May 23, 2025
East Texas Baptist University recently welcomed distinguished New Testament scholar, speaker, historian of early Christianity, theologian, and author Dr. Scot McKnight to campus as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Frank W. and Pauline Patterson Lecture Series. The event was hosted by B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary at ETBU as part of this year’s annual Carroll Colloquy, held May 19–20 in the Great Commission Center.
This year’s lecture series drew broad interest from across the globe, with more than 140 individuals registered from eight countries, including Angola, Argentina, Canada, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Vietnam, and the United States. Attendees also represented 24 U.S. states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Virginia, and many others, demonstrating the far-reaching impact and relevance of the lecture series within both academic and ministry communities.
Dr. Scot McKnight is the author of more than 50 books, including Revelation for the Rest of Us, Reading Romans Backwards, The Blue Parakeet, Pastor Paul, and The King Jesus Gospel. He has written commentaries on James, Galatians, and Colossians and serves as general editor of the IVP Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.).
Dr. McKnight delivered a compelling three-part lecture series titled “Jesus and the Pharisees: Context, Law, and Hypocrisy,” which offered thought-provoking insight into Jesus’ relationship with the Pharisees, their role in first-century Judaism, and how Christ’s critiques remain relevant for the Church today.
“Dr. McKnight provided a fresh perspective on the first century Jewish sect, the Pharisees,” Dean of B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary Dr. Gene Wilkes said. “His well-studied presentations moved the hearers beyond common misperceptions of the religious group to a clearer picture of their motives behind their conflict with Jesus.”
The series began Monday afternoon with opening worship and the first lecture, “Hypocrisy,” followed by a Q&A session with Dr. McKnight. On Tuesday, participants gathered for two additional sessions—“Context” and “Law”—each followed by a dialogue and reflection session among faculty, staff, students, and local ministry leaders.
“The Fred W. and Pauline Patterson Endowed Colloquy lectures provides doctoral level scholarship that aligns with the seminary’s shared mission to equip men and women called to serve Christ in the diverse and global ministries of the church,” Dr. Wilkes continued. “The colloquy impacts the local and global church by providing fellowship for those seeking to know God and His Word and by engaging scholars with the participants who can in turn build up the church. This was the seminary’s forty-second colloquy. We appreciate the support of ETBU faculty and staff for the event. Dr. Greg Tomlin, director of the PhD program at the seminary, led the event. The next colloquy will be held in November of this year on the campus of First Baptist Church, Arlington.”