Dr. Mitchell has just completed with Paul House a second edition of the textbook Old Testament Survey  for Broadman & Holman. He has several varied teaching and research interests including Hebrew, Biblical Archaeology, Israelite history, and Old Testament historical narrative. He is pursuing his interest in archaeology as co-director and lead researcher of the Tel Gezer Regional Survey Project – sponsored by Southwestern Seminary and the Israel Antiquities Authority.  Dr. Mitchell is also a field supervisor in the new Tel Gezer dig in Israel.  His dissertation, " A Literary Examination of the Function of Satire in the Mišpat Hammelek of I Samuel 8”  was published by the Edwin Mellen Press in 2007.  His next writing project will be a book on Biblical Archaeology.  Dr. Mitchell is attracted to archaeology and history for what they can bring to the text of the Old Testament.  His ultimate interest is in the exegesis of historical narrative texts of the Old Testament and especially the books of Joshua-Kings.

Dr. Mitchell was a Business administrator at a Discipleship ministry in the late eighties. He served as Minister of Youth to two churches before and during his seminary studies.

Education

• Ph.D. (Old Testament), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002
• M.Div., Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994
• B.B.A., Baylor University, 1985

Additional Study

• Memphis State University, Middle Egyptian Grammar & Texts, 1993-95
• University of Leicester, UK, 2005-2006
• Trinity College, Bristol University, UK, 2007-2008

Academic Experience

• Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Archaeology, 2002-present
• Instructor of Old Testament Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999-2002
• Editorial Assistant, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 1998-2000
• Conference Teacher, Psalms, Trinidad Pastors Conference, through Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the IMB, May 1998
• Adjunct Instructor, Old Testament Survey I & II, Simmons Bible College, 1997-98
• Law Librarian - Boehl, Stopher & Graves Law Firm, Louisville, Kentucky, 1996-99
• Garrett Fellow, to Dr. Paul House, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1996-98
• Grader, to Dr. Larry L. Walker, Mid-America Seminary, Fall, 1994

Professional Memberships

• Tel Gezer Regional Survey Project, Co-director/Lead researcher
• Tel Gezer Excavation and Publication Project
• American Schools of Oriental Research
• Evangelical Theological Society
• Near East Archaeological Society
• Society of Biblical Literature

Honors

• Junior Scholar Grant - The Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, Dallas, Texas, 2008.
• Ph.D. Studies Travel Grant, Jerusalem University College - The Southern Baptist Theol. Seminary, 1998
• Archaeological Studies Grant, Megiddo - The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1998
• Archaeological Studies Grant, Hazor - The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997
• Valedictorian – Graduated Summa Cum Laude, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary,1994
• Baker Book House Award - Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (G.P.A.), 1994
• J. Phillip Allison Greek Scholarship - Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992

Church Membership

• Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas

Church Related Experience

• Church Seminars:  Old Testament Survey, Old Testament Archaeology, Biblical Backgrounds, Book studies…
• Licensing and Ordination Committee, Travis Ave. Baptist Church, 2006-present
• Occasional substitute teaching in Adult Sunday School, Travis Ave. Baptist Church, 2003- present.
• Bible Study Leader, “The Incredible Power of Kingdom Authority,” Travis Ave. Baptist Church, 2004
• Counselor, Billy Graham Crusade, Louisville, Ky., June 21-24, 2001
• Substitute teaching for Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Highview Baptist Church, June 1999-2000
• Discipleship Leader, "Step by Step through the Old Testament," Highview Baptist Church, Spring 2000
• Family Bible Study Leader, "Growing Kids God's Way," Highview Baptist Church, Spring 1998
• Minister of Youth, Berclair Baptist Church, Memphis, Tenn., 1992-95
• Minister of Youth, Noonday Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga., 1989-91
• Singles Ministry Leader, College of the Ozarks, Branson, Mo., 1988
• Associate Director - The Sky's The Limit (urban day camp), Denver, Colorado, Summer 1988
• Business Administrator - Doulos Ministries, Branson, Missouri, 1987 - 1989
• Jr. High Young Life Leader, Branson/Kimberling City, Mo., 1986-87

Publications

• Biblical Contexts: Archaeology and the World of Ancient Israel.  St. Louis:  Chalice Press, forthcoming 2010.
• “Egypt,” “Fort,” “Fortification,” “Fortified Cities,”  “Mesopotamia,” “Merneptah,” “Mesha,” “Necho,” “Old Testament,” “Thutmose,” in the Baker Illustrated  Bible Dictionary, Baker Books, edited  by Tremper Longman, Peter Enns, and Mark Strauss.  Forthcoming, 2009.
• Exodus:  A Student’s Guide.  Nashville:  Seminary Extension, forthcoming 2008.
• “Southern Baptists and Archaeology.”  In the Southern Baptist Encyclopedia.  Edited by Ergun Caner.  Nashville:  Broadman & Holman, forthcoming, 2008.
• “Gezer Boundary Inscription.”  Photograph.  The Biblical Illustrator, Summer 2008.
• “The Rise of Kingship in Israel.” The Biblical Illustrator, October 2007.
• With Paul House and Archie England, Old Testament Survey: Parts 1 & 2, revised. Seminary Extension Course, 2007.
• "Giants in the Land: Southern Baptists and Biblical Archaeology."  The Biblical Illustrator, Summer 2007.
•  
• A Literary Examination of the Function of Satire in the Mišpat Hammelek of I Samuel 8.  New York:  Edwin Mellen Press, 2007.
• The Triumph of Satire in 1 Samuel 8.  New York:  Edwin Mellen Press, forthcoming 2007.
• With Paul House. Old Testament Survey, 2d. ed., Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007.
• With Archie England. Old Testament Survey: Workbook. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2007.
•  “The Triumph of Satire in 1 Samuel 8.” Valley Forge, Pennsylvania:  Evangelical Theological Society National Meeting, November, 2005.
•  SBL Dissertation Poster Session:  "Give Us A King": The Triumph of Satire in 1 Samuel 8.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Society of Biblical Literature National Meeting, November, 2005.
• “The Hebrew Bible, Archaeology and the Rise of Kingship in Israel.”  Fort Worth, Texas:  Yad B’Yad/Hashomer (Jewish/Christian Interfaith group), McKinney Memorial Bible Church, November 2005.
• "A Fort by Any Other Name: A Further Comparative Typology of Forts and Fortresses." Dallas, Texas: American Schools of Oriental Research Southwest Regional Meeting, March, 2005.
• "The Fortress of Mudaybi': A Comparative Typology of Iron Age Fortresses," paper presented to the American School of Oriental Research National Meeting, November 2003.
• "Ai," "Exodus: Date of; Pharaoh of; Number Involved," "Jericho," "Lachish," "Pithom & Ramses," Holman Bible Dictionary. Broadman & Holman, 2003.
• "Micah: The Man and His Times." Southwestern Journal of Theology, Fall, 2003.
• Review of Mesopotamia and the Bible, Edited by Mark W. Chavalas and K. Lawson Younger. The Southwestern Journal of Theology, Fall 2003.
• With Paul House, Old Testament Survey: Parts 1 & 2. Seminary Extension Course, 1999.
• "Toward a Narrative Chronology of Saul's Reign," paper presented to Evangelical Theological Society National Meeting, November 1998.
• Review of The Samson Cycle by Jichan Kim, Mid-America Theological Journal. 1995.

professional papers

• “The Tel Gezer Regional Survey Project:  Connecting City to Landscape.”  Providence, RI:  Near East Archaeological Society: Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, forthcoming, Nov. 2008.
• “The Tel Gezer Regional Survey Project:  Methods and Aims.”  Dallas, Texas:  Southwest Commission on Religious Studies/ASOR-SW, Mar. 15, 2008. 
• "Report on the 2007 Season at Tel Gezer."  San Diego, California:  Near East Archaeological Society: Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting, Nov. 2007.
• "Report on the 2006 Season at Tel Gezer.”  Dallas, Texas:  Southwest Commission on Religious Studies/ASOR-SW, Mar. 3, 2007. 
• "2006 Season Report: Tel Gezer Excavation & Publication Project."  Fort Worth, Texas:  Evangelical Theological Society: Southwest Region Annual Meeting, Mar. 23, 2007.
• “The Triumph of Satire in 1 Samuel 8.” Valley Forge, Pennsylvania:  Evangelical Theological Society National Meeting, November, 2005.
• SBL Dissertation Poster Session:  "Give Us A King": The Triumph of Satire in 1 Samuel 8.  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Society of Biblical Literature National Meeting, November, 2005.
• “The Hebrew Bible, Archaeology and the Rise of Kingship in Israel.”  Fort Worth, Texas:  Yad B’Yad/Hashomer (Jewish/Christian Interfaith group), McKinney Memorial Bible Church, November 2005.
• "A Fort by Any Other Name: A Further Comparative Typology of Forts and Fortresses." Dallas, Texas: American Schools of Oriental Research Southwest Regional Meeting, March, 2005.
• "The Fortress of Mudaybi': A Comparative Typology of Iron Age Fortresses," paper presented to the American School of Oriental Research National Meeting, November 2003.
• Mitchell, Eric. “Toward a Narrative Chronology of Saul’s Reign.” Orlando, Florida:  Evangelical Theological Society National Meeting, November, 1998.

Travel

• Israel (11x), Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, United Kingdom, Trinidad

ordination

• Noonday Baptist Church, Marietta, Ga., 1989

Personal

• Spouse: Nancy Wheeler
• Children: Molly Beth, John Eric, Anna Kathryn, Emily Susan

View Class Schedule