Jeffrey García

About:

Dr. García specializes in the New Testament, especially the Gospels, and Greco-Roman Jewish literature. He holds a PhD in Hebrew and Judaic Studies from New York University where he studied under the direction of Lawrence Schiffman. Jeffrey was the former Associate Professor of New Testament and Second Temple Literature at Nyack College, NYC,, prior to its unfortunate closing. Since 2012, He has worked with the Center for Holy Lands Studies as a teaching guide in Israel, Jordan, Greece, and Turkey for students, church leaders, and lay people. Assisting in excavations and logistics, he is part of the US staff of the El Araj Excavation Project. The site is now the leading contender for the ancient city of Bethsaida (see Luke 9:10).  

Jeffrey is the author of On Human Nature in Ancient Judaism: Creation, Composition, and Condition (JAJSup 34; Paderborn: Ferdinand Schöningh; Leiden: Brill, 2020), Understanding the Gospels as Ancient Jewish Literature(Jerusalem: Carta, 2018), and co-editor (w/ R. Steven Notley) of The Gospels in First-Century Judaea (Leiden: Brill, 2016). Jeffrey has also contributed to the Biblical Archaeology Review, Lexham Bible Dictionary (Lexham Press, 2016), and The Routledge Encyclopedia of Ancient Mediterranean Religions (Routledge, 2015). Currently, he is working on a book on charity and merciful deeds in the Gospels in light of ancient Jewish thought (under contract with Augsburg-Fortress Press). 

Dr. García is a proud fan of the Yankees, Knicks, and Giants, although Boston fans are welcome in his courses too ;). He is originally from East Harlem (Manhattan) but is making his way from Baldwin, Long Island with his wife, Maureen. In his spare time, he is an avid movie/tv viewer and reader who hopes dearly that the new Netflix series will do justice to C.S. Lewis’ classic series.