Biography
Dr. Hardin grew up in a small town in East Texas and has been a lifelong follower
of Jesus. While a freshman at Ouachita, he sensed God was calling him to serve as
a teacher of God’s Word. He’s now been loving and serving God in higher education
for two decades. An award-winning instructor, he was named “Most Innovative Teacher”
in the humanities division by the Oxford University Student Union (2012). He also
received the “Promising Teacher Award” (2007) at Oklahoma Baptist University. Dr.
Hardin is currently writing a commentary on 1 Corinthians for Zondervan’s Story of
God series. He regularly presents papers at international conferences and has published
at both the popular and scholarly levels. His book, Galatians and the Imperial Cult,
was published in an internationally acclaimed peer-reviewed monograph series (Mohr
Siebeck, 2008).
From 2014–22, Dr. Hardin taught New Testament and Greek at Palm Beach Atlantic University,
where he served as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs in the School of Ministry
and was Professor of Biblical Studies. From 2008–14, Dr. Hardin taught New Testament
and Greek at the University of Oxford, where he was a member of Oxford’s Faculty of
Theology and Religion and was New Testament Tutor and Director of Studies at Wycliffe
Hall. From 2005–08, Dr. Hardin served as R. Strickland Assistant Professor of Bible
at Oklahoma Baptist University. In 2004–05, Dr. Hardin was Instructor of New Testament
Greek in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge.
Dr. Hardin belongs to the Institute for Biblical Research, the Evangelical Theological
Society, the Tyndale Fellowship, and the Society of Biblical Literature. An ordained
Southern Baptist minister, he enjoys serving and teaching in local churches. He and
his childhood sweetheart Jill have been married for over a quarter of a century and
have three nearly grown children.
Q&A
Why did you come to Ouachita?
Which time?! I came to Ouachita as a student in Fall 1994, and these years were among
the most transformative in my life. Never in a million years did I think I’d ever
return a second time, but here we are. I’m thrilled to be back to serve both a new
generation of students and our outstanding faculty team, who were so instrumental
in my academic and spiritual formation all those years ago.
Why did you decide to become a professor?
As a student at Ouachita, I was invited to be part the Pew Younger Scholars Program.
It was through my involvement in this group that I sensed God’s calling to serve him
as a teacher and scholar. One of the greatest joys of teaching is helping students
to discover new and exciting things and to think about how to apply this knowledge
wisely in their lives.
Why is your subject an important one in our world?
Studying and teaching God’s Word has been one of the most life-giving practices in
my life. I love digging deep in Scripture, letting it soak into my life, and teaching
it to others. The subject of biblical studies is important in our world because it
tells of the grand story of God’s love and faithfulness, introduces us to his Son
Jesus the Messiah, and explains how to live by God’s Spirit in our world.
What do you want future students to know about your degree program?
As Vice President for Academic Affairs, I technically oversee all academic programs.
So I’ll speak to the two undergraduate majors I studied at Ouachita: History and Biblical
Studies. History is a wonderful degree because it grounds you in the past as we prepare
for an ever-changing world. History majors are equipped for wide variety of vocations
because you learn to read, write, and think critically. My degree in Biblical Studies
did the same thing, while also equipping me with the knowledge, skills, and character
to serve God’s Kingdom in the world.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Spend time with my wife and family. Run. Swim. Cycle. Lift weights. Read. Enjoy the
outdoors in beautiful Arkansas. (When my kids were younger, I would have said coach
youth soccer!)
What has been a meaningful Bible verse or passage for you?
This is a difficult question for a biblical scholar because there are so many I love!
In recent years, this one has been meaningful to me: “As a father has compassion on
his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we
are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14).
Publications
Books:
- 2025 forthcoming. 1 Corinthians: A Commentary. Story of God Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. (approx. 650pp).
- 2008. Galatians and the Imperial Cult: A Critical Analysis of the First-Century Social Context
of Paul’s Letter. WUNT 2.237. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. Articles and Essays
Articles and Essays:
- 2025 forthcoming. Study notes for 1–2 Timothy, Titus, in Messianic Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
- 2023. “Church Discipline,” “Judaizers,” and “Judgment,” in The IVP Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, 2d ed. Edited by S. McKnight, L. Cohick, and N. Gupta. Downer’s Grove: IVP.
- 2014. “Galatians without a Mirror: Reflections on Paul’s Conflict with the Agitators.”
Tyndale Bul-letin 65.2: 275–303.
- 2013. “‘If I Still Proclaim Circumcision (Gal 5.11a)’: Paul, the Law, and Gentile
Circumcision.” Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 3.2: 145–63.
- 2013. “Equality in the Church (Galatians 3.28 and Ephesians 2.14-18).” Pages 224–34
in Introduction to Messianic Judaism. Edited by David Rudolph and Joel Willitts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
- 2013. “Preaching Paul’s Letters.” Pages 101–12 in “We Proclaim the Word of Life”: Preaching the New Testament Today. Edited by Ian Paul and David Wenham. Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity.
- 2008. “1–2 Corinthians.” in What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Their Writings. Edited by Matthew Williams and Kenneth Berding. Grand Rapids: Kregel.
- 2006. “Decrees and Drachmas at Thessalonica: An Illegal Assembly in Jason’s House
(Acts 17.1–10a).” New Testament Studies 52:29–49.
