Jason Robert Combs

I'm a Researcher

About

Jason Robert Combs is an Associate Professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He joined the BYU faculty in 2016 after working as a lecturer at High Point University, Guilford College, and UNC-Greensboro in North Carolina. He holds Masters degrees in Biblical Studies from Yale Divinity School and in Classics from Columbia University. He earned his Ph.D. in Religious Studies with an emphasis on the history of early Christianity from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied under Professor Bart Ehrman. At UNC, his dissertation, “Epiphanies in Second- and Third-Century Christian Literature: Discourse, Identity, and Divine Manifestations,” was awarded the coveted Royster Fellowship, and he received two distinguished awards for his teaching. Combs has published academic articles in the journals Early Christianity, the Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists, Journal of Biblical Literature and Journal for the Study of the New Testament Combs has also published articles for a popular Latter-day Saint audience in the 46th and 47th Annual Sperry Symposium volumes, Prophets and Prophecies of the Old Testament and “Thou Art the Christ, The Son of the Living God”: The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament. Combs resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah, with his wife, Rose, and their four children.


Research

  • All
  • Publications
  • Presentations
  • Forthcoming

“An Extended Inverted Allusion to Psalm 22 in Mark 15: Reading Reversal in the Markan Passion," New Testament Studies 70 (2024): 23-37.

Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints (Maxwell Institute, 2022) - Coedited with Kristian S. Heal, Catherine Gines Taylor, and Mark D. Ellison.

“Introduction: Understanding Ancient Christians, Apostasy, and Restoration” in Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints ed. Jason R. Combs, Kristian S. Heal, Catherine Gines Taylor, and Mark D. Ellison (Maxwell Institute, 2022)

“The Nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” in Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints ed. Jason R. Combs, Kristian S. Heal, Catherine Gines Taylor, and Mark D. Ellison (Maxwell Institute, 2022)

“Shepherd of Hermas and the Christian Experience of Non-Christian Epiphany” in Experiencing the Shepherd of Hermas, ed. Angela Kim Harkins and Harry O. Maier, Ekstasis: Religious Experience from Antiquity to the Middle Ages (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022), 153–169.

“Christian Anti-Sabbath Polemic and the Textual Transmission of Luke 4:16 and 23:56,” TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism 26 (2021): 29–46.

“The Narrative Fulfillment of Isaiah 6 in 3 Nephi 11,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 29 (2020): 289–298.

“(En)gendering Christian Dreams: Tertullian, Authority, and a Visionary Woman in Carthage” International Conference on Patristic Studies, Oxford — Tertullian Session (August 2019).

“The Polemical Origin of Luke 6.5D: Dating Codex Bezae’s Sabbath-Worker Agraphon,” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 42 (2019): 162–184.

“Noncanonical Gospels” in New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament, ed. Lincoln H. Blumell (Provo, UT: BYU Religious Studies Center, 2019), 322–340.

“‘Eloi la... Elijah’?: Reading a Mondegreen in Mark 15:34–35.” AAR/SBL/ASOR Rocky Mountain-Great Plains Regional Meeting at Creighton University, Omaha, NE (March 2019).

“The Shepherd of Hermas and the Problem of Non-Christian Epiphany.”
• With response by Harry Maier (Vancouver School of Theology). Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting — Combined Session of Inventing Christianity and Religious Experience in Antiquity (November 2018).

“Soliciting Divine Manifestations: Proto-Orthodox Practices in the Late-Second and Early-Third Century CE.” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting — Combined Session of Mysticism, Esotericism, and Gnosticism in Antiquity and Religious Experience in Antiquity (November 2018).

“‘Christ’ after the Apostles: The Humanity and Divinity of the Savior in the Second Century” in “Thou Art the Christ, the Son of the Living God”: The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament — Sperry Symposium 2018, ed. Eric Huntsman, Lincoln Blumell, and Tyler Griffin (Provo, UT: BYU Religious Studies Center, 2018), 303–334.

“Dreams/Visions among Early Third-Century Proto-Orthodox Christians: Experience at the Boundaries of Discourse.”
• With response by Frances Flannery (James Madison University). Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting — Religious Experience in Antiquity (November 2017).

“From King Ahaz’s Sign to Christ Jesus: The ‘Fulfillment’ of Isaiah 7:14” in Prophets and Prophecies of the Old Testament: Text and Context — Sperry Symposium 2017, ed. Aaron Schade, Brian Hauglid, and Kerry Muhlestein (Provo, UT: BYU Religious Studies Center, 2017), 95–122.

“Dreams of Divine Chastisement: The Origin and Influence of an Early Christian Dream-Type.” North American Patristics Society Annual Meeting (May 2017).

“Dating the Sabbath-Worker Agraphon: The Fourth-Century Origin and Significance of Bezae- Luke 6.5.” AAR/SBL/ASOR Rocky Mountain-Great Plains Regional Meeting at the University of Colorado Boulder (March 2017).

“Christ in the Form of a Young Man: An Early Christian Epiphany-Type.” Disclosure, Inspiration, Epiphany: Divine Revelation in the Ancient Mediterranean; Conference at King’s College, London (May 2016).

“A Walking, Talking Cross: The Polymorphic Christology of the Gospel of Peter,” Early Christianity 5 (2014): 198–219.

"A Marriage-Gift of Part of a Monastery from Byzantine Egypt," Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists 48 (2011): 79-88. -Coauthored with Joseph G. Miller.

"A Ghost on the Water?: Understanding an Absurdity in Mark 6:49-50," Journal of Biblical Literature 127.2 (2008): 345-358.

Dreaming Christian: Divine Manifestations and Christian Identity in the Second and Third Centuries — academic monograph.

“Sabbath and Sunday in Ancient Christianity: Second through Sixth Centuries” in Sacred Time: The Sabbath as a Perpetual Covenant, ed. Gaye Strathearn — Submitted to BYU’s Religious Studies Center.

“Historical Criticism” in Mormons and the Bible, eds. Cory Crawford, Eric Eliason, and Taylor Petrey (Oxford: Oxford University Press) — Under Contract. (Submitted to editors.)

Courses

New Testament: Gospels Rel A 211

Historical background, narrative, and doctrines of the New Testament. Covers the life and teachings of Jesus Christ set forth in the four Gospels.

New Testament: Acts–Revelation Rel A 212

Historical background, narrative, and doctrines of the New Testament. Covers the Acts of the Apostles through the Revelation of John.

Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel Rel A 250

A survey course which teaches of the Savior's roles throughout eternity with emphasis on His fulfillment of Heavenly Father's covenant with His children and the blessings of the Atonement and eternal life.

Methods and Sources for the Study of the Greek New Testament ANES 302

This class is an introduction to the academic study of the Greek New Testament designed for ANES majors and minors. It considers the historical context, cultural setting, literary framing, and content of key biblical writings, as well as various disciplinary and faith-informing approaches taken to these writings within the field of biblical studies.

Junior Seminar in Ancient Near Eastern Studies ANES 395

This class is a junior seminar designed for ANES majors that will consider best practices in research and writing within the discipline, and that will result in a 12–15 page research paper reflecting those practices. It will also cover various aspects of professionalization within the discipline, including preparation for graduate work in ANES or related fields and maintaining mental, emotional, and spiritual health in the academy.

Other Courses

Book of Mormon I Rel A 121

Narrative, doctrines, and precepts of the Book of Mormon. Covers 1 Nephi through Alma 29.

Book of Mormon II Rel A 122

Narrative, doctrines, and precepts of the Book of Mormon. Covers Alma 30 through Moroni 10.

Teachings & Doctrine of the Book of Mormon Rel A 275

A study of the teachings and doctrine of the Book of Mormon with emphasis on the Savior's ministry.

Student Comments

I have enjoyed every course that I have taken from Professor Combs. His lessons are thought provoking and character building, and I am always moved by his willingness to help students in all facets of their lives. (New Testament, Winter 2020)

This is hands down my favorite religion class I have taken at BYU because it, more than the others, required me to stretch. Dr. Combs knows his stuff. He takes away all the hype and culture surrounding a lot of the harder concepts to learn and focuses on what the writers of the scriptures were trying to teach us, which required us to really dive deep into the history... (Christ and the Everlasting Gospel, Winter 2019

The course presented a number of exciting new concepts to me that I was excited to share with others. I can't tell you how many times I finished class and then called my mom to tell her about what I had learned. (Book of Mormon, Winter 2020)

I really like being shown how academic study was a form of worship. That is one thing that I learned that I feel will stick with me. (Book of Mormon, Winter 2020)

I am really grateful I took this course - I really want to be able to sink my teeth into scriptures as much as doctrine in more of my religion classes... thankfully, it did for this class. (New Testament, Winter 2020)

Really one of the best and most caring teachers I have ever had. The course helped to open my eyes and deepen my testimony of the Book of Mormon greatly. (Book of Mormon, Winter 2020)

Your course was amazing to take. I learned so much about the gospel and about a book of scripture that I have not focused much on compared to others. I was able to deepen my understanding of the context and thus was able to grow my love for this book beyond the usual stories of Christ's life. There can be difficult and uncomfortable sections of scripture if you do not understand the context, so it was lovely to be able to more fully embrace the whole of certain letters/books... You are an amazing professor! (New Testament, Winter 2020)

This class is one of my most favorite religion classes that I've taken at BYU. I learned so much about the nature of Heavenly Father and how He teaches us in steps and meets us on our level of understanding. (Christ and the Everlasting Gospel, Winter 2019)

His devotion to Christ was obvious and evident in every lesson he taught... There was nothing that he taught that wasn't dripping with the spirit, and every time he went through something I felt the spirit SO strongly. I loved hearing him testify, it gave me an idea of where I want my testimony to be when I get older. (Christ and the Everlasting Gospel, Winter 2019)

Dr. Combs is an example of scholarship being a form of service and worship in the kingdom of God. He genuinely inspires his students with skill and a desire to know Jesus Christ. (Book of Mormon, Winter 2020)

Contact

Jason Robert Combs, PhD.

Office

210C JSB

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT 84602

Phone

+1 801 422 7689

Email

jason_combs@byu.edu