Michael Middendorf

Biography

Hi! My name is Mike Middendorf, a Professor of Theology. I am privileged to teach a wide of variety of courses related to the Bible (e.g. Old and New Testament, Greek and Hebrew, and many more!). It is a great opportunity to lead classes on three levels at one University! My favorite group to work with is our undergraduate students, but I also get to teach courses in the Master of Arts program and to seminarians studying here for many types of ethnic ministry.

My home state is Minnesota and my college is a sister school of Concordia – Irvine, located in St. Paul, MN. After completing my pastor’s degree and a doctorate at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, I was a parish pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, ND. Then I served as professor for 9 years at another sister Concordia, in Austin, TX, before coming to Irvine. Is that enough Concordia’s for you?

Well, yet another Concordia, Concordia Publishing House, asked me to write a two-volume commentary on the book of Romans for their Concordia Commentary series. Volume one was published in 2013; volume two in 2016. I also co-authored the New Testament textbook used here and at other Concordias titled, Called by the Gospel.

In addition to digging into the Bible, I have worked on an archaeology dig three summers at Hippos on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. After all those Concordias, I should point out that “Concordia” is from two Latin words which literally mean “with heart.” That is one phrase which I strive to have as a characteristic of my teaching ministry. “Concordia” is also often translated as “harmony.” Since coming to Concordia in 2001, I have really found that to be an outstanding description of the Christian community here.

Education

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, M.Div., 1987; S.T.M., 1989; Ph.D., 1990
Concordia College, St. Paul, MN, B.A., 1981

Professional Experience

Concordia University Irvine, CA since 2001
Concordia University Austin, TX, 1992-2000

Recent Achievements

Author of the 2-volume commentary on Romans in the Concordia Commentary series (2013, 2016)
Co-author of Called by the Gospel, a university-level New Testament introduction (2007)
Dissertation on Romans 7, The “I” in the Storm, published by Concordia Publishing House (1997)

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Bible, theology, Greek, and Ministry courses

THL 312 New Testament Book of the Bible
TGRE 501, 502 Greek I, II
THL 528 Seminar in Biblical Theology and Exegesis
THL 529 Lutheran Hermeneutics and Theology of Scripture
THL 590 Guided Readings
THL 595 & 596 Thesis I & II
TEXN 510 The Synoptic Gospels and Acts
TEXN 520 Romans/Pauline Literature