Education
PhD (2023), Theology, University of Toronto (Defending August 2022).
Dissertation: The Sacrament and the Secular: The Sociopolitical Significance of Henri de Lubac’s Sacramental Ecclesiology in a Post-Christian World.
ThM (2018), Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary.
MDiv (2015), Reformed Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas.
BBA (2007), Finance, University of Texas.
Courses
- The Drama of Scripture (REL-110)
- Introduction to Christian Worldview (CTS-110)
- From the Word to the World: An Introduction to Theological Study (REL-121)
- Reformed Theology (REL-251)
- Foundations of Mission and Ministry I (REL-253)
- Spiritual Formation for Ministry (REL-255)
- Modern and Contemporary Theology (REL-349/449)
- Gospel, Church, and Culture (REL-357/457)
- Internship I (REL-380)
- Liturgies: Rhythms of Restoration, Hope & Grace (REL-451)
- Leadership in Ministry (REL-454)
- Augustine Honours Seminar (REL-461)
- Augustine Honours Seminar (HIS-461)
- Augustine Honours Seminar (POL-461)
About
James R. Wood previously worked as an associate editor at First Things Magazine, a PCA pastor in Austin, TX, and a campus evangelist and team leader with Cru Ministries at the University of Texas at Austin. He is married to Clare, and they have five daughters. He and Clare love to host others in their home, share meals, and talk about all things serious and trivial.
Research Interests
- Nature and grace
- Supralapsarian Christology
- Mission in a post-Christian context
- Political theology
- Postliberalism
- Ecclesiology
- Sacramental theology
- Ecumenical theology
- Augustine
- John Calvin
- John Nevin
- Neo-Calvinism
- Nouvelle Théologie/Communio theology
- P.J. Hoedemaker
- Karl Barth
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Thomas F. Torrance
Selected Research Publications
Wood, James. Augustine’s Wisdom for Christian Pilgrims: Timeless Insights from the Social Teachings from an Early Church Father. Baker, forthcoming in January 2027.
Wood, James. Thomas F. Torrances’ Sacramental Ecclesiology. Davenant Press, 2026.
Wood, James. “Retrieving Bavinck’s Social Vision.” Religious Studies Review, 2026, forthcoming.
Wood, James. “Augustine’s Maximally Nicene Texts.” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 29 (2025): 54-71.
Wood, James. “Confirming Calvin’s Doctrine of the Church Out of the Mouth of Augustine.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 68, no. 2 (2025): 317-333.
Wood, James. “Applying (Reformed) Dogmatics for the Modern World.” Religious Studies Review 50, no. 1 (2024): 137-142.
Wood, James. “The Sacrament and Secular-Religious Bodies: Henri de Lubac’s Ecclesial Humanism and the Pull of Pseudo-Transcendence.” In Secularism and the Pursuit of Transcendence: Volume II, 293-411. Edited by Stanley E. Porter and Wendy J. Porter (Pickwick Publications, 2025).
Wood, James. “Christ’s Body is One: Resources for Reformed Catholicity in John W. Nevin’s Incarnational Ecclesiology.” Journal of Reformed Theology 14, no. 1-2 (2020): 73-99.
Popular Publications
Wood, James. “In Defense of Cultural Christianity.” First Things, April 2026.
Wood, James. “The Politics of Pagan Christianity.” Plough Quarterly 45 (Fall 2025).
Wood, James. “Paul’s Ethnic Gospel.” First Things, August/September 2025.
Wood, James. “The Autonomy Trap.” Plough Quarterly 41 (Fall 2024).
Wood, James. “Reaching the West with Wonder.” Mere Orthodoxy 6 (Winter 2025).
Wood, James. “Calvin’s Complex Ecumenism.” Ad Fontes: A Journal of Protestant Letters 5, no. 4. (Summer 2021).
Wood, James. “Can the Church Still Speak? And if so, will anyone listen?” Comment: Public Theology for the Common Good (Winter 2023).
Wood, James. “Calvinism 2.0” First Things, May 2023.
Wood, James. “Ordering Our Social Loves” Ad Fontes: A Journal of Protestant Letters, October 2023.