Dr David Ball, BA, PhD

A bit about me

---

I was born in Kenya where my parents were missionaries with BCMS (now Crosslinks). My dad and my mum trained at Colleges that would later become part of Trinity College. My dad also served on Trinity’s council.

I studied at Sheffield University for my Degree and PhD. There I met my wife, Angie, who is also from a missionary family. In 1993 we joined Crosslinks as Mission Partners and went with our first son to India to work with TAFTEE (The Association for Theological Education by Extension). Our second son, was born in India. We stayed in India for 15 years and returned to England in 2008.

Since I was sixteen, I have been riding motorbikes. I now have three bikes (one of which is as old as me) and I am actively involved in the Christian Motorcyclists’ Association. I like cricket and have supported Crystal Palace since the late ‘70’s. I am also a trustee for our local Foodbank and the Church Warden in our local church.

My research interests

---

I continue to read books related to the narrative study of the New Testament and also the writings of John and the letters of Peter. I also have an interest in linguistics and biblical interpretation. I often write reviews in these areas for the Journal of New Testament Studies.

My passion is that the Bible should be put back in the hands of ordinary people and so most of my recent writing has involved editing our Open Learning courses.

How to get in touch with me

---

Email me on davidball@goldproject.org

Some highlights of my work

---

1991 ‘“My Lord and My God”: the Implications of ‘I am’ Sayings for Religious Pluralism’, in A.D. Clarke and B.W. Winter (eds.), One God, One Lord in a World of Religious Pluralism (Cambridge: Tyndale House), pp. 53-71.

1996 ‘I am’ in John’s Gospel: Literary Function, Background and Theological Implications, JSNTS 124, (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press).

2000 Course Writer for TAFTEE’s MTh course in Hermeneutics and Exegetical Method.

2005  ‘Making “Sense” of Salvation in 1 Timothy 2:15: A Case Study of the pros and cons of word studies in New Testament Exegesis’, in S. Arles (ed.), Biblical Theology and Missiological Education in Asia: Festschrift in Honour of Dr. Brian Wintle (Singapore: Asia Theological Association/Bangalore: Centre for Contemporary Christianity).

2007 ‘Gender: Bible, Language and Culture’, in B. Wood (ed.), Side by Side: Gender from a Christian Perspective (Bangalore: SAIACS Press, 2007).

2008 ‘Missing the Plot: An actantial analysis of the role of the disciples in John 13 and 14 and some implications for John’s understanding of Discipleship’, TAFTEE Annual Lecture presented in Bangalore, January 2008.

2011 ‘Can “No one” mean “Everyone” in John 14:6: Some Reflections on Inclusive Readings of Jesus’ “I am” saying in the context of the Debate on Religious Pluralism’, in S. Arles (ed.), Called to Teach: Festschrift in Honour of Mr Peter S.C. Pothan (Bangalore: Centre for Contemporary Christianity).

2015 Two Weeks’ Bible Study Materials on John’s Gospel for Bible Reading Fellowship’s Guidelines.

2010-2014 Reviews in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament.