Dr. Jerry Hwang

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Associate Professor of Theology

Education

Ph.D. in Old Testament, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, 2009
M.Div. in Pastoral/General Ministries, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirida, California, 2004
BA in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 1997

Associated Academic Programs

Theology and Christian Ministry

Dr. Jerry Hwang brings a world of experiences to Trinity Christian College, and he’s all about the college’s mission of blending Christian values with a diverse liberal arts education. With a background as an IT pro, musician, educator, missionary, and youth pastor, he’s in his element shaping the lives of young people hungry to discover the grandeur of God and His work in the world.

His academic passions lie where the Old Testament and missiology meet. Growing up as a Chinese American in California and living in France and Singapore, he’s had a cross-cultural journey that’s made him fluent in English, Mandarin, French, and Spanish. Language and culture have always fascinated him, and they play a big role in his vision of connecting God’s people to His mission through contextualization and global theology.

Hwang firmly believes that studying theology is a key ingredient in helping communities thrive and is essential for his students seeking meaningful lives. The Old Testament, with its rich depiction of shalom – a harmonious relationship between God, people, and creation – illustrates the good life. For him, walking with the God of the universe isn’t some disconnected dream; it’s about finding God in the everyday moments, just like Israel did, as they journeyed among nations, defined their identity, and joined in God’s mission to redeem the world.

He’s on a mission to teach his students that understanding the Bible isn’t about memorizing facts but about approaching it with “humble curiosity” (as exemplified in Proverbs 30:1–6).  The Old Testament, with its incredible diversity, offers wisdom for navigating life’s challenges while staying faithful to God.

Hwang’s research dives deep into the Old Testament, especially looking at how it’s been misused in the past to justify imperialism and cultural superiority. He’s working to set the record straight, showing that the God of the Old Testament values the marginalized and comforts the oppressed, emphasizing justice, faithfulness, and uprightness.

In his downtime, you’ll find him enjoying quality time with his family, exploring new culinary delights, and grooving to world music. With his wife Jackie, a missiologist, their dinner table conversations often revolve around the fascinating interplay of faith and culture.

Stay updated with Dr. Hwang through his academic journal at https://trnty.academia.edu/JerryHwang

Book Publications

  • Job. The Bible in God’s World Commentary. Wipf & Stock, in preparation.
  • Co-editor and contributing author, Exploring the Old Testament in Asia: Evangelical Perspectives. Asia Theological Association/Langham Literature, 2022.
  • Contextualization and the Old Testament: Between Asian and Western Perspectives. Asia Theological Association/Langham Literature, 2022.
  • Jeremiah. ESV Expository Commentary, vol. 6. Crossway, 2022.
  • Hosea: A Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 24. Zondervan Academic, 2021.
  • The Rhetoric of Remembrance: An Investigation of the “Fathers” in Deuteronomy. Siphrut: Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Bible, vol. 8. Eisenbrauns, 2012.

Paper Publications

  • “Hosea 7–8’s Critique of Kings, Politics, and Power.” The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Hosea. Edited by Brad E. Kelle. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.
  • “Who is the Real Model Minority? An Asian American Reading of Ruth and Ebed-Melech in the Hebrew Bible.” Biblical Interpretation, forthcoming.
  • “‘The King Whom Yahweh Your God Chooses’: Deuteronomic Kingship in a World of Sacral Kingship.” Horizons in Biblical Theology 45 (2023): 169–191.
  • “From Grace to Guilt Trip: Misunderstandings in Biblical Patronage by Asian Christians.” Journal of Global Christianity 8 (2023). Online at https://trainingleadersinternational.org/jgc/150/from-grace-to-guilt-trip-misunderstandings-in-biblical-patronage-by-asian-christians.
  • “Bible Translation as Contextual Theology: The Case of the Chinese Union Version Bible of 1919.” International Journal of Asian Christianity 5 (2022): 89–114.
  • “The Book of Jeremiah as Case Study in Asian Contextual Theology.” Asia Journal of Theology 35 (2021): 25–37.
  • “Are Yahweh and El/Allah the Same God? The Old Testament’s Contextualization of Monotheism.” Trinity Journal 42 (2021): 59–78.
  • “The Semantics and Pragmatics of Translating the CUV Bible.” Ching Feng 19.1–2 (2020): 157–173.

Awards

  • Eugene and Margaret Logan PhD fellowship, Wheaton College (2006–2009)
  • Zondervan Award in Biblical Hebrew, Talbot School of Theology (2005)
  • Regents & Chancellors Scholarship, UC Berkeley (1993–1994)
+ Expertise

Dr. Jerry Hwang brings a world of experiences to Trinity Christian College, and he’s all about the college’s mission of blending Christian values with a diverse liberal arts education. With a background as an IT pro, musician, educator, missionary, and youth pastor, he’s in his element shaping the lives of young people hungry to discover the grandeur of God and His work in the world.

His academic passions lie where the Old Testament and missiology meet. Growing up as a Chinese American in California and living in France and Singapore, he’s had a cross-cultural journey that’s made him fluent in English, Mandarin, French, and Spanish. Language and culture have always fascinated him, and they play a big role in his vision of connecting God’s people to His mission through contextualization and global theology.

Hwang firmly believes that studying theology is a key ingredient in helping communities thrive and is essential for his students seeking meaningful lives. The Old Testament, with its rich depiction of shalom – a harmonious relationship between God, people, and creation – illustrates the good life. For him, walking with the God of the universe isn’t some disconnected dream; it’s about finding God in the everyday moments, just like Israel did, as they journeyed among nations, defined their identity, and joined in God’s mission to redeem the world.

He’s on a mission to teach his students that understanding the Bible isn’t about memorizing facts but about approaching it with “humble curiosity” (as exemplified in Proverbs 30:1–6).  The Old Testament, with its incredible diversity, offers wisdom for navigating life’s challenges while staying faithful to God.

Hwang’s research dives deep into the Old Testament, especially looking at how it’s been misused in the past to justify imperialism and cultural superiority. He’s working to set the record straight, showing that the God of the Old Testament values the marginalized and comforts the oppressed, emphasizing justice, faithfulness, and uprightness.

In his downtime, you’ll find him enjoying quality time with his family, exploring new culinary delights, and grooving to world music. With his wife Jackie, a missiologist, their dinner table conversations often revolve around the fascinating interplay of faith and culture.

Stay updated with Dr. Hwang through his academic journal at https://trnty.academia.edu/JerryHwang

+ Courses, Publications & Research

Book Publications

  • Job. The Bible in God’s World Commentary. Wipf & Stock, in preparation.
  • Co-editor and contributing author, Exploring the Old Testament in Asia: Evangelical Perspectives. Asia Theological Association/Langham Literature, 2022.
  • Contextualization and the Old Testament: Between Asian and Western Perspectives. Asia Theological Association/Langham Literature, 2022.
  • Jeremiah. ESV Expository Commentary, vol. 6. Crossway, 2022.
  • Hosea: A Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 24. Zondervan Academic, 2021.
  • The Rhetoric of Remembrance: An Investigation of the “Fathers” in Deuteronomy. Siphrut: Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Bible, vol. 8. Eisenbrauns, 2012.

Paper Publications

  • “Hosea 7–8’s Critique of Kings, Politics, and Power.” The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Hosea. Edited by Brad E. Kelle. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.
  • “Who is the Real Model Minority? An Asian American Reading of Ruth and Ebed-Melech in the Hebrew Bible.” Biblical Interpretation, forthcoming.
  • “‘The King Whom Yahweh Your God Chooses’: Deuteronomic Kingship in a World of Sacral Kingship.” Horizons in Biblical Theology 45 (2023): 169–191.
  • “From Grace to Guilt Trip: Misunderstandings in Biblical Patronage by Asian Christians.” Journal of Global Christianity 8 (2023). Online at https://trainingleadersinternational.org/jgc/150/from-grace-to-guilt-trip-misunderstandings-in-biblical-patronage-by-asian-christians.
  • “Bible Translation as Contextual Theology: The Case of the Chinese Union Version Bible of 1919.” International Journal of Asian Christianity 5 (2022): 89–114.
  • “The Book of Jeremiah as Case Study in Asian Contextual Theology.” Asia Journal of Theology 35 (2021): 25–37.
  • “Are Yahweh and El/Allah the Same God? The Old Testament’s Contextualization of Monotheism.” Trinity Journal 42 (2021): 59–78.
  • “The Semantics and Pragmatics of Translating the CUV Bible.” Ching Feng 19.1–2 (2020): 157–173.
+ Awards

Awards

  • Eugene and Margaret Logan PhD fellowship, Wheaton College (2006–2009)
  • Zondervan Award in Biblical Hebrew, Talbot School of Theology (2005)
  • Regents & Chancellors Scholarship, UC Berkeley (1993–1994)