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Ray Van Neste

Ray Van Neste

Dean; Professor of Biblical Studies; and Vice President for University Ministries

About

Ray Van Neste has served at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University since 2001, and also served as a visiting lecturer 1997-98. He has published books and scholarly essays on topics such as biblical studies, pastoral ministry, and church history. An ordained minister, Ray preaches and teaches regularly in local churches and has served in pastoral or other staff roles in Baptist congregations in Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Scotland. Ray serves on the Board of Reference for Eagle Projects International, a missions organization. Ray and his wife, Tammie, met while they were students at Â鶹ÊÓƵ and married just as they finished classes. They have six children- four of whom have attended Â鶹ÊÓƵ, one who is at Â鶹ÊÓƵ now, and one still at home- and three grandsons. While pastoring in Wisconsin Ray and the rest of the family got caught up in Packer-mania and have been Green Bay fans ever since. The Van Nestes are members of First Baptist Church of Jackson, TN.

Education

  • Ph.D, University of Aberdeen

  • M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

  • B.A., Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

Scholarship

Books

  • Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • United in Jesus, United in Joy: Sermons on Philippians (2025)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Heritage Seminary Press

  • Recognizing and Responding to the Messiah: Sermons on the Gospel of Mark (2024)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Wipf and Stock

  • Lest We Forget: Founders’ Day Addresses from Â鶹ÊÓƵ University – Bicentennial Edition (2023)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Religio et Eruditio: Biblical & Theological Essays – Volume 4: 2020-2022 (2023)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Religio et Eruditio: Biblical & Theological Essays – Volume 3: 2018-2019 (2019)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • God’s Glory Revealed in Christ: Essays in Honor of Tom Schreiner (2019)

    B&H Academic

  • Religio et Eruditio: Biblical & Theological Essays – Volume 1: 2014-2015 (2019)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Religio et Eruditio: Biblical & Theological Essays – Volume 2: 2016-2017 (2019)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Future Scholars (2019)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Press

  • Baker Books

  • CSB Worldview Study Bible (2018)

    Holman Bible Publishers

  • B&H Academic

  • B&H Publishing Group

  • Devotions on the Greek New Testament, Volume Two: 52 Reflections to Inspire and Instruct (2017)

    Zondervan

  • CSB Study Bible (2017)

    Holman Bible Publishers

  • B&H Academic

  • John Calvin’s Sermons on 1 Timothy (2016)

    Amazon

  • Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary (2015)

    Holman Reference

  • From the Cloud of Witnesses: Founders Day Addresses at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University (2014)

    BorderStone Press, LLC

  • B&H Academic

  • KJV 400: The Legacy and Impact of the King James Version (2012)

    BorderStone Press

  • Forgotten Songs: Reclaiming the Psalms for Christian Worship (2012)

    B&H Academic

  • Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (2012)

    Holman Reference

  • New Testament Theology in Light of the Church’s Mission: Essays in Honor of I. Howard Marshall (2011)

    Cascade Books

  • Southern Baptists, Evangelicals, and the Future of Denominationalism (2011)

    B&H Academic

  • The Lord’s Supper: Remembering and Proclaiming Christ Until He Comes (2011)

    B&H Academic

  • Holman Bible Publishers

  • Broadman & Holman

  • The ESV Study Bible (2008)

    Crossway Bibles

  • What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Their Writings (2008)

    Kregel Academic & Professional

  • Cohesion and Structure in the Pastoral Epistles (2005)

    T&T Clark, International

Articles

  • ‘Our Most Fatal Tendency’: The Problem of Our Gleeful Historical Ignorance (2025)

    Journal of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Faculty Forum

  • The Jackson Post

  • The Jackson Post

  • Dear Graduates, Work Hard (2024)

    Baptist Press

  • Touchstone Magazine

  • The Past Year’s Best Bible Resources for Preachers (2024)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Crossway.org

  • Desiring God

  • Crossway.org

  • The Jackson Post

  • Eikon: A Journal for Biblical Anthropology

  • The Imaginative Conservative

  • Touchstone Magazine

  • The Great Commission in Tennessee (2023)

    Baptist & Reflector

  • 2022 Survey of Bibles and Commentaries (2022)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Portrait of a Faithful, Approved Workman: An Exhortation to Seminarians, 2 Timothy 2:14-26 (2022)

    Criswell Theological Review n.s. 20:1

  • 9 Marks

  • Baptist & Reflector

  • Crossway.org

  • The Gospel Coalition

  • Baptist Press

  • Baptist Press

  • Preaching Magazine

  • The Imaginative Conservative

  • IACE blog

  • God-Centered Life

  • Midwestern Journal of Theology

  • Credo

  • The Preaching Annual Survey of Bibles and Commentaries (2020)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Preaching Magazine

  • Preaching Magazine’s 2013 Survey of Year’s Best Bibles and Bible Reference (2018)

    Preaching Magazine

  • 10 Ways the Reformation Still Reverberates (2017)

    Facts and Trends

  • I. Howard Marshall: An Example for the Academic Life (2017)

    Journal of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Faculty Forum

  • Southeastern Theological Review

  • The Protestant Reformation (2017)

    The Baptist & Reflector

  • Survey of Bibles and Bible Reference (2017)

    Preaching Magazine

  • The Reformation and Baptists (2017)

    Baptist Press

  • Southeastern Theological Review

  • Preacher’s Toolkit: 8 Lessons Calvin Teaches Us About Preaching (2016)

    The Gospel Coalition

  • Southeastern Theological Review

  • John Calvin- Preacher of the Gospel (2016)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Reading ‘The Aeneid’ as a Christian (2016)

    The Inaginative Conservative

  • Global Journal of Classic Theology

  • The Gospel Coalition

  • Studying the Word 2015 Survey of Bibles and Bible Resources (2015)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Journal of Baptist Studies

  • Telling the Good News through Christmas Songs (2014)

    The Baptist & Reflector

  • The Preacher’s Guide to the Best in Bibles and Bible Reference for 2014 (2014)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Themelios

  • The Strength of the Church (2014)

    The Baptist & Reflector

  • We Need the Church (2014)

    Alabama Baptist

  • Journal of Baptist Studies

  • Why Don’t We Sing the Psalms (2013)

    The Alabama Baptist

  • Why Don’t BaptistsSing the Psalms? (2013)

    The Baptist & Reflector

  • Christmas: God at Word Redeeming (2012)

    The Baptist & Reflector

  • The 2012 Preaching Surven of Bibles and Bible Study (2012)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Studying the Word: 2011 Survey of Bibles and Bible Reference (2011)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Charles Bray Williams and Â鶹ÊÓƵ University (2011)

    Tennessee Baptist History

  • Obedience (2010)

    Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization

  • Structure and Cohesion in the Pastoral Epistles (2010)

    Entrusted with the Gospel: Paul's Theology in the Pastoral Epistles

  • James S. Stewart (2010)

    Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization

  • 2010 Survey of Bibles and Bible References for Preaching (2010)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Church Leaders and False Teachers (2010)

    Baker Bible Handbook

  • Assurance (2010)

    Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization

  • New Catholic Commentary on 1 Timothy (2010)

    Journal for Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

  • 2009 of Bible and Bible References Survey for Preaching (2010)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Hugging as Spiritual Warfare (2009)

    The Baptist & Reflector

  • Church of Scotland Approves Openly Homosexual Pastor (2009)

    Journal of Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

  • Responding to Disaster (2008)

    Baptist Press

  • The Opportunity of Studying Romans (2008)

    Baptist and Reflector

  • The 2008 Preaching Survey of Bibles and Bible References (2008)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Pursuing Manhood (2008)

    The Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

  • Manliness of Thought and Harvey Mansfield on Manliness (2008)

    Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

  • Claudia (2008)

    Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception

  • Chapters in 1 Timothy, and Titus, and 2 Timothy (2008)

    What in the New Testament Authors Really Cared About

  • Bibles and Bible Reference 2007 (2007)

    Preaching Magazine

  • Inerrancy is Not Enough: A Proposal to Amend the Doctrinal Basis of the Evangical Theological Society (2007)

    Criswell Theological Review

  • Evangelical Theological Society (2007)

    Criswell Theological Reviews

  • Evangelizing Our Children (2007)

    The Baptist and Reflector

  • Learning Evangelism from the Great Soul Hunter (2007)

    The Baptist and Reflector

  • Ponderings on our Practice of the Ordinances (2006)

    Theology for Ministry 1

  • Pastoral Plagiarism (2006)

    Baptist Press

  • On Bible Literature for Children (2005)

    Baptist and Reflector

  • The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology

  • I Walked Among the Dead Today (2005)

    Songs of Honour

  • Cohesion and Structure in the Pastoral Epistles (2004)

    Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series

  • The Glaring Inadequacy of the ETS Doctrinal Statement (2004)

    The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 8.3

  • The Message of Titus: An Overview (2003)

    The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 7.3

  • Structure and Cohesion in Titus (2002)

    The Bible Translator 53.1

  • How Should We Respond to Scripture? (2001)

    Faith and Mission

Presentations

  • Psalms, Singing & the Care of Souls (2018)

    Town & Gown Lecture, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • The Mangled Narrative of Evangelism and Missions in the Reformation (2017)

    Legacy of the Reformation Conference

  • Evangelism and Missions in the Reformation (2017)

    REF500: A Festival of Celebrating the 500th Annicersary of the Protestant Reformation

  • Revival Services FBC Socorro (2015)

    FBC Socorro

  • 1 Peter 3:3-9 (2014)

    First Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Chapel after tragedy on campus

  • January Bible Study, Colossians (2014)

    Pleasant Plains Baptist Church

  • Reformation Spirituality & Colossians 3 (2014)

    Faculty Workshop, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • Coherence and Authorship in 1 Timothy (2013)

    Pastoral Epistles Study Group, Evangelical Theological Society

  • Striving With All His Might; The Power of Christ in Sanctification (2013)

    Men's Retreat, Grace Community Church

  • What Does the Bible Really Say about Homosexuality? (2013)

    First Baptist Church

  • January Bible Study 1-3 John (2013)

    Central Baptist Church

  • The Care of Souls: The Heart of the Reformation (2012)

    Reformation Day Chapel, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • The Shepherd’s Call (2012)

    The Call: The Leader as Shepherd Conference

  • The Discourse Function of oe in 2 Timothy (2011)

    Biblical Greek Language and Linguistics, Society for Biblical Literature

  • Church Health Weekend (2011)

    Fellowship Baptist Church

  • The Might of His Glory: Translation of Colossians 1:11 and its Theological Impact (2010)

    Evangelical Theological Society Meeting

  • Baptists, Pastors, and Titus 1 (2010)

    Baptist Life and Thought study group Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting

  • Communicating Familiar Bible Stories in Unfamiliar Ways (2010)

    Middle Tennessee Pastors Conference

  • Oversight of Souls: The Heart of Pastoral Ministry (Parts 1&2) & Pastoring a Rebellious People (2010)

    Shepherding God's Flock, Midwest Regional Founders' Conference

  • Overview of Hebrews (2010)

    Sunday School Teachers Training, Concord Baptist Church

  • Oversight of Souls: The Shape of Pastoral Ministry in Southern Baptist and Evangelical Life (2009)

    Southern Baptist, Evangelicals, and the Future of American Evangelicalism, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • Pastoral Ministry in Light of Christ’s Return (2009)

    Pastors Conference

  • The Life and Legacy of Charles B. Williams (2009)

    Founders Day Address, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • Soli Deo Gloria Today (2008)

    Reformation Roundtable

  • Defense of Proposal for Amendment of the Doctrinal Basis of the Evangelical Theological Society (2008)

    National Evangelical Theological Society Meeting

  • Bible Conference (2008)

    Grace Covenant Baptist Church

  • Lectures to pastors and church planters (2008)

  • A Literary Reading of the Epistle to Titus (2007)

    National Evangelical Theological Society Meeting

  • Bible Material of Children (2007)

    One Bible, One Gospel Conference, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • Pondering our Practice of the Ordinances (2006)

    Christian Colloquium, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • Baptist Doctrine Study (2006)

    FBC

  • Guest Lecture on the Pastoral Epistles (2005)

    Erskine Seminary

  • Lectures to pastors and church leaders (2005)

  • Intelligent Design in the Pastoral Epistles: An Argument for Coherence (2004)

    Evangelical Theological Society National Meeting

  • Church Health and Polity (2004)

    International Baptist Church, Aberdeen

  • Speaker (2003)

    Madison-Chester County Association weekly pastors meeting

  • Evidence of Intelligent Design in the Pastoral Epistles (2003)

    Southeastern Regional ETS Meeting

  • Bible Study Teacher (2002)

    Madison-Chester County Association Annual Meeting

  • Does the ETS Doctrinal Statement Say Enough? A Critical Assessment (2001)

    Evangelical Theological Society National Meeting

  • Structure and Cohesion in Titus (2000)

    2000 British New Testament Conference

  • The Reliability of Scripture (2000)

    Robert Gordon University

Awards

  • Undergraduate Research Grant, Translating Colossians 1:11: “glorious power or power of glory?” (2009)

    Undergraduate Research Grant award recipient.

  • Faculty of the Year, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University (2008)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University's Faculty of the Year 2009-2010

  • “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” (2006)

  • Newell Innovative Teaching Award (2006)

    Honorable Mention "A Textbook-less Approach to Teaching New Testament Survey"

  • Chi Omega Teacher of the Month (2004)

  • Course Redesign Grant CHR 365 Pastoral Ministries (2004)

    Â鶹ÊÓƵ University

  • “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers” (2004)