Dr. David Bostock

AREAS OF MAIN RESEARCH AND COMPETENCY
Old Testament, Biblical Hebrew and Systematic Theology

QUALIFICATIONS
B.Ed., B.D., M.A., Ph.D.

EDUCATION
1975    B.Ed. 2nd Hons (Cambridge)
1982    B.D. 2nd Hons (London) 
1992    M.A. (Durham) in Old Testament
2003    Ph.D. (Durham) in Old Testament

Professional and Other Qualifications
1974   Cert. Ed. (Keswick Hall C. of E. College of Education, Norwich) (distinction in religious studies; credit in education)
1982    Ministerial diploma (distinction) (Mattersey Hall Bible College)
1999    GCSE German (Grade A) (City of Sunderland College)
2000    City and Guilds course in IT (City of Sunderland College)
2003    City and Guilds 9295 in Learning Support (City of Sunderland College)  
                                                                                                                                                
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1 Feb 2004 – 11 June 2004, University of St Andrews, Teaching Fellow in OT
June 2003 – Aug 2003, City of Sunderland College, Temporary Tutor
Nov 2003 – Jan 2004. Durham Road, Sunderland, Temporary Curriculum, Support Officer                 
From March 2000 to March 2003, I worked on a casual basis as a supply teacher, lecturer, minister, and customer advisor. 
Oct 2001 - Mar 2002, Cranmer Hall, St. John’s College, P/t Lecturer in University of Durham, Hebrew
March 1989 - Feb 2000, Ryhope Pentecostal Church, Minister, Ryhope, Sunderland            
Sept 1994 - April 1998, Mattersey Hall Bible College, P/t Lecturer in Hebrew         (Concurrent with ministry at Ryhope) Mattersey, Doncaster
April 1988 - Feb 1989, Manchester and Tameside, Supply Teacher, Education Authorities
Sept 1982 - March 1988, Crossacres Church, Manchester, Minister
Sept 1975 - July 1980, Selby Secondary School Teacher
Nov 1970 - Aug 1971, Rowntree Mackintosh, York, Shipping Clerk
Aug 1968 - Oct 1970, Dept of Health and Social Securitt, York, Clerical Officer

Theological Studies
My first degree was in education and religious studies (three years at Keswick Hall, Norwich plus one year at Cambridge).  The religious studies course at Keswick Hall included Introduction to the Bible, Old Testament prophets, the quest for the historical Jesus, the Gospel of Luke, portions of John and 1 Corinthians in Greek, and Buddhism. 

For my London BD I took papers on Old Testament, New Testament, Greek NT texts, early church history, early church theological texts, Reformation history, Reformation theological texts, Christian doctrine, and philosophy of religion.

My MA (Durham) included the study of Hosea, Job, and 2 Samuel in Hebrew, and prose translation from English into Hebrew.  The dissertation was on the book of Joel.

During my research at Durham, I have undertaken courses in Theological German, Syriac, Aramaic, Old Testament Theology, Biblical Theology, Theological Hermeneutics, and Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament.

Teaching
I taught introductory Hebrew and Old Testament texts in Hebrew (Gen. 1-9, Deut. 5-8, and Joel) for four years at Mattersey Hall Bible College on a B.A. course validated by Sheffield University.  The introductory Hebrew course was allocated 40 credits taught over 80 hours.  I used textbooks by Eaton and Kelley.  The Hebrew texts course was 20 credits taught in 40 hours.  

During 2001-2 I taught introductory Hebrew part-time at Cranmer Hall, Durham on a course validated by the University of Durham.   This was a ten credit course taught over 40 hours.  The textbook used was Martin’s revision of Davidson’s Introductory Hebrew Grammar.

At the University of St Andrews I was the lecturer and module coordinator for the introductory Hebrew course and for a second level OT course entitled “Exile and Return” which included an introduction to the literature and theology of the period of Israel’s history from the exile to the consolidation of the canon.  Both courses were 20 credit modules.  For the Hebrew course, which was taken by 26 students, I had two postgraduate students assisting me, who were each responsible for taking tutorials with a group of students.  I took a third group myself, as well as the tutorials for the “Exile and Return” course.  The textbook for the Hebrew course was Kelley; for the OT course I used Bruce C. Birch, Walter Brueggemann, Terence E. Fretheim and David L. Petersen, A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Nashville: Abingdon, 1999).
For both courses the teaching consisted of approximately 33 lectures and 10 tutorials.  I was also a member of the council of the School of Divinity while at St Andrews, and gained valuable experience regarding the administration of a department including involvement with interviews of prospective students.

Research
I have successfully completed research in the area of Old Testament theology for a Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. R.W.L. Moberly.  The title of my thesis is “The Theme of Faith in the Hezekiah Narratives”. This study examines the Hezekiah narratives as found in 2 Kgs 18-20 and Isa. 36-39, with special reference to the theme of faith, using narrative criticism as its methodology.  Attention is paid especially to setting, plot, point of view and characterization within the narratives.  The Kings version is taken as the main text for exegesis purposes, but relevant differences in the Isaiah text are noted.

In the future, I intend to continue research on the theological interpretation of Old Testament narrative in 1 & 2 Kings and Numbers.  I am also interested in the concept of the Spirit of God in the OT.

PUBLICATIONS
Book: A Portrayal of Trust: The Theme of Faith in the Hezekiah Narratives.

Book reviews: Steven D. Mathewson, The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative, Review of Biblical Literature. Published 22/5/2004

Gary Inrig, Holman Old Testament Commentary: I&II Kings, Review of Biblical Literature (forthcoming).

Other Experience
I have served as a minister in two churches.  The first was in a socially deprived area of Manchester on the largest council estate in Europe.  The second was in Ryhope, a former mining community on the edge of Sunderland in the northeast of England.  As a minister, my duties included preaching two to three times a week, leading services, visiting the sick, counselling and administration.  I initiated youth programs in both churches.  I also represented the church at denominational and ecumenical meetings, and liaised with various bodies such as solicitors, banks and the Charity Commissioners.  I left the church at Ryhope to spend more time on my Ph.D. studies.

From April 1999 to April 2001 I was director of training for the Northumbria region of Assemblies of God and had responsibility for the training of probationary ministers.

I am also a qualified secondary school teacher, and taught R.E. and humanities for five years at a secondary school in Selby, North Yorkshire. 

Recently, I have worked for a local further education college supporting students aged 16-19 in key skills, and maintaining “Blackboard”, an intranet system for students.

I am a member of the Society for Old Testament Study, and the Society of Biblical Literature.

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