John Brown University will host Dr. David Chapman on Thursday, March 5 in the Cathedral of the Ozarks at 7:30 p.m. for a lecture entitled “Crucifixion in the Roman World.”

Dr. Chapman has been a member of the faculty at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis since 2000 and currently serves as curator of the W. H Mare Institute for Biblical and Archeological Studies. He worked as the director of the Abila Archaeological Project in northern Jordan for four years and is a leading scholar on crucifixion in antiquity, publishing two major volumes on the subject as well as a number of articles on archaeology.

“Dr. Chapman’s research on the political and cultural climate of antiquity opens our eyes to see more clearly the power of Biblical stories,” said Dr. David Vila, JBU professor of religion and philosophy and current director of the Abila Archeological Project. “We are so pleased to have Dr. Chapman give our inaugural Abila Lecture in Biblical Archeology.”

The bi-annual Abila Lecture series emphasizes increasing understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the Bible. Each year, JBU invites two scholars to speak on the history and archeology of the Biblical world. The fall lecture focuses on the historical contexts of the Old Testament and the spring lecture focuses on the New Testament.

This lecture series is made possible by a generous gift to the newly established Endowment for Academic Excellence, a component of JBU’s $125 million Campaign for the Next Century. Among other things, the Endowment for Academic Excellence supports Dr. Vila’s work with the Abila Archeological Project and the Abila lecture series and has funded scholarships for JBU students to participate in biennial summer excavation projects to uncover prominent Byzantine churches that have been buried for 1500 years.