Dr. John Christopher Thomas has been an active member of the SPS since 1981, having attended every annual meeting, save one, since that time. At the 1989 Meeting he proposed the creation of a Biblical Studies Special Interest Group which, when approved later, saw the increase in the number of Biblical scholars attending the meeting from a handful to one of the Society’s largest group of attendees. He later served as the President of SPS (1997-98). Thomas was also instrumental in SPS becoming an affiliate member of the Society of Biblical Literature, which has proven to be a significant venue for the work of the SPS. Professor Thomas has been honored for his work in New Testament scholarship by election into membership of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas and his appointment as the Clarence J. Abbott Professor of Biblical Studies at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, where he has taught full time since 1982. He also serves as the Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at Bangor University in Bangor, Wales. He has published articles in several leading international journals devoted to study of the New Testament and is the author of nine books, including commentaries, monographs, and collections of essays. Thomas serves as co-editor of the Journal of Pentecostal Theology (Brill), editor of the Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement Series (Deo), and General Editor of the Pentecostal Commentary Series (Deo). Along with his colleague Lee Roy Martin, he is a founding publisher and editor of CPT Press. He has personally overseen the editing and publication of over one hundred academic volumes on Pentecostal Theology broadly defined. Thomas also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. Dr. Thomas was educated at Lee College (BA), Church of God School of Theology (MA), Ashland Theological Seminary (MDiv), Princeton Theological Seminary (ThM), and the University of Sheffield (PhD). He has been a Guest Lecturer or Visiting Lecturer at a variety of educational institutions on five continents. He was named Alumnus of the Year by Ashland Theological Seminary (1992) and by the Church of God Theological Seminary (2004). Professor Thomas has served as Associate Pastor of the Woodward Church of God in Athens, Tennessee since 1981. He is married to Barbara and they have two daughters, Paige Thomas Scaperoth and Lori Thomas Brown, two sons-in-law, David Alan Scaperoth and Chad J. Brown, and one granddaughter, Madeline Danielle Scaperoth.
