Two OBU faculty members earn national book award recognitions

December 11, 2023

The tradition of academic and literary excellence endures among Oklahoma Baptist University’s faculty with the recent announcements of national book awards.

OBU congratulates Dr. Brandon Smith who was named as recipient of the prestigious Gospel Coalition Book Award in Academic Theology for “The Trinity in the Canon: A Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Practical Proposal.”

Smith, a committed churchman, proven scholar and award-winning author, joined OBU as chair of the Herschel H. Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry and associate professor of theology and early Christianity effective Dec. 1, 2023. He is also serving as the director of the Master of Arts in Christian Studies program.

Also, Dr. Alan Noble, OBU associate professor of English, received Christianity Today’s Award of Merit in Christian Living/Spiritual Formation for his book “On Getting Out of Bed.”

Dr. Matthew Emerson, OBU co-provost, dean of theology, arts and humanities, and professor of religion, along with OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas were contributors to Smith’s book, which was also a finalist for the Christianity Today book award in Theology (Academic).

"We are pleased to congratulate Dr. Smith on this achievement and are excited about the wealth of theological knowledge, ministry background and teaching experience he brings to OBU as chair,” Emerson said.

“We also congratulate Dr. Noble for this esteemed recognition of his book and are thankful that he continues to share his success, talents and knowledge with the OBU community and our students.”

According to the Gospel Coalition Book Award site, “Christians have long been accused of foisting a theology of the Trinity onto the text of Scripture after its later development in the Christian tradition. Even for Christians who deny such accusations, refuting those claims and recognizing the Trinitarian grammar of the Scripture can seem elusive. The Trinity in the Canon provides a resource for curious Christians, church practitioners, and academics to uncover the theological riches of the Bible and discover that the Trinity was there all along.”

The site also noted that the twin strengths of this book are its wide range of contributors—who bring their own excellent insights to their sections—and its systematic treatment of the Bible, leaving no section of Scripture untouched. This approach helps the busy pastor or teacher quickly navigate to a particular chapter and determine how the doctrine of the Trinity is advanced in that portion of the text.

Emerson said that in the classroom, in the church and in his publications, Smith demonstrates a commitment to the core values of Hobbs, namely to be biblically rooted, theologically faithful, and practically relevant in everything he says and does.

Noble shared several key messages from his book during OBU’s 2023 spring commencement. He emphasized to students that God led them to Bison Hill and that through all they will face in life, they should continue to remain trusting in and following His loving and perfect leadership.

“Noble is unwilling to let us believe the lie that everyone else has it good,” James Choung, vice president of strategy and innovation, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA said on Christianity Today’s award page. “Instead, in this short, straightforward book, he affirms that life is hard and full of suffering and that you can’t rely on some technique to fix whatever you’re going through on this side of heaven. To some, such words can feel like a mean, cold shower. But they have the advantage of being refreshingly honest, and they can get the monkey of blame off our backs. Noble encourages readers who struggle to brave each day, reminding them to trust Jesus’ voice above their own emotions. I’m grateful for his reminder that even if we don’t feel right, we have been given the grace to act right.”