Dr. Katie Heffelfinger
BA, MDiv, ThM, PhD
Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics
Katie Heffelfinger studied theology at Asbury Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary. She holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible from Emory University. Prior to joining the staff of CITI, Katie taught Hebrew at Candler School of Theology and McAfee School of Theology. Both schools are located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Katie’s research interests focus on the interpretation of biblical Hebrew poetry. Her doctoral thesis entitled “I Am Large, I Contain Multitudes: Second Isaiah’s Lyric Exploration of Divine Relational and Emotional Complexity” explores the tension between divine compassion and wrath in Isaiah 40-55 employing models drawn from the study of modern lyric poetry. Katie’s ongoing research interests include the potential for biblical poetry and particularly metaphor to enliven theological imagination, and the role of memory in the development of exilic period theology.
Katie grew up near Tampa, Florida. Her parents and younger brother still live in that area. Katie has been married to husband Jamie for 10 years and they are expecting their first child in September.
Publications:
“My Father is King: Chiefly Politics and the Rise and Fall of Abimelech”
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 33.3 (2009): 277-292.
“Like the Sitting of a Mountain: the Significance of Metaphor in KTU
1.101’s Description of Ba‘al” Ugarit Forschungen 39 (2007).
“From Bane to Blessing: The Significance of Food in Genesis 37-50” in
Rounded Stones: Literary Readings of Genesis Narratives (ed. Dennis Olson and Diane Sharon; SBL Symposium Series; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, in press).
Presented Papers:
“Past, Place, and Identity: Memory in Exilic Period Biblical Texts” Exile
(Forced Migrations) in Biblical Literature Consultation, SBL Annual Meeting: Boston, MA, 24 Nov., 2008.
“Like the Sitting of a Mountain: the Significance of Metaphor in KTU
1.101’s Description of Ba‘al” Ugaritic Studies and Northwest Semitic
Epigraphy Section, SBL Annual Meeting: San Diego, CA, 19 Nov., 2007.
“Gideon and Abimelek: An Attempted Hereditary Chieftainship?” Historical
Books Section, SBL International Meeting: Vienna, Austria, 25 July, 2007.
“Food Fight: The Significance of Food in Genesis 37-50” Pentateuch Section,
SBL Annual Meeting: Washington D.C., 18 Nov., 2006.
“The Rise and Fall of Metaphors in Israel’s Testimony to the Ideal Kingship:
An Examination of the Theological and Liturgical Possibilities of Psalm 72” Christmas Conference: The Annual Meeting of the John Wesley Fellows: Durham, NC, 10 Dec., 2005.