 (2018): 484–506. DOI: 10.2143/BIB.99.4.3285660

"What Did YHWH Do in Lam 1:12?: Correcting a Misreading in the DJD Edition of 4QLam." Vetus Testamentum (2016): 513–523.

Scholarship on Teaching and Learning

"Big Ideas in Biblical Studies Course Design.” Academic Teaching and Biblical Studies section. SBL Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, Nov. 2024.
"Team Based Learning in the Biblical Studies Classroom; Utilizing the 4s Application Task to Promote Deep Learning," Teaching Theology and Religion 26 (2023): 151–159.
"Hiding Easter Eggs." Teaching Theology and Religion 25 (2022): 72.
"Titling Class Sessions with Leading Questions." Teaching Theology and Religion 25 (2022): 45.
"Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork." Academic Teaching and Biblical Studies section. SBL Annual Meeting, Nov. 2022.

Speaking/Podcast Interviews

Expert Guest on The Naked Bible podcast—Discussing 1 Samuel 27 (August 2023)
"The Gospel According to Genesis 1"—message given in chapel at Taylor University (April 27, 2022)
Expert Guest on the First Reading Podcast—Discussing preaching and teaching Deuteronomy 34:1–12 for those following the RCL (Revised Common Lectionary) (Oct 2020)

Grants and Fellowships

Bedi Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence Fellow, Taylor University, three-year appointment, 2022–2025.
Teaching and Learning Workshop for Early Career Religion Faculty Teaching Undergraduates, The Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, 2021–22
Women’s Giving Circle Grant Recipient, Taylor University, 2021–23 ($5,000/yr)
Teaching Seminar for Doctoral Students, The Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning. San Francisco, CA, 2019

National Boarrds & Committees

Bulletin for Biblical Research, Editorial Board (2023–present)
Academic Teaching and Biblical Studies section of Society of Biblical Literature, Steering Committee Co-Chair (2023–present)