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 book from E.J. Brill, I Am Large, I Contain Multitudes: Lyric Cohesion and Conflict in Second Isaiah, explores the tension between divine compassion and wrath in Isaiah 40–55 employing models drawn from the study of modern lyric poetry.
Her doctoral thesis was entitled “I Am Large, I Contain Multitudes: Second Isaiah’s Lyric Exploration of Divine Relational and Emotional Complexity.”
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 lives in Rathfarnham with her husband Jamie and daughter Evelyn.
Publications:
I Am Large, I Contain Multitudes: Lyric Cohesion and Conflict in Second Isaiah (Leiden: EJ Brill, 2011).
“Zephaniah” in Women’s Bible Commentary (Revised Edition, Lousiville: Westminster John Knox Press, in press).
“My Father is King: Chiefly Politics and the Rise and Fall of Abimelech,” Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 33.3 (2009), pp 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:
“A Word Returning: The Word of God in Isa 55” Theological Hermeneutics of Christian Scripture Section, SBL Annual Meeting, Atlanta GA, 20 November 2010
“Past, Place, and Identity: Memory in Exilic Period Biblical Texts” Exile (Forced Migrations) in Biblical Literature Consultation, SBL Annual Meeting, Boston MA, 24 November 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 November 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 DC, 18 November 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, yhe Annual Meeting of the John Wesley Fellows: Durham NC, 10 December 2005.