Katheryn Pfisterer Darr

Professor Katheryn Pfisterer Darr, a 1989 winner of Boston University’s prestigious Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching, has authored three books, essays and articles for essay collections and major scholarly journals, respectively, and educational materials for the United Methodist Publishing House. To date, her writings have focused especially on the books of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Her current research/writing project is a study of proverbs appearing in ancient Israel’s prophetic corpus.

Professor Darr served on the Editorial Board for the New Interpreter’s Bible commentary series (Abingdon Press) and authored the commentary on Ezekiel for that series. She enjoys bringing biblical scholarship not only to her students, but also to pastors and their congregations.

Professor Darr’s husband, Dr. John A. Darr, is Associate Professor of New Testament at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA. They have a son, Joshua Pfisterer Darr.

Publications

Books

Darr, Katheryn Pfisterer. “The Book of Ezekiel: Commentary and Reflections.” Pp. 1,073-1,607 in The New Interpreter’s Bible. Vol. 6. Leander Keck, General Editor. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. First Printing, 2001; Second (corrected) printing, 2002.

Isaiah’s Vision and the Family of God. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 1994.

“Far More Precious than Jewels”: Perspectives on Biblical Women. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 1991.

Books (Edited)

Choi, Hee An and Katheryn Pfisterer Darr. Engaging the Bible. Minneapolis: MN: Fortress Press. 2006.

Books (Assisted)

Anderson, Bernhard W., assisted by Katheryn Pfisterer Darr. Understanding The Old Testament. Fourth Abridged Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1997.

Book Chapters

“Proverb Performance and Trans-generational Retribution in Ezekial 18.” Pp 197-221 in Ezekial’s Hierarchial World: Wrestling with a Tiered Reality. Corrine Patton and Stephen Cooke, eds. SBLSS. Antlanta: SBL Press, 2004

“’Alas! She has become a Harlot’: But Who’s to Blame?” Pp. 55-76 in Passion Vitality, and Foment in Post-Exilic Judaism. Monte Luker, ed. Nashville, TN: Abingdon: 2001.

“’No Strength to Deliver’: A Contextual Analysis of Hezekiah’s Proverb in Isaiah 37:3b.” Pp. 219-256 in New Visions of Isaiah. M. Sweeney and R. Melugin, eds. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplemental Series, 214. Sheffield, England: JSOT Press. 1996.

“Literary Perspectives on Prophetic Literature.” Pp. 127-143 in Old Testament Interpretation: Past, Present, and Future, Essays in Honor of Gene M. Tucker. J.L. Mays, D.L. Petersen, and K.H. Richards, eds. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. 1995.

“Two Unifying Female Images in the Book of Isaiah.” Pp. 17-30 in Uncovering Ancient Stones: Essays in Memory of H. Neil Richardson. Lewis M. Hopfe, ed. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns. 1994.

“Ezekiel.” Pp. 183-190 in The Women’s Bible Commentary. Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, eds. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 1992.

“Write or True?: A Response to Ellen Francis Davis.” Pp. 239-247 in Signs and Wonders: Biblical Texts in Literary Focus. J. Cheryl Exum, ed. The Society of Biblical Literature Semeia Series. Scholars Press. 1989.

“Ruth.” Pp. 123-126 in The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Vol. I. Bernhard W. Anderson, ed. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 1989.

“Esther, with Additions.” Pp. 173-179 in The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Vol. I. Bernhard W. Anderson, ed. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 1989.

“Jonah.” Pp. 381-384 in The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Vol. I. Bernhard W. Anderson, ed. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 1989.

Journal Articles

“Teaching Troubling Texts.” The Bible Today 37, 1 (January/February 1999): 29-35 (This article is an abbreviated version of an earlier publication for Sheffield Press titled, “Ezekiel’s Justifications of God: Teaching Troubling Texts” (see below).

“Isaiah’s Vision and the Rhetoric of Rebellion.” Pp. 847-882 in the 1994 Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers. Vol. 33. Atlanta: Scholars Press. 1994.

“Ezekiel Among the Critics.” Currents in Research: Biblical Studies 2 (1994): 9-24.

“Ezekiel’s Justifications of God: Teaching Troubling Texts.” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 55 (1992):97-117.

“The Wall Around Paradise: Ezekielian Ideas about the Future.” Vetus TestamentumXXXVII (1987): 271-279.

“Like Warrior, Like Woman: Destruction and Deliverance in Isaiah 42:10-17.” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 49 (1987): 560-571.

Dictionary Entries

I authored the following entries for Women in Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew Bible, the pocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, and the New Testament, Carol Meyers, general ed. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000: Ezekiel 8:14 “Women Weeping for Tammuz”; Ezekiel 9:6 “Women and Young Women (and Young Men)”; Ezekiel 13:17-23 “Daughters Who Prophesy”; Ezekiel 14:16-23; 23:4, 10, 25, 47; 24:21, 25 “Daughters and Sons”; Ezekiel 16:41; 23:48 “Women”; Ezekiel 19 “Mother of Princes”; Ezekiel 22:7 “Mother”; Ezekiel 24:18 “Wife of Ezekiel”; Ezekiel 27:10-11 “Daughter-in-Law and Sister (and Mother) Taken in Incest.”

Book Reviews

Seitz, Christopher R. Zion’s Final Destiny: The Development of the Book of Isaiah, A Reassessment of Isaiah 36–39 inReligious Studies Review 19, 1 (1993):69.

Clines, David J. A. What Does Eve Do to Help? and Other Readerly Questions to the Old Testament in Hebrew StudiesXXXIII (1992):107-110.

Sweeney, Marvin A. Isaiah 1–4 and the Post-Exilic Understanding of the Islamic Tradition in Religious Studies Review16 (1990): 254-55.

Niditch, Susan. Chaos to Cosmos: Studies in Biblical Patterns of Creation in Journal of the American Academy of Religion LVI, 2 (1988): 347-349.

Brenner, Athalya. The Israelite Women: Social Role and Literary Type in Biblical Narrative in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 51, 1 (1989):112-113.

Klein, Ralph W. Ezekiel: The Prophet and His Message in Lutheran Quarterly; in press.

Major Editorial Responsibilities

Old Testament Editor, The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Series. Leander Keck, General Editor. Nashville: Abingdon Press. 1991-2000. I served as the principal Old Testament Editor for three general articles and ten commentaries on biblical books.

National Television

“Intimate Portraits: Esther.” Videotaped segments for “Mysteries of the Bible.” The Arts and Entertainment Cable Network. Various air dates during the 1997 television season.

“The Book of Esther.” Videotaped segments for “Mysteries of the Bible.” The Arts and Entertainment Cable Network. Various air dates during the 1995-2000 television seasons.

“Ancient Israel’s Prophets.” Videotaped segments for “Mysteries of the Bible.” The Arts and Entertainment Cable Network. Various air dates during the 1995-2000 television seasons.

Perspectives: Faith in Our Times. Vision Television Network. May 20, 1992 and April 13, 1993.

International Committees

Steering Committee Member, the Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies, Somerville College, Oxford, England, 1992-1997. Co-convener of the Working Group on Biblical Studies, the Ninth and Tenth Oxford Institutes of Methodist Theological Studies, Somerville College, Oxford, England, July 28-August 7, 1992 and August 12-22, 1997.

Academic Papers, Invited Lectures, and Other Presentations

Preacher, “Will You Bring the Bull?” Marsh Chapel, September 7, 2005.

Presenter, “Proverb Performance and Transgenerational Retribution in Ezekiel 18.” The 2004 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. Theological Perspectives on the Book of Ezekiel Section. San Antonio, TX. November 23, 2004.

Lecturer, “Watch What You Put in God’s Mouth.” Keynote address at two-day conference, “Watch What You Put in God’s Mouth,” sponsored by Boston University School of Theology Office of Professional Education. November 4-5, 2004.

Preacher, “Flashes of Recognition,” Marsh Chapel, Boston University, April 24, 2003.

Reader, “Man, Woman, Serpent: Genesis and Its Afterlife.” Readings from Genesis 2 and 3. Sponsored by the Luce Program in Scripture and Literary Arts. Boston, MA, February 3, 2003.

Reader, “Genesis One.” Sponsored by the Luce Program in Scripture and the Literary Arts, Boston, MA, February 1, 2001.

Participant, Workshop on “How to Teach the Bible in Post-Secondary Education.” Cambridge, MA, March 27, 2001.

“The Book of Ezekiel: Tearing Down the Faith.” Presented at the First Baptist Church of Melrose, Lenten Lecture Series, Melrose, MA, April 4, 2001.

A Response to “The Land is Yours: Ezekiel’s Outrageous Land Claim” by Kalinda R. Stevenson.” The 2001 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, The Theology of the Book of Ezekiel Seminar, Denver, CO, November 19, 2001.

“’Open My Eyes that I May See’: Children and Poverty.” Two, two-hour lectures presented at the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Grove City, PA, June 7-9, 2000, and at the Kentucky Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Bowling Green, KY, June 15-17, 2000.

“Biblical Women and Their Gifts.” A six-hour lecture series presented at The Foundation for Biblical Research, Charlestown, New Hampshire, August 21, 1999.

“Women and the World of Biblical Scholarship.” A lecture presented to the Trustee Scholars, Boston University, March 31, 1998.

“Women In/And the Bible.” Four lectures presented at the 1998 Fellowship of Learning, the Annual Pastor’s School of the Nebraska Conference; Grand Island, NE, January 6-8, 1998.

“Ezekiel 37 and the Functions of Future-Orientated Prophecy.” Presented at the opening convocation of a year-long study on Apocalypticism sponsored by The Institute of Christian and Jewish, Baltimore, MD, November 3-4, 1997.

“’Alas, She Has Become a Harlot’: But Who’s to Blame?” Presented at the 1996 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Biblical Criticism And Literary Criticism Section, New Orleans, LA, November 25, 1996.

“How are Women Made to Help in Ezekiel and Isaiah?” Presented at the 1995 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Israelite Prophetic Literature Section, Philadelphia, PA, November 20, 1995.

“Biblical Images of God”; “Lady Zion in Isaiah’s Vision”; Women and Biblical Scholarship.” The 1995 R. Girard Lowe Lectures at Austin College, Sherman, TX, October 24-26, 1995.

“The Stories of Ruth,” “From Naomi’s Perspective,” “Ruth Goes Gleaning,” Lectures presented at the Twentieth Annual Circuit Rider Seminar In Hillview United Methodist Church, Boise, ID, April 23-25, 1995.

“The Poem’s World, The ‘World of the Poem.’” Presented at the 1995 Meeting of the Longeran Institute at Boston College, Spring Weekend Workshop, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, April 1, 1995.

Convocation on Wesleyan Studies (three lectures), The United Methodist Church of Castro Valley, Castro Valley, CA, January 9-11, 1995.

“Isaiah’s Vision and the Rhetoric of Rebellion.” Presented at the 1994 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Formation of the Book of Isaiah Seminar, Chicago, IL, November, 22, 1994.

“Oral Tradition: A Response to John Miles Foley.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the New England Region Society of Biblical Literature, Worchester, MA, March 25, 1994.

“More than a Possession: Biblical, Rabbinical, and Feminist Perspectives on Hagar.” Presented to students in Core Curriculum, The Tsai Performance Center, Boston University, September 27, 1994.

“Ruth Goes Gleaning.” Presented as the 1993 Ralph E. and Vyrl W. Swan Lecture, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska, September 3, 1993.

“Esther as Heroine.” Presented as part of “The Esther Project,” an interdisciplinary conference sponsored by the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI, March 7, 1993.

“’Far More Precious than Jewels’: Perspectives on Biblical Women.” Lectures presented at Bangor Theological Seminary, Portland, MA campus, March 21 and March 28, 1993.

“Ruth Goes Gleaning.” Presented as the Sixth Annual Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture, California State University, San Bernardino, CA, February 23, 1993.

“Commentary and Exposition.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Theology of Hebrew Scriptures Section, San Francisco, CA, November 22, 1992.

“The Women’s Bible Commentary: This Time, We Said ‘Yes.’” Presented at the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Massachusetts Bible Society, Newton Centre, MA, May 12, 1992.

“’Far More Precious Than Jewels’: Perspectives on Biblical Women.” 1992 Bangor Theological Seminary Lenten Lectures, Bangor Theological Seminary, Hanover, NH campus, March 15, 21, 28, April 4, 1992.

“A Response to Kirsten Nielsen’s ‘Imagery and Prophetic Literature.’” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Israelite Prophetic Literature Section, Kansas City, MO, November 25, 1991.

“Bringing to Birth in the Book of Isaiah.” Presented as the 1991 Invited Guest Paper to members of the Colloquium for Biblical Research, Durham, NC, August 17, 1991.

“Ruth,” “Hagar,” and “Esther.” Three lectures presented to United Methodist Clergy from the Western Pennsylvania Conference at the Summer Pastors’ Academy, Meadville, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1991.

“Being a Christian in a World of Competing Loyalties.” Presented at Convocation 1991 at Bangor Theological Seminary, Bangor, ME, January 21, 1991.

“Story as History: Ezekielian Justifications of God.” Presented as the Presidential Address at the 1990 Annual Meeting of the New England Regional Society of Biblical Literature, Amherst, Massachusetts, March 30, 1990. This lecture also was delivered by invitation at the Victoria House of the Beacon Trust, Willimantic, Connecticut, on September 29, 1991.

“Pride and Punishment in Ezekielian Metaphors.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Israelite Prophetic Literature Section, Chicago, Illinois, November 19, 1988.

“More than Seven Sons/More than the Stars of the Heaven/More than a Possession.” Presented as the 1988 Edward L. Beavin Memorial Lectures at Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, Kentucky, October 5-6, 1988.

“Female Imagery and the Unity of Isaiah.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Israelite Prophetic Literature Section, November 15, 1986.

“The Wall Around Paradise: Ezekielian Ideas about the Future.” Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Israelite Prophetic Literature Section, New York, NY, November 25, 1985.

“Between a Rock and a High Place: The Uncontainable God.” Presented as part of the 1985 Wilson-Gross Lectures at Union College, Barbourville, Kentucky, October 23, 1985.

“Like Warrior, Like Woman: Destruction and Deliverance in Isaiah 42:10-17.” Presented at the New England Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Newton, Massachusetts, March 22, 1985.