Stanley P. Saunders is a New Testament scholar, whose particular research interest includes eschatology, creation and the Gospel of Matthew. He is also involved in issues of social justice particularly pertaining to the American criminal justice system and creation care.
Saunders received a B.A. from San Jose Christian College (1975), a M.Div. from Emmanuel School of Religion (1980) and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (1990). He began his academic career as an Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wartburg Theological Seminary (1984-1988). He then took the position of Assistant Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary (1991-1999) and now serves as Associate Professor of New Testament (1999–present).
In much of Saunders' work he asserts "we usually think that the goal of exegesis is to uncover the meanings in a text. But ‘meaning’ is discovered more in the dialogues that transpire between interpreters, their communities and worlds, the text, the worlds of the text, and the tradition." He is a proponent of the school of biblical interpretation which takes into account all external factors in the current setting, not just the text itself. This has led to an increased emphasis of how scripture engages the contemporary world and its current issues, such as care for the earth and the injustices of the criminal justice system.
"Christian Eschatology: the Ground and Impetus for Mission," Gospel in Context 2 (1979), pp. 3–10, 16-17.
"God's Merciful Community," (with James L. Bailey), Currents in Theology and Mission 14 (1987): 325-333.
"Feet Partly of Iron and Partly of Clay: Pedagogy and the Curriculum of Theological Education," (with Ronald H. Cram), Theological Education 29 (1992): 21-50.
"Anything But Ordinary: Worship and Preaching in Ordinary Time," (with Charles L. Campbell), Journal for Preachers 18/4 (1995): 25-31.
"`What Does This Mean? What Shall We Do?’" (with Charles L. Campbell), Journal for Preachers 19:4 (1996): 3-9.
"Gospel of Matthew," in Alan C. Myers, ed., The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2000).
"Discernment on the way to Emmaus: Resurrection Imagination and Practices in Luke 24:13-35," Journal for Preachers 20:2 (1997): 44-49. (Also published in Campbell and Saunders, The Word on the Street)
"The Reality of a Present God; Living the Word: Matthew" Sojourners 28:1 (1999): 46-49.
"God With Us in Power: Preaching Matthew Missionally," Journal for Preachers 22:2 (1999): 25-30.
The Word on the Street: Performing the Scriptures in the Urban Context (with Charles L. Campbell), (Eerdmans, 2000, republished by Wipf & Stock, 2006).
"Taking It to the Streets," The Other Side 36:6 (2000)
"Philippians and Galatians," Interpretation Bible Studies (Geneva Press, 2001).
"Learning Christ: Eschatology and Spiritual Formation in New Testament Christianity," Interpretation 56:2 (2002): 155-167.
"Revelation and Resistance: Narrative and Worship in John’s Apocalypse," in Joel B. Green and Michael Pasquarello III, eds., Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching: Reuniting New Testament Interpretation and Proclamation (Baker Academic, 2003), pp. 117–150.
"Between Blessing and Curse: Reading, Hearing, and Performing the Apocalypse in a World of Terror," in Christine Yoder, Beth Johnson, Kathleen O’Connor, Shaking Heaven and Earth: Essays in Honor of Walter Brueggemann and Charles Cousar (Westminster John Knox Press, 2005): 141-156.
"Nurturing Hope: Nurturing Faithful Vision Amidst Defeat," Catalyst 31:4 (2005): 1-3.
Introductions and Text Notes for Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians in The Discipleship Study Bible (Westminster John Knox Press, 2008.
"Matthew" in Gail R. O’Day and David L. Petersen, eds., Theological Bible Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009), pp. 293–310.
"Prophets in the New Testament and Early Church," New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 4 (Abingdon Press, 2009), pp. 621–622.
"Philippians, Letter to the," New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume 4 (Abingdon Press, 2009), pp. 503–507.
Preaching the Gospel of Matthew: Proclaiming God’s Presence. (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Exegetical Essays in Barbara Brown Taylor and David Bartlett, eds., Feasting on the Word (Westminster John Knox Press, 2008-2011): "Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21"; "Mark 9:1-9"; "Mark 1:9-14."
Editorial Board Member and Contributor to Elizabeth Johnson and Cynthia Jarvis, eds., Feasting on the Gospels (Westminster John Knox Press, 2013-).
