Beth LaNeel Tanner
The Rev. Dr. Norman and Mrs. Mary Kansfield Professor of Old Testament Studies
732-247-5241
btanner@nbts.edu
My call is to empower individuals and communities to engage the biblical texts in a critical, creative, and contextual ways in order to enhance personal faith and public action.
Bio
Beth LaNeel Tanner is the Norman and Mary Professor of Old Testament Interpretation. She graduated from Purdue University, Eden Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. She was ordained by the New Brunswick Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in October of 1997 and served the Larison鈥檚 Corner Presbyterian Church in Ringoes, NJ from 1997-1999. In 1998, Beth Tanner was appointed as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Assistant Professor of Old Testament in 1999. She became Full Professor in 2012.
As a scholar, Dr. Tanner specializes in Hebrew poetry, especially the psalms of lament. She has authored four books, The Book of Psalms NICOT commentary series, New Proclamation Year B 2012 Advent through Holy Week, The Psalms for Today, and The Psalms Through the Lens of Intertextuality Her current book projects include Ancient Israel and Judah: Historical and Social Context for Westminster John Knox Press and Psalms Book 1: A New Commentary from a Feminist Perspective for Liturgical Press. She is also a frequent contributor to .
In addition to here work, Dr. Tanner enjoys traveling, photography, and developing her culinary skills. She live in Somerset, NJ.
CV
Education:
B.S., Purdue University
M.Div., Eden Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary
Books:
The Psalms for Today. (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2008)
The Psalms Through the Lens of Intertextuality. (Peter Lang, 2001).
New Interpreter鈥檚 Bible One Volume Commentary Click here for info
New Proclamation Year B 2012 Advent through Holy Week. (Fortress Press, 2011), co-authored.
The Book of Psalms. A Commentary in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Authored with Rolf Jacobson and Nancy deClassie-Walford. Eerdman鈥檚 Publishing, 2015.
New Proclamation Year B 2012 Advent through Holy Week. (Fortress Press, 2011), co-authored.
The Psalms for Today. (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2008).
The Psalms through the Lens of Intertextuality. (Peter Lang, 2001).
forthcoming: Psalms Book 1: Wisdom Commentary Series. Liturgical Press, 2024.
forthcoming: Ancient Israel and Judah: Historical and Social Context. Westminster John Knox, 2023
Articles:
鈥淲isdom for All: Reading the Liberating 鈥淚鈥� of the Psalms,鈥� Biblical Wisdom Then and Now. F. Flannery and N. Roddy, eds. Routledge, forthcoming.
鈥淎llusion or Illusion in the Psalms: How do We Decide? Inner-biblical Allusions in the Poetry of Wisdom and the Psalms. Library of Biblical Studies, vol. 659. Co-edited with Mark Boda and Kevin Chau. T & T Clark, 2018.
鈥淎ncient Hebrew Nouns and the Questions for Today: A Modern-Day Lesson From Qoheleth,鈥� A Ministry of Reconciliation: Essays in Honor of Gregg Mast. Allan Janssen, ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdman鈥檚), 2017.
鈥淕enesis 29: 15-28,鈥� 鈥淕enesis 32:22-31,鈥� Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28,鈥� Genesis 45:1-15,鈥� Lectionary Texts A (workingpreacher.org. 2017)
鈥淚ntertextuality Hebrew Bible/Old Testament,鈥� in Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception. (Berlin: deGuyter, 2016)
鈥淒iscovering her Story in the Text: Literary Criticism in Feminist Hebrew Bible Studies,鈥� Feminist Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Retrospect. III. Methods S. Scholz, ed. (Sheffield: Sheffield Press, 2016).
鈥淧salm 126,鈥� Psalm 32,鈥� Psalm 63:1-8,鈥� Psalm 27,鈥� Lectionary Texts C (workingpreacher.org. 2016)
鈥淧salm 93,鈥� 鈥淧salm 16,鈥� Psalm 146,鈥� Lectionary Texts B (workingpreacher.org. 2015)
鈥淚 Samuel 16:1-13,鈥� 鈥淧salm 51:10-14,鈥� 鈥淚 Samuel 3:1-21,鈥� 鈥淓xodus 16:1-18,鈥� Lectionary Texts C (workingpreacher.org. 2013)
鈥淧salm 85:8-13″ and 鈥淕enesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8″ Lectionary Texts B (workingpreacher.org. 2012)
鈥淲orship, Old Testament,鈥� for Biblical Studies Oxford Bibliographies an on-line publication of Oxford University, August 2012.
鈥淩ethinking the Enterprise: What Must Be Considered in Formulating a Theology of the Psalms,鈥� in Soundings in the Theology of the Psalms: Perspectives in Contemporary Scholarship. R. Jacobson, ed. (Fortress Press, 2011).
鈥淓xodus 34,鈥� 鈥淚saiah 6:1-9 [9-13],鈥� 鈥淛oel 2:1-2, 12-17″ Lectionary Texts Year A (workingpreacher.org, 2010)
鈥淗osea,鈥� in The New Interpreter鈥檚 Bible One Volume Commentary, B. Gaventa and D. Peterson eds. (Abingdon Press, 2010).
鈥淕enesis 1:1-15,鈥� 鈥淒euteronomy 18:15-20,鈥� 1 Samuel 3:1-10,鈥� Jonah 3:1-5, 10″ Lectionary Texts Year C (workingpreacher.org, 2009)
鈥淭he Next Step: Making Feminist Concerns Part of the Academic Structure,鈥� Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 25:2 (Fall 2009), 12-17.
“To Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk with your God,” three studies prepared for The Thoughtful Christian. Westminster/John Knox Press, March 2008. Bible Studies in Preparation for the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
“Preaching the Penitential Psalms,” Word and World 27:1 (2007)
“My Sister Sarah: Reading the Bible Through Euro-North American Eyes” Engaging the Bible in a Gendered World: An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation. (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2006).
“King Yahweh as the Good Shepherd: Taking Another Look at the Image of God in Psalm 23,” David and Zion: Biblical Studies in Honor of J.J.M. Roberts. Edited by B. Batto and K. Roberts. (Eisenbraun’s, 2004)
“How Long, O Lord! Will Your People Suffer in Silence Forever?” Psalms and Practice: Worship, Virtue, and Authority. Edited by Stephen B. Reid. (Liturgical Press: 2001).
“From Text to Sermon: Deuteronomy 10:12-22,” Interpretation vol. 55:1, January 2001
“Hearing the Cries of the Unspoken: An Intertextual-Feminist Reading of Psalm 109” Athalya Brenner, ed. A Feminist Companion to the Bible: Wisdom and Psalms. (Sheffield Press: 1998)
“Psalm 85:8-13” and “Genesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8” Lectionary Texts for Working Preacher.org. 2012
“Worship, Old Testament,” for Biblical Studies Oxford Bibliographies an on-line publication of Oxford University, August 2012.
“Rethinking the Enterprise: What Must Be Considered in Formulating a Theology of the Psalms,” in Soundings in the Theology of the Psalms: Perspectives in Contemporary Scholarship. R. Jacobson, ed. (Fortress Press, 2011).
“Exodus 34,” “Isaiah 6:1-9 [9-13],” “Joel 2:1-2, 12-17” Lectionary Texts Year A for Working Preacher.org . 2011
“Hosea,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary, B. Gaventa and D. Peterson eds. (Abingdon Press, 2010).
“Genesis 1:1-15,” “Deuteronomy 18:15-20,” 1 Samuel 3:1-10,” Jonah 3:1-5, 10″ Lectionary Texts Year C for Working Preacher.org. 2010
“The Next Step: Making Feminist Concerns Part of the Academic Structure,” Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 25:2 (Fall 2009), 12-17.
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16,” “Isaiah 9:2-7”, “Isaiah 52:7-10,” in Feasting on the Word.
D. Bartlett and B. Taylor, eds (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008).
“Wait, Waiting on the Lord,” for The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible Abingdon Press, 2009)
“Psalm 52,” “Psalm 66,” “Psalm 72,” and “Psalm 89” in The Psalms for Preaching and Worship . ( Eerdman’s Press, 2009).
“Study Notes on The Letter of Jeremiah” in the Westminster Discipleship Bible. (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2008).
鈥淧salm 85:8-13″ and 鈥淕enesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8″ Lectionary Texts B for Working Preacher.org. 2013
鈥淲orship, Old Testament,鈥� for Biblical Studies Oxford Bibliographies an on-line publication of Oxford University, August 2012.
鈥淩ethinking the Enterprise: What Must Be Considered in Formulating a Theology of the Psalms,鈥� in Soundings in the Theology of the Psalms: Perspectives in Contemporary Scholarship. R. Jacobson, ed. (Fortress Press, 2011).
鈥淓xodus 34,鈥� 鈥淚saiah 6:1-9 [9-13],鈥� 鈥淛oel 2:1-2, 12-17″ Lectionary Texts Year A for Working Preacher.org.
鈥淗osea,鈥� in The New Interpreter鈥檚 Bible One Volume Commentary, B. Gaventa and D. Peterson eds. (Abingdon Press, 2010).
鈥淕enesis 1:1-15,鈥� 鈥淒euteronomy 18:15-20,鈥� 1 Samuel 3:1-10,鈥� Jonah 3:1-5, 10″ Lectionary Texts Year C for Working Preacher.org.
鈥淭he Next Step: Making Feminist Concerns Part of the Academic Structure,鈥� Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 25:2 (Fall 2009), 12-17.
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16,鈥� 鈥淚saiah 9:2-7鈥�, 鈥淚saiah 52:7-10,鈥� in Feasting on the Word. D. Bartlettand B. Taylor, eds (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008).
鈥淲ait, Waiting on the Lord,鈥� for The Interpreter鈥檚 Dictionary of the Bible (Abingdon Press, 2009)
鈥淧salm 52,鈥� 鈥淧salm 66,鈥� 鈥淧salm 72,鈥� and 鈥淧salm 89鈥� in The Psalms for Preaching and Worship. (Eerdman鈥檚 Press, 2009).
鈥淪tudy Notes on The Letter of Jeremiah鈥� in the Westminster Discipleship Bible. (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2008).
鈥淭o Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk with your God,鈥� three studies prepared for The Thoughtful Christian. Westminster/John Knox Press, March 2008. Bible Studies in Preparation for the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
鈥淧reaching the Penitential Psalms,鈥� Word and World 27:1 (2007)
鈥淢y Sister Sarah: Reading the Bible through Euro-North American Eyes鈥� Engaging the Bible in a Gendered World: An Introduction to Feminist Biblical Interpretation. (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2006).
鈥淜ing Yahweh as the Good Shepherd: Taking another Look at the Image of God in Psalm 23,鈥� David and Zion: Biblical Studies in Honor of J.J.M. Roberts. Edited by B. Batto and K. Roberts. (Eisenbraun鈥檚, 2004)
鈥淗ow Long, O Lord! Will Your People Suffer in Silence Forever?鈥� Psalms and Practice: Worship, Virtue, and Authority. Edited by Stephen B. Reid. (Liturgical Press: 2001).
鈥淔rom Text to Sermon: Deuteronomy 10:12-22,鈥� Interpretation vol. 55:1, January 2001
鈥淗earing the Cries of the Unspoken: An Intertextual-Feminist Reading of Psalm 109鈥� Athalya Brenner, ed. A Feminist Companion to the Bible: Wisdom and Psalms. (Sheffield Press: 1998)