Suzanne Nicholson, Ph.D.

Professor of New Testament

Department: Christian Thought

Office: Hughes Auditorium 128

Phone Extension: (859) 858-3511, x2211

Biographical Information

Suzanne Nicholson came to Asbury University after teaching New Testament for 16 years at Malone University in Canton, Ohio. She received her Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the University of Durham in England, an M.Div. at Asbury Theological Seminary, and a B.A., magna cum laude, in journalism from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Nicholson is an elder in the Global Methodist Church, where she serves on the Commission for Doctrine, Discipleship, and Just Ministry. She also serves as Assistant Lead Editor for Firebrand (an online Wesleyan magazine), and serves on various boards, including the editorial board of the Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies and the advisory board for the John Wesley Institute. She is the co-sponsor of the Inductive Study of Scripture Research Group at the Institute for Biblical Research. Her publications include Cooperating with the Holy Spirit: Theological and Practical Reflections on the Asbury Outpouring (editor); an 8-week Bible study on Women in the New Testament for Seedbed; a chapter on Ephesians in the Wesley One Volume Commentary; her book, Dynamic Oneness: The Significance and Flexibility of Paul’s One-God Language; and numerous articles for Firebrand magazine. She and her husband, Lee, have two adult children.

Education

Ph.D., University of Durham
M.Div., Asbury Theological Seminary
B.A. in journalism, magna cum laude, University of Minnesota

Selected Publications

Editor, Cooperating with the Holy Spirit: Theological and Practical Reflections on the Asbury Outpouring. Abilene, TX: Abilene Christian University Press, 2025.
Contributor and Signatory, The Faith Once Delivered: A Wesleyan Witness to Christian Orthodoxy, ed. Ryan N. Danker. Franklin, TN: Seedbed, 2024.
“Educating Undergraduates for the Next Methodism.” Chapter in The Next Methodism. Franklin, TN: Seedbed, 2022.
“The Two Spotlights of Inductive Bible Study and Narrative Criticism,” Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies 8/1 (2021): 7-58.
Women in the New Testament. OneBook: Daily-Weekly Bible Study. Wilmore, KY: Seedbed, 2020.
“Ephesians.” Chapter in The Wesley One-Volume Commentary. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 2020.
“Mercy.” Pages 584-588 in Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Rev. Ed. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013.
Dynamic Oneness: The Significance and Flexibility of Paul’s One-God Language. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2010.

Selected Academic Presentations

Panelist, “The Positive Principle of Prevenient Grace,” Dennis F. Kinlaw Symposium for Theological Dialogue, Francis Asbury Society, Sept. 26, 2023.
“We’ve Lost the Plot: The Need for a Return to Expository Preaching.” Paper for the Homiletics and Biblical Studies section of the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting. November 2019.
Invited Speaker for the Chaney Lectures at Central Christian College of Kansas in McPherson, Kan., April 9-10, 2019.
“Subverting Texts, Subverting Power: Luke’s Rewriting of Amos in Acts 15:16-17,” at the Rewriting in Luke and Acts conference in Roskilde, Denmark, June 2014.
“Predicting Heresy: Paul’s Rationale in 1 Cor 15:24–28,” at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, New Orleans, La., November 2009.

Selected Other Publications & Presentations

Regular teacher for the School of Methodism (John Wesley Institute). Topic: “John Wesley’s View of Scripture.”
Bible Hour Teacher. Family Bible Camp. Findley, NY. July 21-27, 2024.
“The Serpent in the Techno-Garden: Resisting the Temptation to Use AI for Ministry.” Firebrand. May 23, 2023. https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-serpent-in-the-techno-garden-resisting-the-temptation-to-use-ai-for-ministry
Invited Speaker, LeTourneau University in Longview, TX, October 11-12, 2022. Address to the Honors College: “The Science and Art of Reading Scripture Well: An Exploration of Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac in Luke’s Gospel.” Chapel Sermon: “Bleachable Moments: Luke 19:45-48.”
“The Image of God and the Role of Women in Leadership: Part One—the Old Testament.” Firebrand. February 22, 2022. https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-image-of-god-and-the-role-of-women-in-leadership-part-onethe-old-testament
“The Image of God and the Role of Women in Leadership: Part Two—the New Testament.” Firebrand. March 1, 2022. https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-image-of-god-and-the-role-of-women-in-leadership-part-twothe-new-testament
“Love That Transforms: How Recovering the Story of Scripture Informs the Human Sexuality Debate.” Firebrand. July 13, 2021. https://firebrandmag.com/articles/love-that-transforms-how-recovering-the-story-of-scripture-informs-the-human-sexuality-debate
“The Call to Study: Lessons in Education from the Gospels.” Firebrand. August 17, 2020. https://firebrandmag.com/articles/the-call-to-study-lessons-in-education-from-the-gospels