Brent Nessler, Ph.D.

Education

Ph.D., Baylor University

M.Div., George W. Truett Theological Seminary

B.M., Ouachita Baptist University

Biography

Brent Nessler joined the Department of Religion at Baylor in the fall semester of 2026 as full-time temporary lecturer. His research focuses on characters, characterizations, and character developments within biblical literature, especially Persian- and Hellenistic-era narratives. Additionally, he is interested in the interpretative utility of diverse hermeneutical lenses with special attention to trauma and resilience studies. His work serves to facilitate conversations within classrooms and churches alike regarding how biblical texts contributed to survival of ancient peoples and may yet contribute to wellbeing of contemporary peoples amidst adversity.

Brent’s dissertation, The Character of All-Israel in Chronicles: A Narrative and Rhetorical Analysis, entails an examination of the Chronicler’s “All Israel” language as signifying a character, whose development throughout the narrative reframes Israelite/Judahite history and likely contributed to the resilience of their community within an imperialized context.

Above all, Brent is passionate about investing in the intellectual, creative, and ethical development of his students. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion. When not researching, writing, or teaching, Brent enjoys hiking, gaming, reading, writing fiction, and obsessing about music.

Academic Interests and Research

Persian-era literature; Hellenistic-era literature; Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah; Samuel, Kings; Judges; Narrative Criticism; Rhetorical Criticism; Trauma Studies; Resilience Studies; Postcolonial Approaches; Collective Identity Negotiation; Colonial Mimicry

Publications

“All-Israel and the ‘Way’ of Kings in 2 Chr 11:13-17.” In Chronicles. Edited by Ian D. Wright. TIBS (2026), forthcoming.

“Regarding the People Between: An Analysis of the Character of All-Israel in 1 Chr 11:1–3,” HEBAI (2026), forthcoming.

“Becoming Undone: The Shifting Identities of the Pilegeš as Narrative Logic and Rhetorical Key in Judges 19,” CBQ 87 (2025), 433–52.

“‘Restructuring the Symbolic Universe’: Resilience through Literary and Ideological Reframing in Isaiah 2.2-4(5).” JSOT 47 (2023): 259-76.

“Tracing Bathsheba’s Metamorphosis through the Lens of Trauma and Recovery.” JBL 142 (2023): 91-109.

Courses Taught at Baylor

REL 1310: The Christian Scriptures

REL 1350: The Christian Heritage