Posts by Clinton E. Arnold

Clinton E. Arnold

Clinton E. Arnold enjoys teaching, speaking and writing on various aspects of the New Testament. He is the editor of the four-volume Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary and the general editor of the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. 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). 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. He is a professor of New Testament language and literature and the dean of Talbot School of Theology. Arnold, his wife and three boys are vitally involved in their local church.

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Talbot Magazine
From the Dean: Spring 2022
Clinton E. Arnold — June 24, 2022
One of the great joys I have had since I began teaching at Talbot in 1987 are my Korean students. Hundreds of Korean students have gone through my...
Biola News
Letter from the President about the Talbot Extension in Kyiv
Clinton E. Arnold, Barry Corey — February 28, 2022
Dear Brothers and Sisters at Biola, The situation remains serious for our Talbot extension center in Kyiv as well as Kyiv Theological Seminary...
The Good Book Blog
Plans Underway to Excavate Colossae
Clinton E. Arnold — February 03, 2022
At long last, the ancient city of Colossae will soon be excavated! Excavation will begin this year — nearly 200 years since the ancient site of...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean: Fall 2021
Clinton E. Arnold — December 06, 2021
There is an invitation and promise from Scripture that has become increasingly meaningful to me. The Apostle Peter wrote these words during some...
The Good Book Blog
What Does Greek Grammar Have to Do with Social Justice?
Clinton E. Arnold — June 28, 2021
I began teaching Greek at Talbot in the fall of 1987. Part of teaching Greek grammar is in helping students understand the nuances of the Greek...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean: Summer 2021
Clinton E. Arnold — June 16, 2021
I began teaching Greek at Talbot in the fall of 1987. Part of teaching Greek grammar is in helping students understand the nuances of the Greek...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean: Fall 2020
Letter from the Dean of Talbot School of Theology.
Clinton E. Arnold — December 08, 2020
I am grateful that my earliest discipleship as a new believer was in a church that understood itself as a family. Being together and doing life...
The Good Book Blog
A Tribute to Dr. James E. Rosscup (1934-2020)
Clinton E. Arnold — November 24, 2020
“To pray well is to study well.” This is one of the many memorable statements from Jim Rosscup in the Hermeneutics class I had with him forty...
The Good Book Blog
Spiritual Warfare in a Pandemic
Clinton E. Arnold — October 30, 2020
How do we pray during a global pandemic?
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — June 17, 2020
I became a Christian in 1970 at the height of the Jesus People Movement. But my conversion — at the same time as my mother and stepfather — was in...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — December 02, 2019
The rise in mental health issues in recent years has become a well-documented point of concern, especially among students on our nation’s...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — June 04, 2019
When a crisis or a tense situation of interpersonal conflict emerges, I sometimes hear fellow Christians say, “This feels like spiritual warfare.”...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — November 14, 2018
In my 30-plus years of teaching the New Testament, I have developed a great fondness and respect for the theology of the Apostle Paul. His...
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — June 20, 2018
Talbot has two extension centers — one in New York and one in Eastern Europe. Both are strategically located for significant missional impact. And both are unique in their contextual focus.
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — November 13, 2017
Martin Luther preached the Bible multiple times a week. He saw it as the power of God for salvation to everyone who puts their faith in Christ. And he saw preaching as the living voice of God to keep people from deceitful teaching and the errors of the day that would lead them away from the truth of the gospel.
Talbot Magazine
Book Excerpt: The Empowering Spirit
Excerpt adapted from "Ephesians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)," by Clinton E. Arnold
Clinton E. Arnold — June 15, 2017
Ephesians has much to say about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, but one of the most important features of the Spirit’s work is that he represents the empowering presence of God in the lives of believers.
Talbot Magazine
From the Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — June 13, 2017
Sundoulos served us well for many years. But not everyone knew what the term “sundoulos” meant. As much as I like Greek, that is the danger of quoting it in your sermons, Bible studies and magazine names. “Sundoulos” is a fellow servant, and our intent is to be just that. We want to continue to serve you in the ministries where God has called you.
The Good Book Blog
Is Satan Real?
Clinton E. Arnold — October 30, 2016
This was a question posed to me by NBC News reporter John Larson a few years ago. The interview was part of a Dateline episode that explored the topic of Satan, evil spirits, and supernatural evil. As often happens in the editorial process, only a small portion of the 45-minute interview was included in the show. I thought I would share a more complete account of the interview.
The Good Book Blog
Why Were Some Books Left Out of the Bible?
Clinton E. Arnold — April 19, 2016
A few years ago, the National Geographic Society announced the discovery of a lost gospel called the Gospel of Judas. Every major news outlet covered this event, with some hailing it as the discovery of the century. The Society then aired a television special on the Friday before Easter telling the story of this great find and discussing its significance. This discovery raised many questions for people, but especially two of a critical nature for the Christian faith: (1) why were some books left out of the Bible (like the Gospel of Judas), and (2) should we consider including other books in the Bible? ...
The Good Book Blog
Does God Want Me to Be Happy?
Clinton E. Arnold — April 12, 2016
Without any hesitation we can say that yes, God wants you to be happy. The Bible (as well as experience) tells us that the Christian is given happiness in an incredible number of ways. But Christ has actually sweetened the deal and offered us something even better. While happiness is used to describe a basic feeling of gladness and contentment, what Christ offers is joy, which includes happiness, but runs much deeper, lasts much longer, and is felt much more strongly than happiness. The word joy shows up roughly four hundred times in the Bible, and it is no coincidence. Christ wants you to experience the joy that comes from him ...
The Good Book Blog
Reflections on Dr. Robert L. Saucy’s 54-Year Career at Talbot
Clinton E. Arnold — March 30, 2015
Dr. Robert L. Saucy was a faculty member at Talbot for 54 years. He began teaching here in 1961—the year JFK was inaugurated as President, the Andy Griffith show made its debut, and Henry Mancini received a Grammy for “Moon River.” The Dean of Talbot, Dr. Charles Feinberg, hired Bob to Chair both the Systematic Theology Department and the Department of English Bible. At that time, Talbot was less than 100 students.
The Good Book Blog
The Story of Charles Lee Feinberg: Talbot’s First Dean
Clinton E. Arnold — January 20, 2014
It was the fall of 1930. Just a year had passed since the stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression. Adolf Hitler was on his meteoric rise to power in Germany. But God was powerfully at work in the Pennsylvania steel town of Pittsburgh. A 21-year-old Jewish man named Bezalel Feinberg had heard the Gospel and prayed to receive Christ. It sounds so simple, yet it was anything but.
The Good Book Blog
Talbot and Inerrancy
Clinton E. Arnold — December 10, 2013
“The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are without error or misstatement in their moral and spiritual teaching and record of historical facts. They are without error or defect of any kind.” Thus reads Biola University’s (and Talbot School of Theology’s) Articles of Faith—a document that remains unchanged since it was written shortly after the turn of the century. As the Dean of Talbot and as one who has been on the faculty for 27 years, I can say that this is a conviction that runs very deep in our faculty. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and, as such, is truthful in what it affirms and can be completely trusted.
The Good Book Blog
Pastor Chuck Smith (1927-2013)
Clinton E. Arnold — October 03, 2013
I am so very grateful for the life and legacy of Pastor Chuck Smith, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and founder of the Calvary Chapel Movement. He entered the presence of the Lord early this morning after a bout with lung cancer.
The Good Book Blog
Four Aspects of a Vision for Talbot School of Theology
Clinton E. Arnold — September 07, 2012
Since becoming Dean, I have been repeatedly asked, “what is your vision for Talbot?” The following is a concise summary my convocation address that was delivered September 3, 2012 in which I address this question.