Charles B. Puskas, Ph.D. 6994 W. Shadow Lake Drive Lino Lakes, MN 55014 651-707-3693 mobile phone 651-484-6065 telefax CPuskas@aol.com PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL PROFILE • Organized and dedicated with a positive attitude • Special talent for developing good rapport with people • Team player with keen ability to communicate with diverse groups of people • Persuasive advocate and promoter of projects to which I am committed • Friendly and outgoing, enjoy new challenges, self-motivated • Attention to detail and house editorial style • Efficient at getting projects done on time. HIGHLIGHTS OF MY CAREER *Over twenty years experience in the publishing industry as an academic editor, trade sales representative, senior reference editor, and field sales manager with three major religious publishing companies: Augsburg Fortress (acquisitions and development, 1991-94, trade sales, 1996-2003), Abingdon (Senior Reference Editor, 2003-4), and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (Field Sales Manager, 2004-2012). *Twelve rewarding years of teaching biblical studies and theology at five private colleges (Evangel, Drury, St. Catherine, Bethel, North Central) and three public universities (Missouri State, Metropolitan State, Univ of MN). *Seven successful years of parish ministry in rural, urban, & suburban settings *Significant publications in my field of study: The Hardness of Heart Motif in the Biblical Tradition (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2022) The Conceptual Worlds of the Fourth Gospel (with C. Michael Robbins) Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021) The General Letters, Hebrews and Revelation (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2016) The Letters of Paul: An Introduction (Liturgical Press, 1993; 2nd ed. with Mark Reasoner, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2013) An Introducion to the New Testament. 2nd ed. (with Michael Robbins; Cascade Books, 2011) An Introduction to the Gospels and Acts (with David Crump; Eerdmans, 2008) The Conclusion of Luke-Acts: The Significance of Acts 28:16-31 (revised dissertation; Pickwick Publications, 2009) *Ph.D. in Biblical Languages and Literature from a major Catholic university *Extensive travel throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East *Important contacts with some of the best international scholars in my work with Fortress Press, Abingdon Press, Wm. B. Eerdmans and a long-time member of both the Society of Biblical Literature (1975-) and Catholic Biblical Association (1978-). TEACHING EXPERTISE New Testament and Hebrew Bible; Christian Theology, Theological Ethics, Christian Spirituality and Discipleship; Peace and Justice Issues; Early Christian Missions Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation; the Greco-Roman world; Gnosticism; Ancient Near East; Biblical Archaeology; The Bible and Literature. COURSES TAUGHT: COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY 2022 “Ethics and Worldview” North Central University, MPLS 2017 “Jesus in History” Classical and Near Eastern Studies Department, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 1995-1996 "Introduction to the New Testament; The Life and Teachings of Paul," Metropolitan State University, MN 1994-1995 "A Biblical Theology of Justice; A Biblical Theology of Poverty; Male and Female in Biblical Perspective; An Introduction to the Bible," Bethel University, MN 1995 "Current Issues in New Testament Study" The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN 1988-1989 "The Life and Teachings of Jesus," Drury College, MO 1981-1986 "Introduction to the New Testament," Missouri State University, Springfield. 1977-1980 "Introduction to Christian Theology; Old Testament Survey; The Christian in Contemporary Society; Selections of C. S. Lewis (Essential Christianity); Biblical Themes; Prophets; Bible and Literature Seminar with James Edwards, English Professor; New Testament Survey; Senior Seminar," Evangel University, Springfield, MO. PUBLICATIONS and Papers The Hardness of Heart in the Biblical Tradition (Cascade Books, 2022) The Conceptual Worlds of the Fourth Gospel (with C. Michael Robbins) Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021) “On Natural and Grafted Branches (Romans 11:17-24): Israel and the Church in Robert Jenson’s Systematic Theology, An Ancillary or Necessary Concern? Presented to the Upper Midwest Regional Meeting of the AAR/SB/ASOR, April 4-5, 2014 (The Philosophy of Religion/Systematic Theology section of AAR on April 4th). Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. “Apostolic Advice: 1 Corinthians 7 as Deliberative Rhetoric,” edited by E. N. Newberg & Lois E. Olena, Children of the Calling. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2014. The Letters of Paul: An Introduction (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1993; 2nd ed. with Mark Reasoner, Liturgical Press, 2013) An Introduction to the New Testament. 2nd ed. (with Michael Robbins; Eugene OR: Cascade Books, 2011) An Introduction to the Gospels and Acts (with David Crump; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008) The Conclusion of Luke-Acts: The Significance of Acts 28:16-31 (Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2009) An Introduction to the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1989, 1992) A Survey of Scripture in Essential Christianity edited by Edward L. MacAlmon (Springfield, MO: Evangel College Press, 1981) 93-144 "Hunger and Poverty: A Theological Response," Campus Ambassador Magazine (October, 1980) 6-9. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2022 Adjunct Professor of Ethics, North Central University, Minneapolis 2017 Lecturer, Classical and Near Eastern Studies Department, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 2012-2016 Field Sales Executive, Convivium Press, Miami, Florida, publishing Catholic titles English and Spanish titles of biblical scholars and theologians from the Gregorian University of Rome and related institutions of Catholic higher learning. 2004-2012 Field Sales Manager, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, publishes 120 titles per year in Bible, theology, pastoral books, and children’s titles per year (1,000 titles in print). established in 1911. I managed over 200 academic and trade in 30 states (including church bookstores, also visited pastors and seminary professors as prospective authors) Senior Reference Editor, Abingdon Press, Nashville, Managing Editor of the New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, the Global Bible Commentary, Biblical Parallels, and The Pastor’s Bible Study. Acquisitions Editor, Fortress Press (Biblical studies) Worked with over 100 scholars from major universities and seminaries in the U.S., Europe, S. America, Africa, and Asia Augsburg Fortress, Publishers Minneapolis, MN 55440 1996-2003 Academic and Trade Sales Representative, Augsburg Fortress, Publishers responsible for over 250 major accounts in eight states Of the North Central region of the U.S. 1994-1996 Community Faculty of Religious Studies Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN 1995 Visiting Professor of New Testament The College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN 1994-1995 Visiting Professor, Biblical Studies, Bethel University 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112 1989-90 Visiting Professor, Religious Studies, Drury College Springfield, Missouri 1981-1989 United Methodist Pastor, Springfield, MO Missouri West Conference of the UMC 1977-1980 Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies Evangel University, Springfield, MO EDUCATION Ph.D. Saint Louis University, Department of Theological Studies, St. Louis, Missouri 1980; concentration: Biblical Languages and Literature; Dissertation; “Paul at Rome: A Literary and Theological Analysis of Acts 28:16-31.” Director, Robert F. O’Toole, Seminary studies at Covenant Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) and Christ Seminary-Seminex (Lutheran), St. Louis (1975-77). M.A. Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois, magna cum laude, Department of Theological Studies, 1975; concentration: New Testament Greek B.A. Central Bible College (now Evangel University), Springfield, MO, 1974, magna cum laude. Department of Bible. Recipient of Chi Delta Kappa Award. __________________________________________________________________ TRAVEL, HONORS AND AWARDS 2022 Travel to London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Dublin, Amsterdam 2019 Travel to Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Norway 2018 Travel to England, Scotland, Ireland 2015 Travel to Paris, Normandy, France; London, Oxford, England 2014 Travel to Germany (Berlin, Erfurt, Eisenach, Dresden, Prague) 2013 Travel to Paris, Giverny, Vernon, Rouen, Bayeux 2013 Mission Jamaica, Kingston and Montego Bay (March) 2012 Cayman Islands 2012 Basel, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Koblenz, Cologne, Amsterdam 2011 Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensburg, Nuremberg (Hungary, Austria, Germany) 2011 Travel to U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. John), and Hawaii 2010 Travel to Paris, France 2009 Travel to Prague, Czech Republic (and nearby towns) Travel to Hong Kong (and nearby locations) 2007 Travel to Cancun, Mexico (and surrounding areas) 2006 Travel to London and Oxford, U.K. 2005 Travel to Spain: Girona, Figueres, Monserrat, Taragona, Barcelona, Costa Brava, Gulf of Roses 2004 Scholarship trip to Greece and Turkey in November (Educational Opportunities, Lakeland, Florida) 2001 Travel to Florence, Pisa, Rome, and Milan in July Who’s Who in Biblical Studies and Archaeology Full Scholarship to Israel/Palestine from Educational Opportunities Scholarship trip to Europe and Israel/Palestine, Jordan 1978 Faculty advisor, student field trip to Matamoors, Mexico (Evangel) 1974-80 Recipient of the Order of the Eastern Star Award for Religious Leadership ($2600) Magna cum laude graduate, Wheaton College, Illinois LANGUAGES Hellenistic Greek (5 yrs of study); Classical Hebrew (3yrs of study); Biblical Aramaic; Augustan/Ciceronian Latin (2 yrs of study); Sahidic Coptic (for the Gnostic Gospels); Modern German (2 yrs), Contemporary French (reading knowledge). HOBBIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS Jogging; swimming; boating; golf; travel; playing guitar and singing (solo and in music groups); walking my Newfoundland dog, Sammy; book collecting; participating in a few book clubs; small group Bible study on a regular basis; a zoom study on C. S. Lewis, reading great works of fiction (e.g., Shakespeare, Cervantes, William Thackeray, Dickens, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Marcel Proust) good current novels, history (American Civil War, Rome, Spain, Greece, European), biography (e.g., Erasmus, Luther, Frederick the Great, Washington, Lincoln, Bismarck), some fantasy, science fiction, and mysteries, philosophy/hermeneutics (Plato, Hegel, Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, Gadamer), and theology (Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Pannenberg; Robert Jenson), and Bible (e.g., Richard Bauckham, John M. G. Barclay, Luke T. Johnson, Craig Evans, James D. G. Dunn, John J. Collins, Walter Brueggemann, John Goldingay). REFERENCES Dr. Mark Reasoner (teaching colleague, co-author) Associate Professor of Theology Marian University 3200 Cold Spring Road Indianapolis, IN 46222-1997 317.955.6175 office, I taught with Mark at Bethel, cell 651-644-2691 mreasoner@marian.edu cell 334-451-6504 Dr. David Penchansky (D9PENCHANSKY@Stthomas.edu) Professor of Old Testament (former teaching colleague, friend) University of St. Thomas 2115 Summit Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105 David taught at Evangel after I did before coming to St. Thomas 651-645-1165 Robert F. O’Toole, President, Gregorian University Foundation, The Gregorian University Foundation 106 West 56th Street, New York, New York 10019 (doctoral advisor, mentor) Phone: 212-582-5433 (CBA officer); otoole3@gmail.com Dr. Paul Franklyn (former UMPH supervisor) Associate Publisher for Bibles, Leadership, and Theology United Methodist Publishing House Nashville, TN Pfranklyn2@umpublishing.org Paul was our Dept. Fellow at Evangel, 615-400-6839 Mary Beth Franklyn 4201 New Hope Meadow Hermitage, TN 37076 Mary Beth (wife of Paul) was my student at Evangel 615-477-6678 She participated in a zoom class that I taught on C S Lewis that I recently taught; mbfranklyn@comcast.net Patrick H. Alexander (I worked with Patrick as an author) Director, Pennsylvania State University Press State College, Pennsylvania pha3@psu.eduhide The Rev. Matthew Neumann 605 N. Central Ave. Flagler Beach, FL 32130 Beachlovahs85@gmail.com Matthew was my student at Evangel Clayton and Lori Smith 19250 Mohawk St. Stilwell, KS 66085 lori@greatspirit.com Clayton 573-837-0800 Clayton helped coordinate a C S Lewis class that I recently taught Lori 573-450-2586 Lori was my student at Evangel Clayton, D. Min., was my senior pastor where I served as associate pastor In Springfield, MO. Dr. Benny C. Aker 3240 N. Circle Lane Springfield, MO 65803 Benny was my teacher at Central Bible College, Springfield, MO Dr. James Edwards 503 Sunnyside Ave. Wheaton, IL 60187 Jim taught with me at Evangel College, I lectured in several of his classes 630-818-0494