School of Theology - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Header

« Return

Steven Ortiz
Associate Professor of Archaeology and Biblical Backgrounds and Director of the Charles C. Tandy Archaeology Museum

817-923-1921 ext.4455

Dr. Ortiz is a biblical archaeologist with over 20 years of field experience. He lived in Israel for over four years and spends most of his summers in the country. Dr. Ortiz has been a senior staff member on several archaeological field projects. He is currently the co-director and principal investigator at Tel Gezer. Dr. Ortiz’s research focus is the Iron Age in the southern Levant. He specializes in the use of archeological methods and theory in the interpretation of the past. Specifically, how this enterprise can illuminate and reconstruct history relative to ancient Israel and the Hebrew Bible. Dr. Ortiz is currently writing a book on the Intersections of Archaeology and Biblical Interpretation.

Dr. Ortiz grew up in East Los Angeles and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, he is passionate about teaching students and the church the relevance of the historical and cultural context in the proper interpretation of scripture. He is a frequent supply preacher and conference speaker. He has contributed to over 100 radio interviews, newspaper articles, and denominational publications.

Education

Ph.D. in Near Eastern Archaeology, University of Arizona, May 2000
M.A. Near Eastern Archaeology and Biblical Studies, University of Arizona, 1994
M.A. in Bible History, Jerusalem University College (formerly Institute of Holy Land Studies), 1989
B.A. double major in Anthropology and Sociology, California State University, Los Angeles, 1985
Additional Studies, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, La., 2002
Additional Studies, Rothberg School of Overseas Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1984

Publications

Books
- Excavations 1994-1996, Fields IVNE/NW and VSE/SW: The Iron Age II, Late Philistine Temple Complex. Ekron Limited Edition Series, Jerusalem. With Sy Gitin and Trude Dothan, 2004 (in press).
- The 11/10th Century BCE Aijalon Valley Region Ceramic Corpus: New Evidence from Tel Miqne-Ekron Stratum IV (contract with British Archaeological Report International Series, Oxford, projected publication date: Spring 2005).
- Intersections of Archaeology and Biblical Interpretation, contract with Broadman & Holman Publishers, projected publication date: Spring 2007).
Journal articles, chapters in books, dictionary articles
- “Stratum IV at Tel Miqne-Ekron,” in festschrift in honor of S. Gitin, Robert Mullens and S. White Crawford (eds) submitted.
- Rewriting Philistine History: Recent Trends in Philistine Archaeology and Biblical Studies. In Critical Issues in Early Israelite History, D. Merling and R. Younker (submitted).
- “Does the Low Chronology Work?: A Case Study of Qasile X, Gezer X, and Lachish V,” in I Will Speak the Riddles of Ancient Times (Abiah Chidot Minei-Kedem-Ps 78:2b): Archaeological and Historical Studies in Honor of Amihai Mazar on the Occasion of his Sixtieth Birthday, ed. by Aren M. Maeir and Pierre de-Miroschedji (in press).
- Archaeology, Syro-Palestinian (Iron Age),” in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, ed. by Bill T. Arnold and H. G. M. Williamson, Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press 2005, pp. 60-79.
- “Gath, “Gaza,” and “Hebron,” in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books, ed. by Bill T. Arnold and H. G. M. Williamson, Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press 2005, pp. 305-307, 307-309, 390-392.
- “Setting Jesus Free from Postmodern Reconstructions: Was Jesus a Galilean Jew or a Jewish Hellenist?” Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry Vol. 2, No. 2 (Fall 2004):113-134.
- “Deconstructing and Reconstructing the United Monarchy: House of David or Tent of David? (Current Trends in Iron Age Research)” in The Future of Biblical Archaeology: Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions, eds. James Hoffmeier and Alan Millard. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, pp. 121-147.
- “Gezer,” pp. 644-645. Holman Bible Dictionary, rev.ed., A. England and C. Brand (eds.). Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2003.
- “Methodological Comments on the Low Chronology: A Reply to Ernst Axel Knauf,” in Biblishe Notizen 111 (2002): 34-39.
- “Archaeology of the Land of Israel,” pp. 100-111. Dictionary of New Testament Background, eds. Craig A. Evans and Stanley E. Porter, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
- “Ashdod”; “Athach”; “Ether”; “Besor”; “Cabbon”; “Chitlish”; “Cozeba”; “Dilean”; “Makaz”; “Shikkeron”; “Ephes-Dammim”; “Enaim”; “Gederah”; “Gederoth”; “Gibbethon”; “Iphtah.” Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, ed. David Noel Freedman, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000.
Book Reviews
- Numerous book reviews in publications such as American Journal of Archaeology, Bibliotheca Orientalis, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Near Eastern Archaeology Society Bulletin, Review of Biblical Literature, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, and Southwestern Journal of Theology

Academic Experience

Visiting Professor, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006
Associate Professor of Biblical Archaeology, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005-06
Visiting Professor, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004
Director of the Center for Archaeological Research, NOBTS 2003-06
Assistant Professor of Archaeology, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2000-05
Field Instructor, Tel Miqne-Ekron Field School, 1994-96
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, 1993-95
Field Guide/Lecturer, Institute of Holy Land Studies, 1988-90

Field Experience

Tel Gezer, co-Director and Principal Investigator, 2006-
Tel Zeitah; Senior Field Archaeologist, 1999
Tel Miqne-Ekron; Field Archaeologist, 1994-1996
Tel Miqne-Ekron; Assistant Field Archaeologist, 1993
Tel Miqne-Ekron; Area Supervisor and Data processor, 1989-1992
Gezer; Staff member, 1990
Ketef Hinnom; Field Archaeologist, 1988-1989
Tel Miqne-Ekron; Assistant Area Supervisor, 1988
Ketef Hinnom; Field Supervisor, Registrar, 1988
Tell el-Hamma; Staff member, 1988
Lachish; Staff member, 1987
Tell el-Hamma; volunteer, 1987
Tel Dor; volunteer, 1984
California Indian Site: ORA–862; student, 1983

Ministry Experience

Supply Preaching--2001-2005
Churches in Los Angeles, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
Youth Ministries Institute Conference, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, January 2005: Devotion Leader
St. Tammany’s Parish (New Orleans) Minister’s Conference
Keynote Speaker; Slidell, LA, August 11, 2003
Tell Me the Truth Fall Conference, Boston, MA October 31-November 2, 2003.
King David and Solomon: Fact or Fable, Coalition of Christian Business men and local ministries, Baton Rouge, April 22, 2002
Winter Bible Study: Genesis 1-11: First Baptist Church of Poydras, LA, January 2002
EDGE 3 Conference (Mission conference), Tucson, AZ, March 2000. Workshop presenter

Presentations

Professional Societies
- The Renewed Excavations of Tel Gezer: Retrospect and Prospect, Southwest Regional SBL/ASOR Meetings, Irving, Texas, March 4, 2006.
- New Excavations at Gezer: A Look Ahead. Annual Meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Philadelphia, Penn., November 17, 2005.
- Qumran Quagmire: Early Monastic Community or Villa? Valley Forge, Penn., November 16, 2005.
- Qumran Quagmire: Recent Debates Regarding the Identification of the Site. Southwest Regional SBL/ASOR Meetings, Irving, Texas, March 12, 2005.
- The 11th/10th BCE Ceramic Assemblage at Tel Miqne-Ekron (Stratum IV). American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meetings, November 18, 2004.
- Retrospect and Prospect for Biblical Archaeology as Apologetics: Purpose, Process, and Paradigm Development. Near Eastern Archaeology Society Annual Meetings, November 17, 2004.
- Rewriting Philistine History: Recent Trends in Philistine Archaeology and Biblical Studies, Critical Issues in Early Israelite History: Conference and Consultation, Institute of Archaeology, Andrews University, March 26-28, 2004.
- Current Trends in Iron Age Research: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Institute for Biblical Research, Southwest Regional Meetings, Irving, Texas, March 6, 2004.
- Deconstructing Goliath—Recent Trends in Philistine Research. Southwest Regional SBL/ASOR Meetings, Irving, Texas, March 2004.
- Philistine Bichrome Pottery as Boundary Maintenance: Recent Ethnoarchaeological Research on Ethnicity. American Institute of Archaeology Annual Meetings, San Francisco, January, 2004.
- Was Jesus a Galilean Jew or a Jewish Hellenist? The Archaeology of Ethnicity in 1st Century Palestine. Near Eastern Archaeology Society Annual Meetings, Atlanta, November 2003.
- Ethnoarchaeological Research and the Development of Philistine Pottery, Southwest Regional SBL//ASOR Meetings, Irving, Texas, March 2003.
- Current Issues in Iron Age Research: A Critique of the Low Chronology, Near Eastern Archaeology Society Annual Meetings, Toronto, Canada, November 2002.
- Issues in Iron Age Chronology: Does the Low Chronology Work? Southwest Regional Society of Biblical Literature/American Schools of Oriental Research Meetings, Irving, Texas, March 2002
- Archaeological Reconstruction and Deconstruction of the United Monarchy: House of David or Tent of David? The Trinity Colloquium on The Future of Biblical Archaeology: Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions, Trinity International University, August 2001.
- Deconstructing David: Current Trends in Biblical and Archaeological Studies. Ola Farmer Lenaz Lecture, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, May 2001.
- The Archaeology of David and Solomon: Recent Trends in Iron Age Archaeology. Southwest Regional Meeting of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, March 2001 (invited).
- Current Chronological and Regional Issues Concerning the Introduction of Red-Slip and Burnished Pottery in the Iron Age. Albright Institute Workshop, Jerusalem, February 1995.
Academic Lectures
- The Renewed Excavations of Tel Gezer: Retrospect and Prospect, 7th Annual Biblical Archaeology Lectureship Series, St. Thomas University, Houston, TX, March 26, 2006.
- The Archaeology of the United Monarchy: Fact or Fable? Guest Lecturer Lubbock Christian University, March 23, 2006.
- The Renewed Excavations of Tel Gezer. Lubbock Christian University, March 23, 2006.
- Myth, Media Hype, and Multivocality: Qumran as a Case Study for Post Processual Critique, Archaeology and Theory Course, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Mobile Ala., April 9, 2005.
- The Archaeology of Qumran. Investigating the Dead Sea Scrolls, A Continuing Education Program of the Gulf Coast Exploreum, Mobile Alabama, March 29, 2005.
- The Archaeological Debate over David and Solomon: Fact or Fable? University of New Orleans, October 13, 2004.
- Music and Worship in the Biblical World: A Contextual Approach to a Theology of Worship. Division of Church Music Ministries, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, March 11, 2004.
- Evaluating the Low Chronology in Light of Recent Trends in Iron Age Research: The House of David or the Tent of David? Morton Institute of Archaeology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, January 13, 2004.
- House of David or Tent of David? Current Issues and Trends in Biblical Archaeology, The Horn Museum Lectureship Series. Berrien Springs, Institute of Archaeology, Andrews University, April 7, 2003.
- House of David or Tent of David? Current Trends in Biblical and Archaeological Studies, Los Angeles Chapter of the Biblical Archaeology Society, January 2002.
- The Archaeology of David and Solomon: Recent Trends in Iron Age Archaeology, Brown Bag Lunch Series, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Arizona, November, 1999.
- Recent Discoveries at Biblical Ekron, Laramie Community College, April, 1997.
- Recent Discoveries at Tel Miqne: Biblical Ekron. Guest Lecturer for the Arizona Chapter of Archaeological Institute of America, University of Arizona, April, 1997.
- New Light on the Philistines: Recent Discoveries at Biblical Ekron, University of Wyoming and Laramie Community College, December, 1995.
- Philistines and Olive Oil: A Decade of Excavations at Tel Miqne-Ekron, Israel, The Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Arizona, November, 1992.

Professional Activities

American Schools of Oriental Research-Vice-President Membership committee 2005-, Speaking and Outreach Committee 2001-, scholarly referee for journal
American Schools of Oriental Research Southwest Region-President
Near Eastern Archaeology Society-Board of Directors, Editorial Board, scholarly referee
Catholic Biblical Association of America-Abstractor, Old Testament Abstracts 1996–
Hispanic Theological Initiative Mentoring Program-Faculty mentor member at large
Southwest Commission on Religious Studies-Board of directors 2002-

Honors/Awards/Fellowships

Lily Theological Scholars Grant, Association of Theological Schools, 2005-2006.
Junior Scholar Grant, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, 2004-2005.
Outstanding Research Professor, Marvin Jones Faculty Award New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003-2004.
Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellow, The National Research Council, 1999–2000.
UA Foundation Scholarship, June 1999.
The University of Arizona Centennial Achievement Doctoral Student Award, Dec. 1998.
UA Foundation Scholarship, Dec. 1996.
United States Information Agency Junior Research Fellow, AIAR, May 1996.
George A. Barton Fellow, AIAR, 1996.
United States Information Agency Junior Research Fellow, AIAR, 1994–1995.
Research Fellow; W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Israel, 1989–1990.