Dr. David Capes Named Associate Dean of Biblical & Theological Studies, Professor of New Testament


April 4, 2017

Wheaton College Provost Dr. Margaret Diddams is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Capes as Associate Dean of Biblical & Theological Studies and Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College (Ill.).

In his role at Wheaton, Capes will be responsible for leading and managing the undergraduate, M.A., and Ph.D. programs of the College’s largest academic department. He will also hold faculty status as Professor of New Testament.

“Dr. Capes has a deep sense of calling to serve the Church through his academic roles,” Diddams says. “As he shared with us during the selection process, he considers himself to have ‘a new congregation every semester.’ We are looking forward to his active and visionary leadership not only in the Biblical & Theological Studies Department but across Wheaton College.”

Capes graduated from Mercer University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He earned an M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1982, and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Southwestern in 1990.

Capes is currently Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament at Houston Graduate School of Theology. He has served at Houston Baptist University for 25 years, receiving multiple awards for his scholarship and teaching.

Capes, whose areas of specialty include Christology and the Pauline epistles, has authored, co-authored, or co-edited many books, articles, chapters, and reviews, including the forthcoming An Early High Christology: Paul, the Lord Jesus and the Scriptures of Israel (Baker 2017); Rediscovering Paul: An Introduction to His World, Letters and Theology, 2nd Edition (InterVarsity 2017); and Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes (Kregel 2018). He was the lead biblical scholar for The Voice Bible translation published by Thomas Nelson in 2012.

A longtime advocate for stronger relationships among people of different faith traditions, Capes co-hosts a radio program, “A Show of Faith,” with Rabbi Stuart Federow and Father Mario Arroyo on Houston’s KNTH-AM station. He blogs about faith and culture at davidbcapes.com.

Capes and his wife, Cathy, have three adult sons: David, Daniel and Jordan. They attend Ecclesia Church in Houston, where he serves as an elder.

“Wheaton College is synonymous with excellence and fidelity to the gospel,” Capes says. “It is an honor to join with this world-class faculty and group of gifted leaders to further its mission.” 

Capes succeeds Dr. Jeffrey Bingham, who was named dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2016.

He will begin at Wheaton in July 2017.

Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) is a Christian liberal arts college noted for its rigorous academics, integration of faith and learning, and consistent ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. For more information, visit www.wheaton.edu.