Dan is Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary (has taught there for more than 32 years) and Executive Director of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts. He earned a B.A. at Biola University (1975) with a major in biblical studies and minor in Greek; graduated magna cum laude from Dallas Seminary with a ThM degree (1979), with the equivalent of a major in Old Testament studies and a double major in New Testament Studies; graduated summa cum laude from Dallas Seminary with a PhD in New Testament studies (1995). He has done postdoctoral study at Tyndale House, Christ’s College, Clare College, and Westminster College, Cambridge; the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung (Institute for New Testament Textual Research), Münster, Germany, Tübingen University; Glasgow University; Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library), Munich; the National Library of Greece, Athens; as well as various libraries and monasteries in Europe, Australia, America, and Africa.
He is a member of several scholarly societies including Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, Institute for Biblical Research, Society of Biblical Literature, American Society of Papyrologists, and Evangelical Theological Society (former president). He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Henry C. Thiessen Award for best work in New Testament at Dallas Seminary (1979); the William M. Anderson Scholarship Award for best work in the Doctor of Philosophy program at Dallas Seminary; multiple Who’s Who lists; finalist in the Gold Medallion Award for two books in different categories; and an award for the best article in New Testament in Christianity Today’s fourth annual volume of Best in Theology (1990), and the Evangelical Press Association’s award for the best critical book review of the year (2012). Wallace has published in more journals than any faculty member in Dallas Seminary’s history—including New Testament Studies (the premier international journal for New Testament; Cambridge, England); Novum Testamentum (Leiden, Holland); Biblica (The Vatican); Bulletin for Biblical Research (Cambridge, England); Christianity Today; Westminster Theological Journal (Philadelphia); Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society; Bibliotheca sacra (Dallas); Criswell Theological Review (Dallas); Grace Theological Journal (Winona Lake, IN); Conservative Theological Journal; Unio cum Christo; Themelios; Notes on Translation; Bible Translator; Critical Review of Books; Review of Biblical Literature; Wittenburg Door; and International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences.
Wallace has written chapters in four Festschriften (Homer Kent, Harold Hoehner, Michael Holmes, and Bruce Metzger), and is currently working on a chapter for another Festschrift. Wallace has also been interviewed (often multiple times) by Christianity Today, the Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, National Post (Canada), US News and World Report, Boston Globe, Kindred Spirit, Forbes, and many others. His television/film interviews/appearances include The John Ankerberg Show; Day of Discovery; The DayStar’s Celebration!; WFAA News (Dallas area ABC affiliate); the movie Jesus of Testimony; the Jesus Film; Coral Ridge Program; CBN News; the CNN closed-circuit channels at American Airlines hubs; as well as scores of radio shows and websites including Moody Broadcasting Network, and an Arabic Christian website in Alexandria, Egypt (where he discussed the textual transmission of the Qur’an in comparison to the New Testament).
Wallace wrote the official eulogies for Harold Hoehner (Society of Biblical Literature) and Bruce Metzger (Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society).
He has written, co-authored, edited, or contributed to more than three dozen books.
As an internationally known Greek New Testament scholar, Wallace has been a consultant for four Bible translations—ESV, TNIV, New King James Bible, and New English Translation. He has also contributed articles to the ESV Study Bible and the Holman Christian Standard Study Bible.
Wallace is a frequent speaker at universities, seminaries, churches, colleges, and apologetics conferences, including St Andrews University, Oxford University, London School of Theology, University of Texas, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts (Amherst), Baylor University, Purdue University, Weber State University, University of Athens (Greece), Akron University, Southeastern Baptist Seminary, University of North Texas, Southeastern European Theological Seminary (Tirana, Albania), Trinity Theological College (Perth, Australia), Southern Methodist University, Northwest Oklahoma State University, Miami University of Ohio, Florida International University, Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, Knox Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Escola Teologica Charles Spurgeon (Fortaleza, Brazil), Freed-Hardeman University, Evangelical Free Church of Hong Kong, and the Asian Christian Academy (Bangalore, India). He has given the Staley lectureship (2001), the inaugural and a later Lamplighters lecture (2004, 2007), Annual Conference Lectureship for the Northwest London Diocese of Anglican Priests, London (2009); and he has been a frequent speaker at various apologetics conferences. At New Orleans Baptist Seminary in 2008, at the fourth annual Greer-Heard Point-Counterpoint Forum, he debated Bart D. Ehrman on the reliability of the New Testament manuscripts as witnesses to the original text (the debate later came out as a book by Fortress Press). Bart and Dan debated again at Southern Methodist University on Oct 1, 2011 before the largest crowd ever assembled (1425 people) to witness a debate on textual criticism. A third debate, on Feb 1, 2012, was held at North Carolina Chapel Hill, where Ehrman is a professor.
To see/hear latest interviews (CNN one-minute video, airing in May 2010 at American Airlines hubs at all major North American airports, and three-minute audio interview on all American and Delta flights in May and June 2010), and information about the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts (CSNTM), please visit CSNTM. Recently, CSNTM has also joined iTunes U. The video clips they have uploaded have been extremely well received, with over 60,000 downloads in the first few days. The videos are intended for a lay audience.
Dan is a fourth-generation Californian, who grew up in Newport Beach. He has been transplanted against his will to Texas. He always welcomes an opportunity to come home. Dan and his wife, Pati, have been married for more than 40 years. They met at Biola University and within minutes stole a car together! They have four adult sons—Noah, Ben, Andrew, and Zack, three daughters-in-law, three granddaughters and one grandson. They also have a Labrador Retriever named Porter.
Daniel B. Wallace 
Hey Dr Wallace,
Nice to see your blog. I’ll be reading it. Be blessed and thanks for your work and more importantly your friendship.
Grace,
John Bray
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John, good to hear from you! Catch me up on your ministry sometime…
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It’s about time you had your own blog! 🙂
Joshua
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Dan: I’m super-excited to read that you’re working on a Thessalonians commentary! Michael Patton has said in the past that your exegesis of Paul’s letters should make anyone a convinced pre-tribber!
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Dr. Wallace,
Thanks for writing Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. And thanks for your dedication in defending the Bible’s integrity. Keep up the great work!
Sincerely,
Matt
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Hello Dr. Wallace!
I was wondering if you could tell if your book Reinventing Jesus has been translated to Portuguese? Or any other resource where you refute Ehrman?
thanks!
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Hello Dr. Wallace,
I was wondering if you could tell me if your book Reinventing Jesus has been translated to Portuguese? Or any other resource where you refute Ehrman?
thanks!
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Hi Dr. Wallace,
I would like to know which three or four translations you recommend to compare for my own personal study of the Bible? Thank you.
The Lord’s Blessings,
Julian Catana
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Julian, there are several Bible translations that I like to compare when I study scripture. The NET Bible has extensive notes, which helps one to see why the other translations do what they do. The NIV 2011 is very up to date, is based on excellent scholarship, with a balanced view overall. The REB was one of the first gender-inclusive translations, but English style was considered more important than gender-inclusiveness. I think they hit the right balance often. The NRSV pushes the envelope on the gender-inclusive aspect–at times to the point where the English is rather awkward–but it has first-rate scholarship behind it. The ESV was done by evangelicals who were concerned about the direction that the NRSV went and wanted to update the RSV. It has a nice understated style to it. The NJB and NAB are the two Catholic translations I regularly consult. There are some translations in other languages that I also consult, but I suspect you aren’t as interested in those. Finally, I look at the KJV. It has pride of place in the history of ‘modern’ Bible translations (the Latin Vulgate has this honor overall), and deserves to be examined because it is part of the warp and woof of the English-speaking world. It also has some nice expressions, though it is not nearly as accurate as these other translations.
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I have some questions about the article that you wrote concerning Revelation 3:20 that I read on bible.org. I think I understand the points that you are making… but are you saying that God is not drawing sinners unto himself? And, Should the fear of using a scripture out of conext mean that only biblical scholars should teach in the church? Don’t we have the Holy Spirit giving us wisdom? What if the specfic verse does not mean exactly what we use it for, but the meaning is supported in other verses and does coincide with the entire bible?
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Sandy, I don’t usually interact over things I’ve posted elsewhere, but I felt your questions needed an answer. No, I am not in the least saying that God does not draw sinners to himself. There are texts that affirm that, but Rev 3.20 is irrelevant to that concern since it is not addressing non-believers. That essay was simply focusing on the language that has crept into our modern American evangelical world which is not really appropriate for the gospel message. The fear of using scripture out of context is something that all Christians should be concerned with, biblical scholars included. As James says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (NIV 2011). I used Rev 3.20 inappropriately for years before I was taught what it really means. I used it in sharing the gospel with hundreds of people. Does this mean all those who “received Christ into their hearts” were not saved because I used the wrong verse? Not necessarily; it really depends on whether they understand the gospel, not just mouth some words. The wrong texts have been used by Christians for centuries, but the sovereign Lord is still able to use weak and fallible people to accomplish his will. At the same time, there are probably hundreds of thousands of people who think that becoming a Christian means some mystical rite of accepting Jesus into their heart. I have known a good number of people who claim to be Christians but when probed think that this mystical transfer via mere utterance is what the gospel is. They don’t acknowledge that they are sinners, that Christ died and rose again, that Jesus is God, etc. It is precisely because the imagery is foggy and has been so terribly misunderstood in modern culture, giving people false assurance of salvation when they have no clue about the content of the gospel, that I wrote that article.
And yes, the Holy Spirit of course gives us wisdom, but his principal role is not to aid us in interpreting scripture. And if I’m right that Rev 3.20 has been abused (and not only am I not the only one saying this, but even most Bible translations imply the same by separating the ‘in’ from the ‘to’ in the verse), then why should anyone insist on still using it?
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Well done as usual. Could I reach you somewhere by e-mail. You have helped in my ministry, Foundation for Biblical Research, in the past and I have a one-page question to ask you. J-Richard Fugate, Director FBR and the Exegetical Bible Project.
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Dr. Wallace, would you please be able to explain what you meant when you said the Holy Spirit’s “principal role is not to aid us in interpreting scripture.”? I have never been taught that before and if I were going to repeat it I would want to be able to back it up. Most of the people I know think that the Holy Spirit will tell them the meaning of a text. I heard JP Moreland mention something similar to what you said but I did not fully understand it. Respectfully, Jeff.
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I like your blogs. Keep up the good work!
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Dear Dr. Wallace
I read your article ‘The Number of Textual Variants: An Evangelical Miscalculation’ on bible.org and saw a YouTube movie were you were talking with mister Ankerberg. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxyxnwFr9mQ&feature=related
It was very interesting, but also worrying that someone like Norman Geisler has it wrong. It doesn’t help us trust the ones who are supposed to help us with difficult questions.
When you say that there are about 400.000 variations and that for every word in the NT we have three variations, it sounds quite troubling to me. I understand that most are spelling mistakes, but still it looks like the translators where making mistake on mistake. I cannot help but have the feeling we could have had three different bibles. How do I know that what I have in my bible is the correct wording? I hope you could help to clarify this issue for me a bit.
Thank you
Paul
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Over 99% of the textual variants affect virtually nothing. That should set you at ease. But even skeptics like Bart Ehrman have admitted that no cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith are jeopardized by these variants. Much more could be said. You might want to read Reinventing Jesus, a book I co-authored. It has five chapters on the text of the NT.
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Thank you Dr. Wallace for your answer,
I read the book reinventing Jesus. I just have a question about all the variations. When people say that with all the variations (400.000) we have for every NT word an average of three variations, they do not literally mean that every word has three other available words, do they? I imagine that most words do not have variations, while others because of word order (sometimes 8 different possibilities with same meaning, but counts for 8 variants) or spelling mistake have many. I don’t know this is the right place to post my questions, if not, could you direct me to the place where I can post these kind of questions? I work in North Africa where people have many questions and accusations of how the Bible is changed. I try to answer as well as I can. Most of my answers I get from internet and some good books, but it is always nice to have someone to verify the correctness of it.
Thanks you so far for your help
Greetings
Paul
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HI Dr. Wallace,
I would love to have you on my podcast one day to talk about common textual issues like this. Do you have some time in the near future where we could do a phone or Skype interview?
God bless
Neil
http://eieradio.com
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By “like this” I meant the recent “Jesus’ wife” text. Sorry about the confusion. : )
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Dr. Wallace is there any update on the small fragment of Mark’s gospel that possibly dates to the 2nd or even the 1st century?
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Dan, as I read your posts, I often think of my second year in seminary, taking Greek Grammar and Syntax, and Exegetical Method in Ephesians with you. I had heard horror stories from other students about you (he’s hard and intimidating), but a friend’s remark, “He’s challening but good. I think you’ll like him,” was the deciding factor in my taking you for second year Greek. I’m glad I did! And since I’m a few years older than you, I didn’t find you intimidating at all! But you had a love and intensity for the Greek, and you encouraged me to strive for excellence myself. I was reminded, the better handle I have on my passage, the more confident I will be to preach it. That is so true. There is very little solid Bible teaching today. The prosperity gospel is rampant here (Bangkok). Most of these pastors do not know how to properly study and exegete the Bible. James 3:1 is so true, along with 2 Tim 4:1-5. People are listening to, and believing a false gospel.
Dan, although I would probably flunk your class now if I took it (but BibleWorks is a big help!), I am very thankful for the opportunity I had to study under you at Dallas Seminary. I’ve forgotten a lot of what I learned, but I use BibleWorks, along with with your New Testament Greek Syntax Study Guide when I study Greek and work on my messages. Exegesis is very hard work, but also very rewarding. Thank you for being part of the men who helped lay a foundation for me, along with Drs. Fanning, Bock and Hoehner. May God continue to bless you and use you in serving Him and teaching others.
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Thanks, Mike. Always good to hear from you.
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Dr. Wallace,
Recently I read your Amazon comment regarding BDF and was elated to hear the news… only to be saddened to read the comments in reply to your comment. Many would love for you (along with whoever else could join the team) to pick back up the BDF project and finish it. Seems much needed!
Your grammar and defense of our Lord and his Word is a service to the church of Christ. I truly cannot thank you enough for the help I have received in ministry from the grammar.
His grace to you
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Dear Mr. Wallace,
I love you ‘Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics’! I use it when I translate Scripture. I have used it for a few projects so far. I’ve used Dana and Mantey’s work but yours is much more thorough. It is one of my Greek treasures. Thanks for your work.
-Lee Stroud, Jr.
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thank you dr. Wallace for making your articles available to us. I’d like to see a review on a book called “Hunting for the Word of God: the quest for the original text of the New Testmaent and the Qur’an in light of textual and historical criticism’. the author is a Muslim apologist. He was keen to refute you on all your apologia studies.
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Yes, I plan to write a response.
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Dr. Wallace, thank you for your work. What work(s) on how we got the Bible, especially something that might serve as an introduction for an adult Bible class, do you recommend? Thanks.
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Dr. Wallace…..I was wondering if you might comment on the issue of: “Reconciliation” specifically “when…..and…..where”.
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The silence….is….killing….me. When can we hear news of the manuscript discovery? Inquiring minds want to know. Where can we go for a hint?
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Dr. Wallace, I saw that you’d consulted for four translation projects. I’ve seen very helpful articles you’ve written about all of them – except the NKJV. Have you written about the NKJV?
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Yes, I have, but I don’t recall where.
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Hello Dr. Wallace thanks for all the time you put in in your vehement defense of our scriptures. I was wondering if you could speak to something though. Origen said that he thought the majority of manuscripts available to him were corruptions and Jerome implied the same. Just wondering if you can speak as to how he still worked with reliable manuscripts (Origen) and they were transmitted to us. Thanks and God bless
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Sorry Dr. Wallace to clarify Origen said that there were some variants he knew of where he suggested that none of the manuscripts had the correct reading. I believe Metzger cites them in the book “biblical and patristic studies in memory of Robert Pierce” I just ordered the book but I was wondering if you know what these variants were and if we have recovered their restoration and if you can speak to how they’re inconsequential seeing as how Origen was using the Alexandran text type I’m assuming, and if the manuscripts we are using in todays modern versions are earlier or later than Origen, if earlier then isn’t that unnerving seeing as we have no way to know what those uknowable variants are? unless there were much more reliable manuscripts than those available to Origen at the time which have carried on to us. Thanks
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See http://www.vaticancatholic.com there is No Salvation Outside the Church. Protestant biblical scholar D.A. Carson explained: “What we possess is something over 2,100 lectionary manuscripts, more than 2,700 minuscules, just over 260 uncials, and about 80 papyri. To keep things in perspective, however, it is important to remember that the vast majority of these 5,000 or so manuscripts are fragmentary, preserving a few verses or a few books. Only about 50 of these 5,000 contain the entire New Testament, and only one of these 50 is an uncial (viz., codex Sinaiticus). Most of the manuscripts, however, do contain the four Gospels.” (D.A. Carson, The King James Version Debate – A Plea for Realism, p. 18.) He also explains that no two manuscripts agree in every detail. “By contrast, the New Testament, as I have said, is preserved in five thousand Greek manuscripts and eight thousand manuscripts of versions. Yet despite this abundant supply of manuscript evidence, this providential wealth of material sufficient to embarrass the most industrious textual critic, it is a stark fact that no two manuscripts agree in every detail.” (D.A. Carson, The King James Version Debate – A Plea for Realism, pp. 18-19.)
Now it is crucial to realize that working from the assumption of sola scriptura (i.e., the position that a book is the ONLY inerrant rule of faith and practice) the Protestant cannot be sure what “scripture” is: due to the aforementioned fact about the imperfection of extant biblical manuscripts. You cannot identify which manuscript of the many thousands there are: that is a facsimile copy of the original inspired writings: You are fallible and only have your fallible opinion. Furthermore even if you did (which is of course absolutely impossible) many passages are missing and thus incomplete and you have no way of knowing what was originally there. Is it not a contradiction to believe the “word of God” (as you construe it) is preserved when the facts indicate otherwise? This crushes sola scriptura.
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Dr. Wallace, I would like to send you a copy of The Fresh Agreement, 2nd Edition, but I don’t know where to send it. I require nothing from you, no commentary or criticism (but you may wish to look inside.) At 195,000 words, it is barely the longest English translation. I want to gift you with a copy. Please give me an address.
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Dr. Wallace, I have found your short lectures on youtube on Biblical textual criticism very interesting and helpful. The video content isn’t overwhelming as the lectures are concise and I do believe to be quiet precise! My question to you is how compatible is the Greek in the Received Text compared to p-52 of the fragment found in John 18?
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I wish I knew the inside story and purpose of the phrase ‘stole a car together.’
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Dr. Wallace,
I have heard you in person twice and really appreciated your book Reinventing Jesus. I wondered what resource(s) you would recommend, other than that book, that specifically addresses the claims of liberal scholarship in regards to issues like dating and authorship? I want to better understand what leads them to the conclusions they reach, and what the evangelical response to that approach is.
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Jonathan, there are a great number of books that address issues of date and authorship. I would recommend Carson and Moo’s An Introduction to the New Testament for starters. You’ll see excellent documentation in there, giving you great leads on other books.
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Sir i am thrilled to know about you. I read your interview in the Christian post about bible translation. It has helped me to appreciate the kind of work you people are doing. I am also interested in learning Greek to help me understand better. Always praying for you and your wonderful family. With regards
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Thank you for all that you do! Just found some of your intro to textual criticism on youtube . And also thanks for explaining it clearly as I am not schooled in the Greek language. My wife and can easily following along and understand.
Keith Rovere
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I am going to guess that the statement in the closing paragraph of the Bio is an in-joke or humour of some kind but I ask that some proper explanation of the statement “They met at Biola University and within minutes stole a car together!” be given because at least one reader took it seriously. So please explain it if you have the time to do so.
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HI Dr. Wallace,
I’m an alumnus of DTS. I overlapped you but regrettably didn’t have you for any classes! I’m wondering if you have written on The New Apostolic Reformation or on Bethel Church and Jesus Culture music. I saw a reference to you in the footnotes but can’t find anything when I search on your blog. Thanks! Pastor Jim Kennington, Lake City Community Church
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Keep up the good work.
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Dr. Wallace…what a deep and continuing series of moments to have had with you here in Denver when you were recently here for all the “theolog meetings.” As I said in person, “I’m ready for whenever we may have a next conversation. I am glad we continue to keep our promises to not tell all we know about each other. Sincerely, you remain, easily, one of our favorite people on the planet…and my bride and I are so glad to be friends with you, your bride, and the rest of the Wallace clan.
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