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Dr Steve Thompson

Profile
Position: Senior Lecturer
Department: Theology
Email: steve.thompson@avondale.edu.au
Qualifications: BA (Southern Adventist University, 1969), MDiv (Andrews University, 1972), PhD (University of St Andrews, 1976)
Select Publications: " 'Daimon Drink': Ancient Greek and Roman Explanations for Drunkenness" Christian Spirituality and Science: Issues in the Contemporary World 8/1 (2010), pp. 7-24. Full text download available from: http://research.avondale.edu.au/css/vol8/iss1/2

"Thirst for Spirits? Thirst for Spirit? Two Models to Explain Alcohol's Impact" The International Journal of New Perspectives on Christianity 1/1 (2009), pp. 67-74. Full text download available from: http://research.avondale.edu.au/npc/vol1/iss1/9

Review of Konrad Voessing (ed.) Das roemische Bankett im Spiegel der Altertumswissenschaften (Duesseldorf: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2008) in Bryn Mawr Classical Review (Feb 24, 2010, no. 47). Full text download available from: http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2010/2010-02-47.html

"Gustaf Dalman, Anti-Semitism, and the Language of Jesus Debate" Journal of Religious History 34/1 (2010), pp. 36-54.

"The Boundaries of Christian Hospitality in a Postmodern Setting" in Reinder Bruinsma & Borge Schantz, editors. Exploring the Frontiers of Faith: Festschrift in Honour of Dr. Jan Paulsen (Lueneburg, Germany: Advent Verlag, 2009), pp. 325-340.

"Greeks less hospitable to those who wanted to stay" The Australian Newspaper, Wednesday May 6, 2009. Full text available from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/letters/greeks-less-hospitable-to-those-stayed/story-e6frgcox-1225710264275

Review of Albert Wifstrand: Epochs and Styles:Selected Writings on the New Testament, Greek Language and Greek Culture in the Post-Classical Era. L. Rydbeck & S. Porter, editors. (Tuebingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2005). Review of Biblical Literature, June 2007. Full text download available: http://www.bookreviews.org/pdf/5471_5765.pdf

Was Ancient Rome a Dead Wives Society? What Did the Roman Paterfamilias Get Away With? Journal of Family History 31/1 (2006), pp. 3-27.

Who is God? What is He Like? chapter 13 in J. Ashton & M. Westacott, editors, The Big Argument (Sydney, Australia: Strand Publishing, September 2005), pp. 238-244.

The Apocalypse and Semitic Syntax, Cambridge University Press. Paperback reprint, September 2005 (originally published 1985).

The Work and Words of Jesus chapter 6 in Bryan W. Ball and William G. Johnsson, editors, The Essential Jesus: The Man, His Message, His Mission. Boise, Idaho: Pacific Press, 2002, pp. 124-149.

The End of Satan, Andrews University Seminary Studies 37 (1999), pp. 257-268.

Of Wine and Drunkenness: A Biblical Perspective Adventist Professional (vol. 10, no. 1 1998), 4-6, 9.

Those Who Are Wise: The Maskilim in Daniel and the New Testament chapter 18 in David Merling, editor, To Understand the Scriptures: Essays in Honor of William H. Shea. Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Institute of Archaeology, 1997, pp. 215-220.

The Biblical Basis for Abstinence from Alcohol, published in Eugene Durand and Gary Swanson, editors, Health 2000 and Beyond Conference Papers (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Health and Temperance Department, 1994), pp. 117-125.
Research: Hospitality in the ancient world has become relevant in a time of refugee movement and immigration pressures. I have begun to study how ancient societies responded to the arrival of the "stranger".

Narratives of the Hebrew Bible have been another area of special interest.

Graeco-Roman attitudes toward and beliefs about wine and drinking
From the literary remains of Graeco-Roman philosophers, playwrights, poets, social commentators and gossips I have uncovered a range of ancient explanations of the power and influence of alcoholic drink, and more importantly, attempts to tap into the perceived benefits of drinks power while avoiding its destructiveness. My findings will be presented in the context of the ancient worldview on such matters as anatomy, chemistry, medicine, psychology and religion.
My research objective has been twofold:
a. to scrutinize the models and paradigms employed by Graeco-Roman authors as they assessed drinking in terms provided them by their worldview;
b. to make available in easily-accessible form classical wisdom on matters such as theories of intoxication, approaches to underage drinking, and attempts to manage moderate drinking.
More information about this project is available on the Register of Australian Drug and Alcohol Research, www.radar.org.au

Language of the Greek Apocalypses
Writing has begun on the grammar covering major syntactical features of Jewish and early Christian Greek language apocalypses, as expansion of work in monograph Apocalypse and Semitic Syntax, and responses to it in major recent commentaries on the New Testament Apocalypse.
About: Recent conference presentations:
"Under-responsible Kings, Over-responsible Minders: Greco-Roman Accounts of (In)famous Drunk-Sober Enabling Partnerships" Australasian Society for Classical Studies annual conference 30, Sydney, Australia 6 February 2009.

"Thirst for Spirits? Or for Spirit?--Two Explanations of Alcohol's Impact" New Perspectives on Christianity Conference, Cooranbong, NSW, Australia, 16 January 2009.

"Nothing to do with Dionysus"? Dionysiac echoes in Gospel Accounts" read at Australasian Society for Classicas Studies annual conference 29, Christchurch, NZ, 29 January 2008.

"Roman patria potestas and power of life and death over wives and children." paper read to Early Christian Families section, Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting, San Antonio, Texas, November 18 2004.

"Anti-Judaism in the arguments for Aramaic as the language of Jesus", paper read to Historical Jesus section, Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting, Nashville, November 20, 2000.

Steve enjoys his part-time employment at Avondale College supervising research students, as well as doing his own research.

Professional society memberships
As an active member of the Society of Biblical Literature, Steve has read papers and participated in discussions at its annual meetings since 1980.

Other society memberships:
Alcohol and Drugs History Society
Adventist Society for Religious Studies
Australasian Society for Classical Studies
Australia and New Zealand Society for Theological Studies
Society for the Study of Early Christianity.

Writing awaiting publication:
Commentary on New Testament letters 2 John and 3 John, written from family rhetoric perspective, to be included in the proposed Adventist Believers Commentary, submitted January 2006.

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