When interacting with Dr. Joshua Greever, you are sure to be met with the gentle compassion of his pastoral heart, and the precise nature of his well-trained intellect. Greever is well-loved by all students who attend Bethlehem College and Seminary, and he is especially instrumental in Bethlehem Theological Seminary where he teaches New Testament, Biblical Theology, and Greek classes. With a full heart for pastoral ministry, academic pursuits, and cross-cultural missions, Greever is a well-rounded individual who is deeply invested in the education provided at Bethlehem.
Seminary Apprentice Corey Sanders shared, “My time with Dr. Greever greatly increased my appreciation for and understanding of how to read the Bible closely, with a focus on meaning and emphasis on purpose. The privilege of sitting under Dr. Greever’s influence is an opportunity to receive spiritual nourishment from a man who is overflowing with Scripture, who rehearses the gospel both in and out of the classroom.
Originally from St. Louis and the son of a pastor, Greever always knew that he wanted to serve the Lord in the same way his father did. He pursued his undergraduate degree at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) where he became fascinated with Biblical Greek. During his senior year at OBU, Greever was asked to pastor at Pleasant Home Baptist Church in Prague, Oklahoma, a position which he gladly held over the course of that year and the next. He gained much experience while serving the congregants there, yet knew that he wanted to receive further training before pursuing something more long term. This further training was gained at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, through their Master of Divinity program. After completing his M.Div., Greever and his family considered pursuing cross-cultural ministry, but he also continued to have a love for pastoral ministry and academics. Through a long series of events, God made it clear to Greever that pursuing a Ph.D. at Southern was the next step that would best further the kingdom, and deepen his love for academics.
Greever had the privilege of being able to complete his doctoral studies under Dr. Thomas Schreiner, which provided both academic and spiritual encouragement, as Dr. Schreiner was also Greever’s pastor while he was at Southern. Greever greatly enjoyed his dissertation work, which focused on the New Covenant in the book of Ephesians. Study under Dr. Schreiner was fruitful due to the vigilant and humble attention to his progress, and Greever found in his supervisor someone to emulate in many ways. As his dissertation was primarily biblical theological in nature, Greever grew deeply in his knowledge of the Scriptures as a whole narrative, which paid dividends for him personally, and continues to do so for many others both within the academic sphere as well as among believers. Joshua Wilks, a recent graduate of Bethlehem Theological Seminary reflected that, “Dr. Greever is my model for careful exegesis and Christ-exalting affection. He has a passion for helping students see Christ in the Greek of the New Testament and it is infectious.”
After completing his Ph.D., Greever went back out west and taught New Testament courses at Grand Canyon University from 2015 until 2021, when he came to teach at Bethlehem College and Seminary. Greever deeply delights in the academic nature of the classroom setting; at Bethlehem he teaches the Greek language sequence to both undergraduate and seminary students, and New Testament classes in the seminary. Dr. Zach Howard, Academic Dean of Bethlehem College and Seminary noted of his colleague, “Joshua Greever is a true delight to serve with at Bethlehem. He combines genuine excellence in the classroom with remarkably even-keeled leadership. Whether leading students into the Greek text or drawing out its personal and pastoral implications, Joshua teaches with evident care for both his students and the Scriptures. He also leads our seminary programs with steady wisdom and cheerful support for faculty, staff, and students alike.” He is glad to provide rich opportunities for students to know God more deeply through spending time in His word. Greever loves the eager curiosity of the students at Bethlehem, as they are not only attentive to their studies but inquisitive, such that they are led to joyful worship of God through what they are learning. With his love for pastoral ministry and shepherding care, Greever is instrumental in preparing seminary students for their participation in proclaiming the Scriptures faithfully. “Most scholars are known for being experts in their field. Dr. Greever is no exception. He’s a professor with surgeon-like precision and a well-studied answer to nearly every question. But what has impacted me most isn’t his mastery of Greek or the New Testament, but his love for Jesus. Dr. Greever has an infectious zeal for Christ that makes his students want to love Jesus more,” shared Brandon Andrews, seminary apprentice.
When Greever is not in the classroom, he is most happy to spend time with his wife, Amelia, and their four children. The Greever family loves being together, whether that involves the enjoyment of everyday life, or visiting and camping together in national parks, which is a particularly treasured activity. Greever is glad to spend time with each of his children and be involved in their individual pursuits as they grow and mature. He also enjoys sitting down with a good classic novel; for him, this style of prose is not a chore to read. As far as extracurricular academic pursuits are concerned, Greever is keen on making sure that whatever he researches or writes about serves the church. He is an elder at The North Church, and is glad to share his delight in the Scriptures with his fellow congregants. Greever is also glad to share this delight with those in the academic sphere, whether it is preparing a paper for the yearly Evangelical Theological Society conference, or working on a book related to his doctoral dissertation considering how Ephesians understands the Old Testament. As a scholar, professor, husband, and father, Greever is a wonderful example of a man with a gentle heart and an attentive delight for the Scriptures. Bethlehem College and Seminary is blessed by his humble service.
