Biography
A native of Austell, Ga., Dr. Cribb came to Anderson University following a five-year tenure at Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, Ga. Dr. Cribb holds a BA in political science and a BS in mathematics from Furman University in Greenville, S.C. After being called into the ministry, he received his master of divinity in biblical and theological studies and his doctor of philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. His primary emphasis in PhD work was Old Testament theology, with minor areas of study in New Testament theology and Old Testament languages.
Dr. Cribb is married to Elizabeth, and they have two sons—Daniel Luther and Josiah John. Elizabeth is an RN and a stay-at-home mom, who also holds a master of divinity degree from Southern Seminary.
Dr. Cribb’s most recent publication is his book, Speaking on the Brink of Sheol: Form and Message of Old Testament Death Stories (Piscataway, N.J.: Gorgias Press, 2009). He also assisted Daniel I. Block in editing a volume of essays entitled, Israel: Ancient Kingdom or Late Invention? (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2008), and has presented papers at several different venues. In addition, Dr. Cribb has written nearly 100 articles for Baptist Press, and he has had articles published in more than 15 state Baptist papers.
Dr. Cribb regularly fills the pulpit in local churches and has in the past served in interim and associate pastoral roles.
Personal narrative:
Though my calling is teaching at a Christian college, my passion is the local church. I truly believe that these two are and should be integrated, for it is through the training of God-called ministers at institutions like Anderson University that the church may be edified and our Lord glorified. My prayer is that the students who train for Christian ministry at AU will have this same passion for the Bride of Christ.
My goal in teaching is three-fold: To engender within the students a love and passion for God’s inspired, inerrant Word—all of it, including the Old Testament. To enter into and invest in the lives of the students, for through them our future generations and the church itself can be influenced for Christ. And to encourage the students in not only intellectual achievement, but also in Christian discipleship, discipline, and humility, so that the entire person is trained.
In The Know Dr. Bryan Cribb
We sat down with Dr. Cribb to find out a little more about him personally. Below is an excerpt from our discussions with the professors.
1. What’s your favorite book of the Bible and why?
It may sound strange and a bit dark, but I would say the book of Judges. Perhaps no book in the Bible speaks to our postmodern, pluralistic, hedonistic culture (and church!) like the book of Judges, where God’s people can be wholly absorbed with the world (“everyone did what was right in his own eyes”).
A second reason for my fascination with the book is that it demonstrates the literary brilliance of the inspired biblical writers, who expertly shaped and selected their material under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to communicate God’s specific theological message.
Third, the book teaches something very powerful about God. As my mentor Daniel Block writes about the book: “The book of Judges teaches its readers in every age that the darker the human heart the more brilliant the light of God’s grace.”
2. What’s a hobby you enjoy doing?
When I was younger and in better shape and had more spare time, I loved backpacking on backcountry hikes. Now, my principle amusement is my family (my wife, Elizabeth, and three sons—Daniel, Josiah, and Nathaniel). Interestingly, backpacking and wrestling with my kids takes a similar amount of physical exertion.
3. Which will you prefer when you get to heaven: church potlucks, ice cream socials or spaghetti dinners?
Didn’t Jesus say that in heaven, we would neither eat or be given to eating, but we will be like angels in heaven? Maybe that’s not what He said… If not, I’ll take the ice cream.
4. Who has been a mentor to you and what has that person done to help you the most?
My parents, of course, served in this capacity in my youth. They raised me to love the Lord and His church. But in ministry, two of my seminary professors, Daniel Block and Tom Schreiner, really took me under their collective wings. They not only showed me the richness and depth of the Scriptures, but they also exhibited what true godliness is. Their example influenced me more than they will ever know, and they also taught me the importance of investing your life in others as a teacher.
5. Why are you glad to be teaching here in the College of Christian Studies at AU?
AU appeals to me because of its Christian worldview and grounding in Scriptures as the inerrant Word of God. But, as a Christian liberal arts college, I also see AU as an opportunity to influence and share the Gospel with students who may or may not be Ministry majors.
Dr. Cribb is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University and specializes in Old Testament studies.
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