Michael J. Kruger

Michael J. Kruger
Occupations
  • New Testament scholar
  • Presbyterian minister
SpouseMelissa B. Kruger
Academic background
Education
ThesisThe Gospel of the Savior: An Analysis of P.Oxy. 840 and Its Place in the Gospel Traditions of Early Christianity (2004)
Larry W. Hurtado
Academic work
DisciplineBiblical studies
InstitutionsReformed Theological Seminary
Main interests
New Testament canon
Notable works
  • The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture's Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity (2010)[1][a]
  • Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books (2012)[2]
  • The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate (2013)[3]
Websitemichaeljkruger.com

Michael J. Kruger is an American Reformed New Testament scholar[4] and Presbyterian pastor. He is the Samuel C. Patterson Chancellor's Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). Kruger previously served as the President of the RTS Charlotte campus between 2013 and 2025.[5] Kruger has ministered in the Presbyterian Church in America, along with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, being his church body since 2021.[6]

During his studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kruger was a student of atheist biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman. However, Kruger found that carrying out the study of biblical manuscripts "strengthened his faith."[7]

Education

Kruger obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill followed by an M. Div. from Westminster Seminary California. His doctoral studies were at the University of Edinburgh where his advisor was Larry Hurtado.[8] His dissertation is a study of P.Oxy. 840.[9]

Career

During the 2009-2010 academic year, Kruger was a visiting scholar at Saint Edmund's College, Cambridge. In 2019, Kruger served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society.[10]

In 2022, Kruger published Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church.[11][12][13] In the book, Kruger argues that "spiritual abuse is when a spiritual leader ... wields his position of spiritual authority in such a way that he manipulates, domineers, bullies, and intimidates those under him as a means of maintaining his own power and control, even if he is convinced he is seeking biblical and kingdom-related goals."[14] In response to the work, Kruger won The Gospel Coalition's 2022 Book of the Year award in the Ministry category.[15] In addition, Kruger was a co-winner in the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's 2022 For the Church book awards.[16]

Canon studies

Kruger's work focuses on the Canon of the New Testament, particularly how the Christian church has historically understood which books belong in the Bible.[9]

Bibliography

Kruger has authored and edited a variety of books surrounding academic studies, the New Testament canon, and contemporary Christian issues:

  • The Gospel of the Savior: An Analysis of P.Oxy. 840 and Its Place in the Gospel Traditions of Early Christianity (Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, 2005)[17]
  • Gospel Fragments (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2009)[18][b]
  • The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture's Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010)[1][a]
  • Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012)[2]
  • The Early Text of the New Testament (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012)[19][c]
  • The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2013)[3]
  • A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Realized (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016)[20][d]
  • Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2018)[21][e]
  • The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity (Minneapolis, MN: Cruciform Press, 2019)[23]
  • Hebrews for You: Giving You an Anchor for the Soul (Epsom, England: The Good Book Company, 2021)[24]
  • Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021)[25]
  • 5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse: Prayers That Change and Strengthen Your Marriage (Epsom, England: The Good Book Company, 2022)[26][f]
  • Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2022)[11]
  • Miniature Codices in Early Christianity (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2025)[27]
  • The Good News Family Devotional: 52 Weeks Through the Gospel of Mark (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2026)[28][f]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Co-authored with Andreas J. Köstenberger.
  2. ↑ Co-edited with Thomas J. Kraus and Tobias Nicklas.
  3. ↑ Co-edited with Charles E. Hill.
  4. ↑ Kruger contributes to this volume as its editor.
  5. ↑ Originally published in the United Kingdom by SPCK Publishing on July 20, 2017.[22]
  6. 1 2 Co-authored with Melissa B. Kruger.

References

  1. 1 2 Köstenberger, Andreas J.; Kruger, Michael J. (June 30, 2010). The Heresy of Orthodoxy: How Contemporary Culture's Fascination with Diversity Has Reshaped Our Understanding of Early Christianity. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. ISBN 978-1-4335-0143-2. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026.
  2. 1 2 Kruger, Michael J. (April 30, 2012). Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. ISBN 978-1-4335-0500-3.
  3. 1 2 Kruger, Michael J. (October 3, 2013). The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. ISBN 978-0-8308-4031-1.
  4. ↑ Monroe, Joshua R. (November 15, 2016). "Interview with Michael J. Kruger". Books At a Glance. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Professor Michael J. Kruger named President of RTS Charlotte". The Aquila report. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  6. ↑ 98th Stated Meeting of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, April 24, 2021.
  7. ↑ Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff; Kruger, Michael J. (April 10, 2026). "Can You Have Christian Ethics Without Christianity? A Response to Bart Ehrman". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  8. ↑ "About Michael J. Kruger". RTS. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Interview with Brian Auten". Apologetics 315. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Thigpen, Bonnie (2020). "ETS Past Presidents". Evangelical Theological Society. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  11. 1 2 Kruger, Michael J. (November 8, 2022). Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-13638-5.
  12. ↑ Alsup, Wendy (November 10, 2022). "Don't Let Spiritual Abuse Fester". The Gospel Coalition. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  13. ↑ Roberts, Stephen (June 16, 2023). "'Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church,' by Michael Kruger: A Review". Modern Reformation. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  14. ↑ Jones, Timothy Paul (November 21, 2022). "Solving Spiritual Abuse in the Church Is Simple and Straightforward—at Least in Theory". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Gospel Coalition 2022 Book Awards". The Gospel Coalition. December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  16. ↑ "2022 For the Church Book Awards". For the Church. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  17. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (October 12, 2005). The Gospel of the Savior: An Analysis of P.Oxy. 840 and Its Place in the Gospel Traditions of Early Christianity. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-14393-7. Archived from the original on June 13, 2026.
  18. ↑ Kraus, Thomas J.; Kruger, Michael J.; Nicklas, Tobias, eds. (January 15, 2009). Gospel Fragments (Oxford Early Christian Gospel Texts). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-920815-9.
  19. ↑ Hill, Charles E.; Kruger, Michael J., eds. (September 7, 2012). The Early Text of the New Testament. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-956636-5.
  20. ↑ Kruger, Michael J., ed. (May 31, 2016). A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament: The Gospel Realized. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. ISBN 978-1-4335-3676-2.
  21. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (March 6, 2018). Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic. ISBN 978-0-8308-5203-1.
  22. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (July 20, 2017). Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church. London, United Kingdom: SPCK Publishing. ISBN 978-0-281-07131-9.
  23. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (November 19, 2019). The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity. Minneapolis, MN: Cruciform Press. ISBN 978-1-949253-21-4.
  24. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (March 1, 2021). Hebrews for You: Giving You an Anchor for the Soul. Epsom, England: The Good Book Company. ISBN 978-1-78498-605-6.
  25. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (April 6, 2021). Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College. Wheaton, IL: Crossway. ISBN 978-1-4335-7207-4.
  26. ↑ Kruger, Michael; Kruger, Melissa (February 1, 2022). 5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse: Prayers That Change and Strengthen Your Marriage. Epsom, England: The Good Book Company. ISBN 978-1-78498-663-6.
  27. ↑ Kruger, Michael J. (September 8, 2025). Miniature Codices in Early Christianity. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-894039-5.
  28. ↑ Kruger, Michael J.; Kruger, Melissa B. (May 5, 2026). The Good News Family Devotional: 52 Weeks Through the Gospel of Mark. Eugene, OR: Harvest House. ISBN 978-0-7369-9047-9.
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