By Nathan Handley
Union University News Office
Kevin Chen
JACKSON — Kevin Chen, associate professor of biblical studies at Union University, has been interested in the study of Scripture for a long time, but he didn’t begin his studies with a career in mind.
“My interest in biblical studies started when I was in high school and never went away,” Chen said. “I had a youth pastor who discipled me in my walk with the Lord and the study of Scripture.”
Chen grew up in San Jose, Calif. He did undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkley, not in biblical studies, but in computer science and electrical engineering. He then got his master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.
Chen worked as an electrical engineer in the Silicon Valley for three years. During that time, he took master of divinity classes at Western Seminary in the evenings and on weekends.
Before he received his master of divinity, Chen said he was praying about what he should do next. After he graduated, he decided to pursue his doctor of philosophy in biblical studies full-time. This required him to move across the country, where he studied at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He then transferred to Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California, where he graduated in 2009.
Chen is now in his sixth year of teaching at Union. His areas of expertise include biblical studies, specifically the Old Testament, and Hebrew.
A member at Cornerstone Community Church in Jackson, a Baptist congregation in Madison-Chester Baptist Association, Chen said he loves the Christian community at Union.
“There’s something special about the Christian relationships that we have with one another among the faculty and the staff and the students,” he said. “I think that’s what makes the teaching so enjoyable. There’s a genuine sense of fellowship and brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ.”
Chen said his biblical studies training is put to use in all of his classes at Union. He teaches Hebrew as well as Bible seminar classes. He said he likes to make application and examine how ancient texts relate to the lives of Christians today.
“It cannot be taken for granted that faith will be a part of biblical studies,” Chen said. “I try to make application of the Bible to our lives. … It’s not always obvious how to do that with certain Old Testament texts and books.”
Chen said all of the faculty members in the biblical studies program are experts in what they teach. He said students who study under them have the opportunity to take Greek and Hebrew as well as numerous other classes on specific books and texts.
“Most importantly,” he said, “the students are learning under Christians who are dedicated to their faith in Christ.”
