Life Fellow
Philip served the College as Senior Tutor between 2009 and 2021, a period of significant growth for the College in numbers, infrastructure, vision and integration.
To mark his retirement, the College established a new prize to recognise outstanding achievement among our postgraduate students – the ‘Philip Johnston Prize’. This important initiative, close to Dr Johnston’s heart, will ensure that many more students receive recognition from the college for their work.
He studied Mathematics, Economics and Theology, taught Old Testament Studies in Belfast, St Andrews and Oxford, and in the Cambridge Faculty of Divinity. His doctoral research looked at death in the ancient Near East, and he’s published material on this and other biblical topics.
Selected Publications
Books
Co-editor, Marriage, Family and Relationships: Biblical, doctrinal and contemporary perspectives (London: Apollos, 2017)
Co-editor, Interpreting Deuteronomy: Issues and Approaches (Nottingham: Apollos, 2012)
Editor, IVP Introduction to the Bible (Nottingham: IVP, 2006)
Author, Deuteronomy (Oxford: Bible Reading Fellowship, 2005)
Co-editor, Interpreting the Psalms: Issues and Approaches (Leicester: Apollos, 2005)
Author, Shades of Sheol: Death and Afterlife in the Old Testament (Leicester: Apollos, 2002)
Co-editor, The Land of Promise: Biblical, Theological and Contemporary Perspectives (Leicester: Apollos, 2000)
Co-author, Les Psaumes: Aide à la lecture cursive du texte hébreu (Villurbaine, France: Editions Clé, 1995)
Book and journal articles
‘Creation and Covenant’, in K.J. Dell, ed., The Biblical World, 2nd edition (Routledge, f/c).
‘Traduttore traditore, Beowulf and the Psalms: A Response to Nancy deClaissé-Walford’, in S. Gillingham, ed., Jewish and Christian Approaches to the Psalms: Conflict and Convergence (Oxford: OUP, 2013), 204-08.
‘Civil leadership in Deuteronomy’, in D.G. Firth, P.S. Johnston, eds, Interpreting Deuteronomy: Issues and Approaches (Nottingham: Apollos, 2012), 139-56.
‘”Now you see me, now you don’t!” Jeremiah and God’, in J. Day, ed., Prophecy and the Prophets in Ancient Israel (LHBOTS 531; London: T&T Clark International, 2010), 290-308.
‘Amos’, in J.H. Walton, ed., Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009), 5: 54-89.
‘The Psalms in their setting’, in P. and D. Alexander, eds, Lion Handbook to the Bible, 4th edn (Oxford: Lion, 2009), 363-64.
‘Faith in Isaiah’, in H.G.M. Williamson, D.G. Firth, eds, Interpreting Isaiah: Issues and Approaches (Nottingham: Apollos, 2009), 104-21.
‘Ordeals in the Psalms?’, in J. Day, ed., Temple and Worship in Biblical Israel (LHBOTS 422; London: T&T Clark International, 2005), 271-92.
‘Distress in the Psalms’, in P.S. Johnston, D.G. Firth, eds, Interpreting the Psalms: Issues and Approaches (Leicester: Apollos, 2005), 63-84.
‘Death in Egypt and Israel: A Theological Reflection’, in R.P. Gordon, J.C. de Moor, eds, The Old Testament in Its World (OTS 52; Leiden: Brill, 2004), 94-116.
‘Figuring out figurines’ [Tyndale Fellowship Old Testament Lecture 2002], Tyndale Bulletin 54.2 (2003), 81-104.
‘Review Article: New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis’, Themelios 24.3 (1999), 42-45.
Dictionary articles, in
Oxford Encylopedia of the Bible and Theology (2015).
New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon, 2006-09).
Dictionary of the Old Testament (Downers Grove: IVP): Pentateuch (2003); Historical Books (2005); Wisdom, Poetry & Writings (2008); Prophets (2012).
New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (Leicester: IVP, 2000).
Journal co-editing
Bulletin for Biblical Research (2011-13)
Themelios (1997-2001)
Book reviews, 100+ in
Anvil, Biblical Interpretation, Evangelical Quarterly, Expository Times, Journal of Semitic Studies, Journal of Theological Studies, Society of Old Testament Study Book List, Theological Book Review, Themelios, Vetus Testamentum.
