Dr. Arnold enjoys teaching, speaking, and writing on various aspects of the New Testament. He has had a special interest in the historical and cultural setting of the letters of Paul. He is currently serving as the Vice President of the Evangelical Theological Society. Dr. Arnold is the editor of the four-volume Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary for which he wrote commentaries on “Acts, Ephesians”, and “Colossians”. He is the general editor of the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament for which he has written the volume on “Ephesians”. His other books include: How We Got the Bible (Zondervan); Ephesians: Power and Magic (Cambridge/Baker/Wipf & Stock); Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul's Letters (InterVarsity Press); The Colossian Syncretism (Mohr Siebeck/Baker); and 3 Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare (Baker). Dr. Arnold has published in Christianity Today and was a regular columnist for Discipleship Journal. His research articles have appeared in such journals as New Testament Studies, Novum Testamentum, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, and the Journal of Psychology and Theology. Dr. Arnold, his wife, and three boys are vitally involved in their local church.

For more information about Dr. Arnold, please visit Dr. Arnold's website.

Affiliations

• Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (International Society for New Testament Studies, Member)
• Member and research grant recipient of Tyndale Fellowship for Biblical and Theological Research, Cambridge, England
• Society of Biblical Literature (Member)
• Institute for Biblical Research (Member)
• Evangelical Theological Society (Member)
• Whittier Hills Baptist Church, Whittier, CA

Awards and Honors

• Association of Theological Schools "Younger Scholar" Research grant, to support research at the University of Tübingen on the background of the Colossian Conflict, 1990.
• Overseas Research Students grant by the Committee of ViceChancellors and Principals of the Universities of the U.K., 1985.

Publications

Books, Volumes, Chapters

• “Ephesians”. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, forthcoming 2010
• How We Got the Bible. A Visual Journey. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008.
• “Colossians” and “Philemon.” in ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2008.
• General Editor of the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary Series. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
• “Colossians”, “Philemon”, “Can We Still Believe in Demons?” in Apologetics Study Bible. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2008.
• General Editor of the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. (Winner of the Golden Medallion Award by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association)
• “Acts” “Ephesians” “Colossians” in Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.
• “Magical Papyri” in Dictionary of New Testament Background. Downer's Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
• “The Powers and Mission”, “Territorial Spirits” in The Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000.
• “Angel”, “Head”, “Sword”, “Wrestling” in Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downer's Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1998.
• 3 Crucial Questions About Spiritual Warfare. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997.
• “Centers of Early Christianity” Syncretism Satan, Devil Power Magic and Astrology in Dictionary of the Later New Testament and its Developments. Downer's Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
• “The Colossian Syncretism. The Interface Between Christianity and Folk Belief at Colossae.” Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1995; rpt. Baker, 1996.
• “Ephesus/Ephesian Ministry”, “Ephesians”, “Magic”, “Power” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Eds. Ralph P. Martin and Gerald Hawthorne, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
• Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul's Letters. Downer's Grove: IVP, 1992.
• “Power”, “Principalities and Powers”, “Joy”, “Colossae” in Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
• “Ephesians: Power and Magic. The Concept of Power in Ephesians in Light of its Historical Setting.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. 2nd ed. Baker, 1992; 3rd ed. Baker, 1997; rpt. Wipf & Stock, 2002.

Articles

• “I Am Astonished That You Are So Quickly Turning Away! (Gal 1:6): Paul and Anatolian Folk Belief.” New Testament Studies, 51.3 (2005) 429-449.
• “Early Church Catechesis and New Christians Classes in Contemporary Evangelicalism.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 47.1, 2004. Pp. 39-54.
• “Using the Computer for Bible Study” in Discipleship Journal, 138, Nov/Dec 2003.
• “It's All Greek To Me! Clearing Up the Confusion About Bible Translations” in Discipleship Journal, 132, Nov/Dec 2002. Pp. 28-36.
• “Reading the Bible as Literature.” in Discipleship Journal's Best Bible Study Methods, Eds. Melissa Munro & Judith Couchman, Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2002. Pp. 81-88.
• “Satan's Main Agenda” in "Three Views on Spiritual Warfares Seen Through the Eyes of a Theologian, Psychologist, and Intercultural Expert." in Biola Connections, Winter 2002. P. 16.
• “What Does the New Testament Mean by a 'Sabbath-Rest'?” Discipleship Journal, 127, Jan/Feb 2002. Pp. 36.
• “Exporcism 101.” Christianity Today, 45.11, September 3, 2001. P 58.
• “Woman and Man in Apostolic Teaching” co-written with Robert L. Saucy, Women and Men in Ministry. A Complementary Perspective, Eds. Robert L. Saucy & Judith K. TenElshof, Chicago: Moody, 2001. Pp. 113-38.
• “The Ephesian Background of Paul's Teaching on Women's Ministry.” co-written with Robert L. Saucy, Women and Men in Ministry. A Complementary Perspective, Eds. Robert L. Saucy & Judith K. TenElshof, Chicago: Moody, 2001. Pp. 279-90.
• “The Dark Side of Artemis.” Archaeology in the Biblical World (forthcoming).
• “Lamps, Leaven, and Lost Lambs.” Discipleship Journal, 108, Nov/Dec, 1998. Pp. 68-72.
• “Dethroning Principalities and Powers.” Pray, NavPress 5, Mar/Apr 1998.
• “Where Do We Draw the Line.” Discipleship Journal, 101, Sept/Oct 1997. Pp. 48-53. (The Article is summarized in Current Thoughts & Trends, Dec 1997. Pp. 20-21.)
• “What Is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.” Discipleship Journal, 91, Jan/Feb 1996. P. 53.
• “What Is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit.” Discipleship Journal, 91, Jan/Feb 1996. P. 62.
• “Introducing Ephesians: Establishing New Believers in Christ.” Southwestern Journal of Theology, 39, 1996. Pp. 4-13.
• “Returning to the Domain of the Powers: Stoicheia as Evil Spirits in Galatians 4:3, 9.” Novum Testamentum, 38.1, 1996. Pp. 55-76.
• “How to Profit From Prophecy... and Other Types of Bible Literature.” Discipleship Journal, 89, Sept/Oct, 1995. Pp. 56-60. (Reprinted as "Profit From Prophecy: How You Can Discover Spiritual Riches Today." in Alpha, England, Jan 1996. Pp. 32-35.)
• “What About Territorial Spirits?” Discipleship Journal, 81, May/June 1994. P. 47.
• “Jesus Christ: 'Head' of the Church.” Jesus of Nazareth: Lord and Christ, Essays on the Historical Jesus and New Testament Christology. Eds. M.M.B. Turner and J. B. Green, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. Pp. 346-66.
• “Dealing With 'Murky Monsters and Dastardly Demons': A Response to Underwager and Wakefield.” Journal of Psychology and Theology, 20.3, Fall 1992. Pp. 288-91.
• “Toothless Tiger or Roaring Lion: A Surrejoinder to Underwager and Wakefield.” Journal of Psychology and Theology, 20.3, Fall 1992. Pp. 295-98.
• “'Principalities and Powers' in Recent Interpretation.” Catalyst, [United Methodist; Dallas, Texas], 17.2, February 1991. Pp. 4-5.
• “Giving the Devil His Due” Christianity Today, 34.11, August 20, 1990. Pp. 16-19. (Reprinted in The Christian Reader, Sept/Oct 1991. Pp. 14ff.)
• “The 'Exorcism' of Ephesians 6.12 in Recent Research.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 30, Sheffield, U.K., 1987. Pp. 71-87.