John J. R. Lee
Professor of New Testament
At a Glance
Biography
Dr. John Lee is passionate about helping students see the grace of God in Christ from the Greek New Testament and the Bible’s ongoing relevance and central importance for the local church today. Dr. Lee has taught at MBTS since the fall of 2010 and currently serves as Professor of New Testament, teaching various biblical studies and Greek courses and supervising a number of Ph.D. dissertations. He was the recipient of the seminary’s 2014 Professor of the Year award.
Professor Lee’s research interests include the Gospels, Ephesians, New Testament Christology and Christian origins, early Jewish and Christian monotheism, messianic language and theology, discipleship, and biblical Greek.
Lee has authored or coauthored 12 books and is currently working on several new projects, including a monograph on New Testament Christology (IVP Academic). In addition to his publications, Lee has presented numerous conference papers at the Evangelical Theological Society, the Society of Biblical Literature, and other academic meetings since 2008.
Lee has graduated from Seoul National University, South Korea (B.M.); The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky (M.Div.); and the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Ph.D. in New Testament), where his mentors were Paul Foster and the late Larry Hurtado.
Dr. Lee has pastored in various English- and Korean-speaking settings since 2001 and is serving as associate pastor at Kansas City Korean Baptist Church. He is also frequently invited to speak at local churches in the States and in South Korea. He adores his wife, Sunny, and is incredibly proud of their son, Josh.
Professor Lee welcomes inquiries on Ph.D. supervision.
Education
B.M., Seoul National University
M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Doctoral Exchange Student, University of Tübingen
Ph.D. in New Testament, University of Edinburgh
Publications by John J. R. Lee
Going Deeper with New Testament Greek Workbook: With Exercises from Mark 8:22–10:52
Buy Now
The Divine Christology of the Apostle Paul: Retrospect and Prospect
Buy Now
A Ransom for Many: Mark 10:45 as a Key to the Gospel
Buy Now
Christological Rereading of the Shema (Deut 6.4) in Mark's Gospel
Buy NowFaculty Q&A
The “For the Church” vision continually reminds me that, in my teaching, I am shaping a generation of leaders called to serve Christ’s Church. It also anchors me in the truth that we are to submit our reason, emotion, and will to God’s Word, for genuine commitment to the Church itself is an expression of wholehearted submission to biblical authority.
I love teaching at MBTS for many reasons, but what stands out most to me is the community God has gathered here. My colleagues are not only excellent scholars but also faithful and godly men, and my students are deeply passionate about growing in their knowledge of God’s Word and serving the Church. It is a true privilege to walk alongside them, and they make my work both richly rewarding and deeply fulfilling.
I am encouraged by the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders in many ways—especially by their genuine excitement for learning the biblical languages and by their deep commitment to caring for and supporting one another. I am most encouraged when I see both qualities wonderfully combined in the same person.
