Competency Areas
Aligned with Competency Area(s) 1
1. Biblical Knowledge
Be rooted and grounded in scripture and able to interpret and apply the scriptures in ways that are appropriate to original and contemporary contexts.
Biblically-Informed Pastoral Leadership: New Testament
Taught by Dr. Sharon Jacob
In this introduction to the New Testament, we will examine its main writings—Gospels and Letters—and what falls outside the canon. By studying both canonical and non-canonical gospels and comparing the portraits of Jesus in the Synoptics and John, we will explore how his boundary-crossing compassion informs Christian practice. Students will learn to interpret New Testament texts by connecting ancient contexts with their own ministry settings, whether for spiritual formation, preaching, or other community needs.
This course is part of the DSF Certificate Program.
Meet Your Instructor,
Dr. Sharon Jacob
Dr. Sharon Jacob is a storyteller, scholar, and bridge-builder. She serves as Associate Professor of New Testament and Postcolonial Studies and Associate Dean of Students at Claremont School of Theology, where she invites students to read sacred texts with courage, compassion, and curiosity.
Her research lives at the intersection of biblical interpretation, affect theory, and postcolonial critique, asking how stories — ancient and modern — can disrupt systems of power and open spaces for belonging. Her forthcoming book, Decolonizing Jesus’ Anger: Affect, Immigrant Experiences, and Indian Cinema (Fortress Press, 2027), explores how emotion and embodiment reveal deeper truths about justice and identity.
As Co-Director of the Global Ph.D. Program, Dr. Jacob collaborates with partners in Ghana, Taiwan, and the Pacific to make theological education more global, contextual, and transformative. Beyond academia, she serves on the Pleasant Hill Diversity Commission, where she continues her work of fostering inclusion and community dialogue.
Whether in the classroom, at a conference table, or in civic spaces, Dr. Jacob brings her signature blend of intellectual rigor, humor, and heart — always inviting others to imagine a more just and compassionate world.