About
Dr. J. Michael Thigpen earned a BA in Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MDiv from Columbia Biblical Seminary, and an MPhil and PhD in Judaic, Hebraic, and Cognate Studies from Hebrew Union College. Michael’s special areas of interest include Old Testament Theology, Babylonian and Persian period biblical books and history (Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezra–Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi), Book of the Twelve (Minor Prophets), prophetic literature (biblical and ANE), Genesis, Kings, God’s motives, repentance and forgiveness, the OT and classical theism, and the theology of work and economics. His passion is to help the church connect more deeply to the Old Testament by understanding its literary nature and historical background. He is currently Professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary, having previously served as Provost and Executive Vice President at the seminary. In addition to his work at Phoenix, he serves as lecturer in Old Testament at Munster Bible College in Cork, Ireland. Prior to joining Phoenix Seminary, Thigpen served as the Executive Director of the Evangelical Theological Society for more than a decade. He has extensive pastoral experience, having served churches in South Carolina, Ohio, and Kentucky. Michael is the author of Divine Motive in the Old Testament: A Comprehensive Survey and Analysis in addition to a number of book chapters and journal articles. He and his wife Bonnie have two grown daughters, Abigail and Hannah.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA
Columbia Biblical Seminary, M.Div.
Hebrew Union College, M.Phil. and Ph.D
