Scholarship

The STM is also known for its commitment to the pursuit of Christ-centered scholarly excellence. Our professors are widely respected scholars who have written, edited, or contributed to almost 80 books, many of which are used as textbooks by other universities and seminaries. Several professors also have leadership roles in various scholarly organizations or serve as fellows for academic centers affiliated with other universities, seminaries, and parachurch ministries.

Forthcoming and Recent Books/Book Chapters By Our Faculty

United in Jesus, United in Joy: Sermons on Philippians. Edited by Ray Van Neste & Justin Wainscott. Union University Press (May 2025). Union Contributor(s): Ray Van Neste (Editor & Chapter 7: The Secret of Contentment (Philippians 4:10-20)); Justin Wainscott (Editor & Chapter 8: The Bookends of the Letter (Philippians 4:21-23)); Kenneth R. Lewis (Chapter 4: Unusually Useful for Christ (Philippians 2:19-30)). Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
The oversight of souls: Essays on pastoral ministry. Ray Van Neste. Heritage Seminary Press (October 2024). Book Website | Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
Biblical Ethics: A Short Companion. Jacob Shatzer; Series Edited by C. Ben Mitchell & Jason Thacker. B&H Academic (July 2024). Book Website | Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
Recognizing and Responding to the Messiah: Sermons on the Gospel of Mark. Edited by Ray Van Neste and Justin Wainscott. Union University Press (April 2024). Union Contributor(s): Ray Van Neste (Editor); Justin Wainscott (Editor). Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
How to Be a Pastor: Wisdom from the Past for Pastors in the Present. Theodore L. Cuyler; Edited by Ray Van Neste and Justin Wainscott. Wipf and Stock (January 2024). Union Contributor(s): Ray Van Neste (Editor); Justin Wainscott (Editor). Book Website | Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
Lest We Forget: Founders' Day Addresses from Union University - Bicentennial Edition. Edited by Ray Van Neste & Justin Wainscott. Union University Press (October 2023). Union Contributor(s): Cody Curtis (Chapter 9: "A New Alma Mater for Union University"); Ray Van Neste (Editor); Justin Wainscott (Editor and Chapter 6: "John Jeter Hurt: 'Somewhat of a Moses in Leading Union'"); Keith Bates (Chapter 3: "In Mutual Service: R.G. Lee and the Church-Academy Relationship"); Dub Oliver (Chapter 8: "Bicentennial Commencement Address"). Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
Faithful Learning: A Vision for Theologically Integrated Education. Jacob Shatzer. B&H Academic (July 2023). Book Website | Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library
Philippians: Joyful Unity in the Gospel. Edited by David S. Dockery. Seminary Hill Press (June 2023). Union Contributor(s): Justin Wainscott (Chapter 6: "Displaying the Worth of the Gospel in the Face of Opposition (Philippians 1:27-30)"). Book Website |
A Handbook of Theology (Theology for the People of God). Edited by Daniel L. Akin, David S. Dockery, and Nathan A. Finn. B&H Academic (April 2023). Union Contributor(s): Justin Wainscott (Chapter 12: "Pastoral Theology"); Harry Lee Poe (Chapter 7: "Christian Experience"); Jacob Shatzer (Chapter 23: "Humanity"); Hunter Baker (Chapter 44: "Religious Liberty"). Book Website | Buy at Amazon.com or Google Products | Find in Google Scholar or Nearby Library

The Union Book Project

Recent Addresses By Our Faculty

Aug 29, 2025 - Chapel: Ray Van Neste
Speaker: Ray Van Neste, Vice President for University Ministries & Dean, School of Theology and Missions, Union University
Apr 11, 2025 - Word Series Chapel: Ray Van Neste
Speaker: Ray Van Neste, Vice President, University Ministries; Dean, School of Theology & Missions; Professor of Biblical Studies, Union University - Sermon from 1 Samuel 17 (David vs. Goliath)
Mar 12, 2025 - Let's Talk About That Podcast: What exactly is a Provost? with Jacob Shatzer
Dr. Shatzer is Union's current Provost. Many people are curious what that word even means or what they do. We unpack that title just a bit as well as discuss his thoughts, ideas, hopes, and dreams for academics at Union University.
Feb 21, 2025 - Word Series Chapel: Justin Wainscott
Speaker: Justin Wainscott, Associate Dean, University Ministries & the School of Theology and Missions; Assistant Professor of Ministry, Union University - Address from Genesis 22: 1-19
Jan 15, 2025 - Chapel: Justin Wainscott
Speaker: Justin Wainscott, Associate Dean, University Ministries & the School of Theology and Missions; Assistant Professor of Ministry, Union University

The Union Video Project

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

"Testing Egalitarian Translation Theory in Matthew’s Gospel: A Response to Jeffrey Miller, ‘A Defense of Gender-Accurate Bible Translation'," Eikon: A Journal for Biblical Anthropology. (April 2023) by Ray Van Neste
"Portrait of a Faithful, Approved Workman: An Exhortation to Seminarians, 2 Timothy 2:14-26," Criswell Theological Review n.s. 20:1. (October 2022) by Ray Van Neste

Non-Peer Reviewed Journal Articles

"‘Our Most Fatal Tendency’: The Problem of Our Gleeful Historical Ignorance," Journal of the Union Faculty Forum. (February 2025) by Ray Van Neste
"The Problem of Our Gleeful Ignorance," The Imaginative Conservative. (April 2023) by Ray Van Neste

Magazine Articles

"When We Were Weird, Review of We Were a Peculiar People Once: Confessions of an Old-Time Baptist by David Lyle Jeffrey, ," Touchstone Magazine . (January 2024) by Ray Van Neste
"The Past Year’s Best Bible Resources for Preachers," Preaching Magazine . (January 2024) by Ray Van Neste
"Queer Comments," Touchstone Magazine . (March 2023) by Ray Van Neste
"2022 Survey of Bibles and Commentaries," Preaching Magazine . (October 2022) by Ray Van Neste

Denominational Publication Articles

"Dear Graduates, Work Hard," Baptist Press. (May 2024) by Ray Van Neste
"The Great Commission in Tennessee," Baptist & Reflector . (January 2023) by Ray Van Neste